FINDING 2022-002 Subject: COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds - Procurement and 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 2022 Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Condition and Context The County elected to receive the standard revenue loss allowance, allowing the County to claim its total State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) allocation of $6,020,610 as revenue loss to use for government services. As such, all SLFRF program funds to date were expended under the revenue loss eligible use category. The U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) determined that there are no subawards under this eligible use category, and that recipients' use of revenue loss funds would not give rise to subrecipient relationships that there is no federal program or purpose to carry out in the case of the revenue loss portion of the award. Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with SLFRF award funds, recipients are required to verify that such covered transactions and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to contracts for goods and services awarded under procurement and non-procurement transactions (i.e., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be done by checking the Excluded Parties List System, collecting a certification from that person, or adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person. Due to Treasury's determination that the revenue loss eligible use category does not give rise to subawards, the County was only required to comply with suspension and debarment requirements related to covered transactions. Upon inquiry of the County's procedures related to suspension and debarment requirements, the County stated the County Auditor's office checked the SAM.gov website for exclusions, the department with which the claim was associated checked the SAMs exclusions, and a clause was added to the contract, if applicable, or a certification was requested from the vendor. A population of four covered transactions for goods or services that equaled or exceeded $25,000 paid from SLFRF funds during the audit period was identified. All four transactions, totaling $520,688, were selected for testing. For the four transactions, the County provided us with documentation showing that it checked the vendors for suspension and debarment by utilizing the SAM.gov website; however, the documentation was not dated, nor were there any other markings or documentation to support when the procedures were performed and by whom, as this was not part of the process. As such, we could not determine if the vendors were checked prior to the County entering into a covered transaction with the vendor. The lack of effective internal controls and noncompliance was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance 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 A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the County. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the County's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. Effect Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance. As a result, vendors to whom payments equal to or in excess of $25,000 were not verified to be not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions or the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the County. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that management of the County establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure contractors and subrecipients, as appropriate, are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into any contracts or subawards. We also recommended that supporting documentation be retained in order to be presented for audit. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2022-002 Subject: COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds - Procurement and 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 2022 Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Condition and Context The County elected to receive the standard revenue loss allowance, allowing the County to claim its total State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) allocation of $6,020,610 as revenue loss to use for government services. As such, all SLFRF program funds to date were expended under the revenue loss eligible use category. The U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) determined that there are no subawards under this eligible use category, and that recipients' use of revenue loss funds would not give rise to subrecipient relationships that there is no federal program or purpose to carry out in the case of the revenue loss portion of the award. Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with SLFRF award funds, recipients are required to verify that such covered transactions and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to contracts for goods and services awarded under procurement and non-procurement transactions (i.e., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be done by checking the Excluded Parties List System, collecting a certification from that person, or adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person. Due to Treasury's determination that the revenue loss eligible use category does not give rise to subawards, the County was only required to comply with suspension and debarment requirements related to covered transactions. Upon inquiry of the County's procedures related to suspension and debarment requirements, the County stated the County Auditor's office checked the SAM.gov website for exclusions, the department with which the claim was associated checked the SAMs exclusions, and a clause was added to the contract, if applicable, or a certification was requested from the vendor. A population of four covered transactions for goods or services that equaled or exceeded $25,000 paid from SLFRF funds during the audit period was identified. All four transactions, totaling $520,688, were selected for testing. For the four transactions, the County provided us with documentation showing that it checked the vendors for suspension and debarment by utilizing the SAM.gov website; however, the documentation was not dated, nor were there any other markings or documentation to support when the procedures were performed and by whom, as this was not part of the process. As such, we could not determine if the vendors were checked prior to the County entering into a covered transaction with the vendor. The lack of effective internal controls and noncompliance was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance 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 A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the County. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the County's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. Effect Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance. As a result, vendors to whom payments equal to or in excess of $25,000 were not verified to be not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions or the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the County. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that management of the County establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure contractors and subrecipients, as appropriate, are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into any contracts or subawards. We also recommended that supporting documentation be retained in order to be presented for audit. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2022-002 Subject: COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds - Procurement and 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 2022 Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Condition and Context The County elected to receive the standard revenue loss allowance, allowing the County to claim its total State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) allocation of $6,020,610 as revenue loss to use for government services. As such, all SLFRF program funds to date were expended under the revenue loss eligible use category. The U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) determined that there are no subawards under this eligible use category, and that recipients' use of revenue loss funds would not give rise to subrecipient relationships that there is no federal program or purpose to carry out in the case of the revenue loss portion of the award. Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with SLFRF award funds, recipients are required to verify that such covered transactions and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to contracts for goods and services awarded under procurement and non-procurement transactions (i.e., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be done by checking the Excluded Parties List System, collecting a certification from that person, or adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person. Due to Treasury's determination that the revenue loss eligible use category does not give rise to subawards, the County was only required to comply with suspension and debarment requirements related to covered transactions. Upon inquiry of the County's procedures related to suspension and debarment requirements, the County stated the County Auditor's office checked the SAM.gov website for exclusions, the department with which the claim was associated checked the SAMs exclusions, and a clause was added to the contract, if applicable, or a certification was requested from the vendor. A population of four covered transactions for goods or services that equaled or exceeded $25,000 paid from SLFRF funds during the audit period was identified. All four transactions, totaling $520,688, were selected for testing. For the four transactions, the County provided us with documentation showing that it checked the vendors for suspension and debarment by utilizing the SAM.gov website; however, the documentation was not dated, nor were there any other markings or documentation to support when the procedures were performed and by whom, as this was not part of the process. As such, we could not determine if the vendors were checked prior to the County entering into a covered transaction with the vendor. The lack of effective internal controls and noncompliance was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance 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 A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the County. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the County's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. Effect Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance. As a result, vendors to whom payments equal to or in excess of $25,000 were not verified to be not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions or the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the County. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that management of the County establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure contractors and subrecipients, as appropriate, are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into any contracts or subawards. We also recommended that supporting documentation be retained in order to be presented for audit. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2022-002 Subject: COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds - Procurement and 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 2022 Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Condition and Context The County elected to receive the standard revenue loss allowance, allowing the County to claim its total State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) allocation of $6,020,610 as revenue loss to use for government services. As such, all SLFRF program funds to date were expended under the revenue loss eligible use category. The U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) determined that there are no subawards under this eligible use category, and that recipients' use of revenue loss funds would not give rise to subrecipient relationships that there is no federal program or purpose to carry out in the case of the revenue loss portion of the award. Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with SLFRF award funds, recipients are required to verify that such covered transactions and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to contracts for goods and services awarded under procurement and non-procurement transactions (i.e., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be done by checking the Excluded Parties List System, collecting a certification from that person, or adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person. Due to Treasury's determination that the revenue loss eligible use category does not give rise to subawards, the County was only required to comply with suspension and debarment requirements related to covered transactions. Upon inquiry of the County's procedures related to suspension and debarment requirements, the County stated the County Auditor's office checked the SAM.gov website for exclusions, the department with which the claim was associated checked the SAMs exclusions, and a clause was added to the contract, if applicable, or a certification was requested from the vendor. A population of four covered transactions for goods or services that equaled or exceeded $25,000 paid from SLFRF funds during the audit period was identified. All four transactions, totaling $520,688, were selected for testing. For the four transactions, the County provided us with documentation showing that it checked the vendors for suspension and debarment by utilizing the SAM.gov website; however, the documentation was not dated, nor were there any other markings or documentation to support when the procedures were performed and by whom, as this was not part of the process. As such, we could not determine if the vendors were checked prior to the County entering into a covered transaction with the vendor. The lack of effective internal controls and noncompliance was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance 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 A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the County. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the County's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. Effect Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance. As a result, vendors to whom payments equal to or in excess of $25,000 were not verified to be not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions or the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the County. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that management of the County establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure contractors and subrecipients, as appropriate, are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into any contracts or subawards. We also recommended that supporting documentation be retained in order to be presented for audit. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.