FINDING 2025-002 Subject: COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds - Suspension and Debarment Federal Agency: Department of the Treasury Federal Program: COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Assistance Listings Number: 21.027 Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): FY 2025 Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Condition and Context Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with the COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF), recipients are required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods and services awarded under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are expended to equal or exceed $25,000 and all subawards. The verification is to be done by checking the System for Award Management (SAM) Excluded Parties List System (EPLS), collecting a certification from that person, or adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person or entity. A population of six covered transactions paid from SLFRF award funds were identified, and three were tested. None of the three covered transactions tested totaling $304,371 included the appropriate provisions in the contract, nor did the County require a certification or check the SAM EPLS to ensure the entity was not suspended or debarred prior to making payment. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance was a systemic issue throughout the audit period and enabled material noncompliance to occur and remain undetected. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 16 MIAMI COUNTY SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The recipient and subrecipient must: (a) Establish, document, and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the recipient or subrecipient is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should align with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control-Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 31 CFR 19.300 states: "When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or disqualified. You do this by: (a) Checking the EPLS; or (b) Collecting a certification from that person if allowed by this rule; or (c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person." Cause Management of the County did not have a formalized suspension and debarment policy to ensure procedures related to suspension and debarment requirements were in place and followed. Effect Any program funds the County used to pay vendors that have been suspended or debarred would be unallowable, and the funding agency could potentially recover them. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the management of the County develop written policies and procedures to ensure its compliance with requirements related to suspension and debarment. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.