Corrective Action Plans

Finding No.: 2022-042 AL Program: 97.036 - Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (Presidentially Declared Disasters) Area: Period of Performance Questioned Costs: $423,234 Contact Person(s): Patrick Guerrero, Governor’s Authorized Rep., PAO Corrective Action Plan: Condition 1: 1. Regarding the finding related to DR4235MP, PW 95, the Public Assistance Office agrees that the liquidation was processed after the liquidation deadline. 2. Regarding the finding related to DR4396MP, PW 4, the Public Assistance Office disagrees with this finding. Liquidation was done prior to the closeout deadline of December 31, 2022. 3. Regarding the finding related to DR4511MP, PW 27, the Public Assistance Office disagrees with this finding. Liquidation was done prior to the closeout deadline of June 30, 2025. 4. Regarding the finding related to DR4511MP, PW 8, the Public Assistance Office disagrees with this finding. Liquidation was done prior to the closeout deadline of June 30, 2025. As of Fiscal Year 2024, the Public Assistance Office initiates drawdown requests, allowing for more timely processing. The office will implement better financial monitoring procedures to ensure obligations are liquidated within the required liquidation period. Staff will also be refreshed on liquidation requirements to ensure compliance. When delays are anticipated, the office will coordinate with subrecipients and promptly request necessary time extension approvals from Grantor to maintain compliance. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing Condition 2: The Public Assistance Office respectfully disagrees with this finding. • Regarding the finding related to DR4235MP, PW 49, the Public Assistance Office disagrees with this finding. The invoice was dated and recorded after the period of performance (June 30, 2022), but date of actual work completed as shown on the Megger Test was May 20, 2022. The Public Assistance Office acknowledges that the record of the Megger Test had not been submitted to the auditors when submitting documentation. The Public Assistance Office will continue to exercise diligence in reviewing project documentation to ensure that all work is verified and completed prior to payment/reimbursement. The office will continue to monitor performance timelines to confirm that work is completed on or before the established period of performance deadlines. This process will include periodic internal reviews and coordination with subrecipients to ensure compliance. When delays are anticipated, the office will coordinate with subrecipients and promptly request necessary time extension approvals from Grantor to maintain compliance. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing

Finding No.: 2022-041 AL Program: 93.778 - Medical Assistance Program Area: Special Tests and Provisions - Provider Eligibility (Screening and Enrollment) Questioned Costs: $3,640,189 Contact Person(s): Geroge J. Cruz, Medicaid Director Corrective Action Plan: The CNMI Medicaid Office respectfully disagrees with the finding. While the office did perform OIG exclusion list validation, screenshots were not captured for each individual check. It is important to note that the OIG Exclusion List portal’s search function is limited to on-screen viewing and does not provide a built-in option to print or export search results. Additionally, the CMS access process for exclusion checks involves a rigorous background clearance, and only one personnel of three total successfully gained access. The CNMI Medicaid Office acknowledges that historically, limited personnel capacity has hindered full compliance with this requirement. However, efforts are currently underway to streamline and strengthen the exclusion verification process. The office is actively developing a fully functional Program Integrity Division that will be responsible for conducting and documenting OIG exclusion checks in a consistent and compliant manner moving forward. Proposed Completion Date: January 1, 2027

Finding No.: 2022-038 AL Program: 93.778 - Medical Assistance Program Area: Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Questioned Costs: $27,816,686 Contact Person(s): Geroge J. Cruz, Medicaid Director Corrective Action Plan: Condition 1: The CNMI Medicaid Office respectfully disagrees with this finding. Due to internal scheduling constraints and the compressed timeline required to complete the FY22 audit, the requested documents were not submitted by the specified deadline, resulting in this finding. However, the office maintains all relevant supporting documentation and is prepared to provide it upon request from the Grantor. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing Condition 2: The CNMI Medicaid Office respectfully disagrees with this finding. Due to internal scheduling constraints and the compressed timeline required to complete the FY22 audit, the requested documents were not submitted by the specified deadline, resulting in this finding. However, the office maintains all relevant supporting documentation and is prepared to provide it upon request from the Grantor. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing Condition 3: CNMI Medicaid Office respectfully disagrees with this finding. The agency currently does not have a Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) in place to collect and accurately report comprehensive Benefits Paid data. All data processing is done manually, and information is maintained using Excel spreadsheets, which limits the ability to generate complete and reliable reports. Additionally, the "Benefits Paid" data provided to the auditor does not include services covered under the Certified Public Expenditures (CPE) payments made to CHCC. Therefore, these records should not be used as the sole basis for evaluating program eligibility, total expenditures, or compliance with eligibility requirements. However, the CNMI Medicaid Office maintains all relevant supporting documentation and is prepared to provide it upon request from the Grantor. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing

Finding No.: 2022-037 AL Program: 93.767 - Children’s Health Insurance Program Area: Special Tests and Provisions - Provider Eligibility (Screening and Enrollment) Questioned Costs: $7,932,110 Contact Person(s): Geroge J. Cruz, Medicaid Director Corrective Action Plan: CNMI Medicaid Office respectfully disagrees with the finding. While the office did perform OIG exclusion list validation, screenshots were not captured for each individual check. It is important to note that the OIG Exclusion List portal’s search function is limited to on-screen viewing and does not provide a built-in option to print or export search results. Additionally, the CMS access process for exclusion checks involves a rigorous background clearance, and only one personnel of three total successfully gained access. CNMI Medicaid Office acknowledges that historically, limited personnel capacity has hindered full compliance with this requirement. However, efforts are currently underway to streamline and strengthen the exclusion verification process. The office is actively developing a fully functional Program Integrity Division that will be responsible for conducting and documenting OIG exclusion checks in a consistent and compliant manner moving forward. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing

Finding No.: 2022-035 AL Program: 93.767 - Children’s Health Insurance Program Area: Period of Performance Questioned Costs: $38,556 Contact Person(s): Geroge J. Cruz, Medicaid Director Corrective Action Plan: The CNMI Medicaid Office respectfully disagrees with this finding. Due to internal scheduling constraints and the compressed timeline required to complete the FY22 audit, the requested documents were not submitted by the specified deadline, resulting in this finding. However, the office maintains all relevant supporting documentation and is prepared to provide it upon request from the Grantor. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing

Finding No.: 2022-034 AL Program: 93.767 - Children’s Health Insurance Program Area: Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Costs Principles Questioned Costs: $1,182,511 Contact Person(s): Geroge J. Cruz, Medicaid Director Corrective Action Plan: Condition 1: The CNMI Medicaid Office respectfully disagrees with this finding. Due to internal scheduling constraints and the compressed timeline required to complete the FY22 audit, the requested documents were not submitted by the specified deadline, resulting in this finding. However, the office maintains all relevant supporting documentation and is prepared to provide it upon request from the Grantor. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing Condition 2: CNMI Medicaid Office cannot confirm to agree or disagree with the findings stated, as the information references case numbers without sufficient supporting detail. The office does not operate a Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) and therefore cannot automatically retrieve data to link case numbers with the total benefits paid or questioned costs. Additionally, two of the three case numbers provided are associated with multiple individuals. Even if the case numbers were accurate and beneficiary names included, the office would still need to identify the provider(s) associated with the payments in question. Claims data is maintained manually in Excel spreadsheets, consolidated across beneficiaries, and processed for payment through the MUNIS system using internally generated invoice numbers. These invoice numbers are not linked to specific beneficiaries. Therefore, to properly evaluate the findings, the office would require not only the case number, but also the beneficiary’s full name and the corresponding MUNIS invoice number. The office maintains all relevant supporting documentation and is prepared to provide it upon request from the Grantor. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing Condition 3: The CNMI Medicaid Office respectfully disagrees with this finding. Due to internal scheduling constraints and the compressed timeline required to complete the FY22 audit, the requested documents were not submitted by the specified deadline, resulting in this finding. However, the office maintains all relevant supporting documentation and is prepared to provide it upon request from the Grantor. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing

Finding No.: 2022-033 AL Program: 93.489/93.575/93.596 - CCDF Cluster Area: Special Tests and Provisions – Health and Safety Requirements Questioned Costs: $1,757,352 Contact Person(s): Roselle Teregeyo, CCDF Co-Administrator/Accountant Corrective Action Plan: Condition 1: CCDF respectfully disagrees with this finding. In the middle of the Fiscal year, the CCDF Program transitioned to have the Quality Rating and Improvement System or QRIS perform the announced and unannounced visits. To allow the complete transition of the CCDF Certification and monitoring system, as independent from the Child Care Licensing Program, CCDF extended all expiration dates of CCDF Providers for an additional two months. This extension was given to all CCDF providers renewing from April 2022 to December 31, 2022. With the transition, CCDF allowed for providers to meet provider requirements in a year and were only subjected to an announced visit. Any non-compliance was noted, but supported to compliance through coaching. Effective October 1, 2022, all CCDF Providers are now subjected to announced and unannounced visits. Proposed Completion Date: Completed Condition 2: CCDF respectfully disagrees with this finding. Based on our records, all providers met the annual training hours. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing

Finding No.: 2022-032 AL Program: 93.489/93.575/93.596 – CCDF Cluster Area: Eligibility Questioned Costs: $43,100 Contact Person(s): Roselle Teregeyo, CCDF Co-Administrator/Accountant Corrective Action Plan: Condition 1: For Case ID: 2827C, 2528C, 2936A, 2528B, 3062D: CCDF agrees with these findings. To address these findings, effective October 2025, CCDF will not approve applicant/s Certificate of Confirmation without a current and valid work permit. As of January 2025, CCDF Waitlist applications are no longer initially processed by one Eligibility Worker, waitlist applications must be assessed by two eligibility workers to ensure requirements and documents are met. For final approval CCDF waitlist applications are again cross checked by the Eligibility Supervisor to ensure all requirements and documentation are met. CCDF Eligibility staff will assess client files and if needed, will request for current and valid work permits. Proposed Completion Date: December 31, 2025 Condition 2: CCDF agrees with this finding. To address these findings, effective October 2025, CCDF will not approve applicant/s Certificate of Confirmation without a current and valid work permit. As of January 2025, CCDF Waitlist applications are no longer initially processed by one Eligibility Worker, waitlist applications must be assessed by two eligibility workers to ensure requirements and documents are met. For final approval CCDF waitlist applications are again cross checked by the Eligibility Supervisor to ensure all requirements and documentation are met. CCDF Eligibility staff will assess client files and if needed, will request for current and valid work permits. Proposed Completion Date: December 31, 2025 Condition 3: CCDF agrees with this finding. For Case ID 3324B: Total overpayment to provider was $300.00. CCDF will recoup the amount from the provider no later than December 2025. CCDF determined that the overpayment to provider is $300.00. CCDF will recoup $150.00 each month from the provider beginning November 2025 and the whole amount will be recouped by December 2025. As of August 2025, CCDF Provider payments are cross checked by the CCDF Accounting section. Additionally, effective October 1, 2025, CCDF Data Specialist will cross check provider payments to ensure base payment rates are applicable to each child based on the child’s age. Proposed Completion Date: December 31, 2025

Finding No.: 2022-031 AL Program: 21.027 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Area: Subrecipient Monitoring Questioned Costs: $61,003,095 Contact Person(s): Tracy B. Norita, Secretary of Finance Corrective Action Plan: Condition 1-3: The Department of Finance agrees with this finding. The Department has recently adopted and approved (August 2025) a Subrecipient Monitoring Policy and Procedures which specifically focused on the implementation of 2 CFR 200.331. The Department will expand on this policy and procedure to include the development and implementation of a comprehensive subrecipient monitoring policies that clearly outline the process for identifying subawards, assessing the risk of noncompliance, and conducting monitoring activities based on those risks. These policies will be aligned with federal requirements and best practices to ensure consistency and accountability. Furthermore, due to internal scheduling constraints and the compressed timeline required to complete the FY22 audit, the requested documents were not submitted by the specified deadline, resulting in this finding. However, the Department maintains all relevant supporting documentation and is prepared to provide it upon request from the Grantor. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing

Finding No.: 2022-029 AL Program: 21.027 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Area: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Questioned Costs: $12,244,415 Contact Peron(s): Tracy B. Norita, Secretary of Finance / Geraldine Cruz, Procurement Services Director Corrective Action Plan: Condition 1&3: The Procurement Services Division agrees with this finding. The Division will revise CNMI’s procurement regulations to ensure alignment with federal procurement standards as outlined in 2 CFR Part 200, particularly the small purchase threshold requirements and competitive procurement procedures. Proposed Completion Date: Policy updates drafted by December 31, 2025 and adopted by March 31, 2026. Condition 2&5: The Procurement Services Division agrees with this finding. To address the lack of consistent verification of vendor eligibility under federal debarment and suspension requirements (2 CFR §180.300), a policy will be implemented requiring all agencies to submit debarment verification documentation at the time of vendor selection. Acceptable documentation may include (1) a printout or screenshot from the SAM.gov Exclusions database, confirming that the vendor is not debarred or suspended, (2) a signed certification from the vendor attesting to their eligibility, or (3) a signed contract clause or provision that explicitly states the vendor is not excluded from federal transactions and complies with applicable debarment regulations. Procurement procedures and standard forms will be revised to include debarment verification as a mandatory step prior to any purchase approval involving federal funds. Procurement Services will ensure that debarment verification documents are maintained in the official procurement file for each transaction involving federal funds. Proposed Completion Date: October 1, 2025 Condition 4&6: The Procurement Services Division respectfully disagrees with this finding. Due to internal scheduling constraints and the compressed timeline required to complete the FY22 audit, the requested documents were not submitted by the specified deadline, resulting in this finding. However, the Division maintains all relevant supporting documentation and is prepared to provide it upon request from the Grantor. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing

Finding No.: 2022-028 AL Program: 21.027 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Area: Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Questioned Costs: $33,815,438 Contact Person(s): Tracy B. Norita, Secretary of Finance Corrective Action Plan: Condition 1&6: The Department of Finance agrees with this finding. It is important to note that the issue occurred during FY22, a period marked by the transition from the legacy financial system (JDE) to the new Tyler Munis platform. During this time, processes for retaining and reconciling supporting documents had not been standardized, resulting in inconsistencies and a heightened risk of missing or improperly uploaded records. Furthermore, the Program Manager previously responsible for overseeing this grant is no longer with the Department. Due to internal scheduling constraints and the compressed timeline required to complete the FY22 audit, the requested documents were not submitted by the specified deadline, which contributed to this finding. Nevertheless, the Department is committed to provide relevant supporting documentation upon request from the Grantor. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing Condition 2-5, 7&8: The Department of Finance respectfully disagrees with this finding. Due to internal scheduling constraints and the compressed timeline required to complete the FY22 audit, the requested documents were not submitted by the specified deadline, resulting in this finding. However, the office maintains all relevant supporting documentation and is prepared to provide it upon request from the Grantor. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing Condition 9: The Department of Finance agrees with the findings. Following the legal opinion from the CNMI Attorney General’s Office in August 2025, we secured all necessary documentation from the Municipality of Tinian to ensure proper recording and reconciliation of transactions in our financial system. Proposed Completion Date: December 31, 2025

Finding No.: 2022-027 AL Program: 21.026 - Homeowner Assistance Fund Program Area: Subrecipient Monitoring Questioned Costs: $4,157,924 Contact Person(s): Tracy B. Norita, Secretary of Finance Corrective Action Plan: Condition 1-4: The Department of Finance agrees with this finding. The Department has recently adopted and approved (August 2025) a Subrecipient Monitoring Policy and Procedures which specifically focused on the implementation of 2 CFR 200.331. The Department will expand on this policy and procedure to include the development and implementation of a comprehensive subrecipient monitoring policies that clearly outline the process for identifying subawards, assessing the risk of noncompliance, and conducting monitoring activities based on those risks. These policies will be aligned with federal requirements and best practices to ensure consistency and accountability. Proposed Completion Date: December 31, 2025

Finding No.: 2022-024 AL Program: 21.023 - Emergency Rental Assistance Program Area: Period of Performance Questioned Costs: $26,329 Contact Person(s): Epiphanio Cabrera, Jr., Grants Administrator, OGM-SC Corrective Action Plan: Condition 1: The Office of Grant Management (OGM) respectfully disagrees with this finding. OGM recollects prior guidance and program discussions indicating that U.S. Territories administering ERA were afforded greater flexibility in the period of performance, in recognition of their geographic remoteness and the additional time required to receive technical assistance and implement compliant systems. This understanding informed OGM’s administration of ERA funds. Additionally, several disbursed checks were returned, which created reconciliation delays and made it difficult to ascertain the true unobligated balance of the grant until sufficient time had passed for all transactions to clear. To address compliance concerns, CNMI officials traveled to Washington, D.C. in February 2025 to meet with U.S. Treasury representatives and resolve outstanding ERA1 documentation issues. Following those meetings, OGM submitted the necessary reports and initiated the closeout process for ERA1 in accordance with federal requirements. The questioned cost of $26,329 reflects expenditures that were directed toward eligible households impacted by COVID-19. These expenditures were necessary, reasonable, and allocable under 2 CFR 200.403, and fully aligned with the statutory purpose of ERA to prevent housing instability. Disallowing these costs would effectively negate assistance that was properly delivered to beneficiaries and undermine the program’s objective. For these reasons, OGM respectfully requests that the questioned cost be removed. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing Condition 2: The Office of Grant Management (OGM) respectfully disagrees with this finding. Due to internal scheduling constraints and the compressed timeline required to complete the FY22 audit, the requested documents were not submitted by the specified deadline, resulting in this finding. However, OGM maintain all relevant supporting documentation and is prepared to provide it upon request from the Grantor. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing

Finding No.: 2022-023 AL Program: 21.023 - Emergency Rental Assistance Program Area: Eligibility Questioned Costs: $331,985 Contact Person(s): Epiphanio Cabrera, Jr., Grants Administrator, OGM-SC Corrective Action Plan: The Office of Grant Management (OGM) respectfully disagrees with this finding. The delay in document submission was attributable to internal scheduling constraints combined with the compressed timeline required to complete the FY2022 Single Audit. While the requested documentation was not provided by the auditor’s specified deadline, OGM maintains all relevant supporting records in accordance with federal grant retention requirements and remains prepared to furnish them upon request from the Grantor. Although the documentation was submitted several days beyond the deadline, the auditors informed OGM that reviewing the late submission would cause additional delays to the overall audit process. OGM disputes the questioned cost amount of $331,985, as complete and accurate records exist to substantiate the eligibility determinations of the CCERA clients in question. Given that the program concluded more than two years ago, additional time was necessary to retrieve and compile archived files. Accordingly, OGM asserts that these costs are allowable, allocable, and fully supported, and recommends that the auditors reconsider the finding in light of the shortened audit review window and the program’s recordkeeping context. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing

Finding No.: 2022-022 AL Program: 21.023 - Emergency Rental Assistance Program Area: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Questioned Costs: $65,865 Contact Person(s): Epiphanio Cabrera, Jr., Grants Administrator, OGM-SC Corrective Action Plan: The Office of Grant Management (OGM) respectfully disagrees with this finding. In alignment with program intent and to ensure housing stability, rental arrears were prioritized and satisfied first. However, in cases where households faced imminent risk of eviction, OGM permitted the submission of concurrent prospective rent payments as an emergency stabilization measure. This approach was necessitated by the protracted processing timelines within the Division of Financial Services, which created a critical lag between approval and disbursement of funds. Without this intervention, households would have been exposed to heightened risk of eviction, undermining the program’s primary objective of preventing homelessness. Accordingly, the rental arrears totaling $65,864 should be deemed an allowable and reasonable program expenditure consistent with the overarching goals of housing retention and client stabilization. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing

Finding No.: 2022-021 AL Program: 17.225 - Unemployment Insurance Area: Special Tests and Provisions - UI Program Integrity - Overpayments Questioned Costs: $13,152 Contact Person(s): Zachary Taitano, PUA Program Manager, DOL Corrective Action Plan: Condition 1: The CNMI agrees with this finding, as the CNMI DOL did not forward the case to the OIG and did not charge 15% against the overpayment amounts for the respective benefit types. The CNMI is currently in communication with its grantor to determine the appropriate course of action, considering the last action on this claim was in 2022, The CNMI has sought grantor clarification on how to proceed with this matter and is pending further guidance. Further corrective action items, along with a proposed completion date, will be prepared once clarification is received. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing

Finding No.: 2022-020 AL Program: 17.225 - Unemployment Insurance Area: Eligibility Questioned Costs: $80,773 Contact Person(s): Zachary Taitano, PUA Program Manager, DOL Corrective Action Plan: Condition 1: The CNMI agrees that the expenditure listing from the Financial System is significantly lower than the listing generated from the HireMarianas Portal. This discrepancy is due to the fact that the expenditure listing reflects only disbursed payments, whereas the HireMarianas Portal listing includes transactions that were removed, cancelled, or rejected by the claimant’s financial institution. Additionally, the HireMarianas listing includes payments that were cancelled and subsequently reissued through the portal, which may result in what appear to be duplicate entries. Proposed Completion Date: Completed Condition 2: The CNMI partially agrees with this finding. While it is acknowledged that 8 of the 11 identified users’ SAVE verification results were uploaded onto the HireMarianas Portal late, all claimants were of Qualified Alien status in accordance with the definition provided through the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Moreover, all SAVE responses are now on the respective applicants’ supporting documents tab on the HireMarianas Portal. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing

Finding No.: 2022-019 AL Program: 15.875 - Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories Area: Subrecipient Monitoring Questioned Costs: $549,849 Contact Person(s): Nerissa B. Karakaya, CIP COTR / Angelina Phillips, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Corrective Action Plan: Condition 1 (N. Karakaya): CIP agrees with this finding. The address this finding, CIP will implement the following: 1. Establish Written Procedures: CNMI has developed and will initiate the implementation of formal written procedures requiring that all potential subrecipients be checked in SAM.gov prior to award and that verification is documented and retained in the official files. 2. Standardized Documentation: A standardized risk assessment checklist will be used for all subrecipients to confirm they are not suspended, debarred, or excluded under 2 CFR §180.300. 3. Staff Training: All staff responsible for subrecipient monitoring will receive training on federal requirements for exclusion checks and proper documentation procedures. 4. Monitoring and Review: CIP will conduct periodic reviews to ensure that SAM.gov checks are consistently performed and documented for all new and existing subrecipients. Condition 2 (N. Karakaya): CIP respectfully disagrees with this finding. The subrecipient was not required to submit the required project narrative report; instead, the report was prepared and submitted by the project manager responsible for managing the project as assigned by the Capital Improvement Program. In accordance with 2 CFR §200.328 – Monitoring and Reporting Program Performance, subrecipients are required to provide performance reports to the pass-through entity that document the status and progress of activities in accordance with the approved scope of work. To correct this issue, the subrecipient will implement a formal internal procedure designating the Program Coordinator as responsible for preparing, reviewing, and submitting all project narrative reports. Additionally, mandatory training will be conducted for all relevant subrecipient staff on federal reporting requirements and proper submission procedures, and all future narrative reports will include a certification by the authorized subrecipient representative confirming proper submission. The Capital Improvement Program will monitor submissions quarterly for the next 12 months to ensure full compliance. Corrective Actions: 1. Implement a formal internal reporting procedure requiring the subrecipient’s Program Coordinator to prepare, review, and submit all project narrative reports. 2. Conduct mandatory training for subrecipient staff on federal reporting requirements, documentation standards, and submission procedures. 3. Include a certification statement on all future narrative reports, signed by the subrecipient’s authorized representative, confirming proper submission. 4. Conduct quarterly monitoring of subrecipient submissions for the next 12 months to ensure compliance with reporting requirements. Proposed Completion Date: December 31, 2025 Condition 3 (N. Karakaya): We acknowledge the finding that documentation was not provided to verify whether eight subrecipients were subject to the audit requirements. The Capital Improvement Program will strengthen its subrecipient monitoring procedures to ensure compliance with 2 CFR 200.331(f) and related audit requirements. Corrective actions will include: 1. Policy Implementation: Adopt and disseminate the newly established Subrecipient Monitoring Policy and Procedures, which specify verification of subrecipients’ audit requirements. 2. Training: Provide training for program and grants management staff on the updated procedures and audit verification process. 3. Documentation: Maintain written evidence of audit requirement verifications for all subrecipients as part of the grant administration files. 4. Ongoing Monitoring: Incorporate periodic review of subrecipient audit status into the regular monitoring schedule to ensure continued compliance. These steps will be implemented immediately and will be applied to all current and future awards to prevent recurrence of this issue. Proposed Completion Date: December 31, 2025

Finding No.: 2022-017 AL Program: 15.875 - Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories Area: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Questioned Costs: $770,427 Contact Person(s): Epiphanio Cabrera, Jr., Grants Administrator, OGM-SC / Gerladine Cruz, Procurement Services Director / Nerissa B. Karakaya, CIP COTR Corrective Action Plan: Condition 1 (G. Cruz): The Procurement Services Division agrees with this finding. The Division will revise CNMI’s procurement regulations to ensure alignment with federal procurement standards as outlined in 2 CFR Part 200, particularly the small purchase threshold requirements and competitive procurement procedures. Proposed Completion Date: Policy updates drafted by December 31, 2025 and adopted by March 31, 2026. Condition 2 (G. Cruz): The Procurement Services Division agrees with this finding. To address the lack of consistent verification of vendor eligibility under federal debarment and suspension requirements (2 CFR §180.300), a policy will be implemented requiring all agencies to submit debarment verification documentation at the time of vendor selection. Acceptable documentation may include (1) a printout or screenshot from the SAM.gov Exclusions database, confirming that the vendor is not debarred or suspended, (2) a signed certification from the vendor attesting to their eligibility, or (3) a signed contract clause or provision that explicitly states the vendor is not excluded from federal transactions and complies with applicable debarment regulations. Procurement procedures and standard forms will be revised to include debarment verification as a mandatory step prior to any purchase approval involving federal funds. Procurement Services will ensure that debarment verification documents are maintained in the official procurement file for each transaction involving federal funds. Proposed Completion Date: June 30, 2026 Condition 3(a) (E. Cabrera): The Office of Grant Management (OGM) respectfully disagrees with this finding. Due to internal scheduling constraints and the compressed timeline required to complete the FY22 audit, the requested documents were not submitted by the specified deadline, resulting in this finding. However, OGM maintain all relevant supporting documentation and is prepared to provide it upon request from the Grantor. For Project Code 2701210042, a purchase order (PO 22202856) totaling $48,000 was executed in accordance with procurement requirements, supported by the solicitation and evaluation of three independent quotations to ensure competitiveness and compliance with applicable procurement regulations. For Project Code 1901210064, a purchase order (PO 22216403) totaling $22,881 was processed following the initial Invitation to Bid (ITB21-OGM/RDCCA-046). After the originally awarded contractor defaulted, procurement guidance was sought, resulting in direction to obtain and evaluate three independent quotations before issuing a purchase order. This approach ensured continued adherence to competitive procurement standards while addressing the unforeseen contractor default and maintaining project continuity. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing Condition 3(b) (N. Karakaya): Capital Improvement Program agrees with this finding. CIP acknowledges the need to maintain sufficient and appropriate audit evidence demonstrating compliance with federal procurement standards. We recognize that our current recordkeeping for bid submissions and ITB publication can be improved to ensure that auditors can readily verify compliance. Corrective Actions: 1. Standardize Procurement Documentation Checklist • Develop a Bid Documentation Checklist that must be completed and signed for each procurement action. • Checklist will confirm inclusion of: - Copy of ITB and required documents - Copy of any addendums issued by Procurement Services - Proof of ITB publication (e.g., newspaper ad tear sheets, online postings with date/time stamps, screenshots). - Bid opening records (bid tabulation sheet, attendance log, time-stamped submissions). - Copies of all bids received, with date/time of receipt. - Documentation of evaluation committee scoring and award recommendation. 2. Centralized Digital Repository • Establish a secure electronic folder in the organization’s shared drive or document management system for every procurement project. • Require that all supporting documents—bid advertisements, bid submissions, evaluation forms, and award notifications—be uploaded within five business days after bid opening. 3. Policy and Procedure Update • Revise the Procurement Manual to incorporate the checklist and digital repository requirements. • Reference 2 CFR 200.508(d) explicitly, ensuring staff understand the federal mandate for “sufficient and appropriate audit evidence.” 4. Staff Training and Awareness • Conduct a mandatory training session for all staff involved in procurement on proper documentation and the use of the checklist and repository. • Provide annual refresher training to maintain compliance 5. Monitoring & Verification • The CIP staff will conduct a semi-annual review of procurement files to verify that all required evidence is consistently documented and readily accessible for future audits. Proposed Completion Date: December 31, 2025

Finding No.: 2022-016 AL Program: 15.875 - Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories Area: Period of Performance Questioned Costs: $494,836 Contact Person(s): Epiphanio Cabrera, Jr., Grants Administrator, OGM-SC / Nerissa B. Karakaya, CIP COTR Corrective Action Plan: Condition 1 (E. Cabrera): The Office of Grant Management (OGM) respectfully disagrees with this finding. Due to internal scheduling constraints and the compressed timeline required to complete the FY22 audit, the requested documents were not submitted by the specified deadline, resulting in this finding. However, OGM maintain all relevant supporting documentation and is prepared to provide it upon request from the Grantor. Based on our records, grant award D20AP00005 remains active with a period of performance extending through September 30, 2025, while grant award D20AP00037 was closed on September 30, 2024. Both grants remained operational well beyond the originally prescribed September 30, 2022 deadline. Given the extended period of performance authorized by the awarding agency, all associated questioned costs ($494,660.00) are supported by active grant activity and should be deemed allowable. Accordingly, OGM respectfully requests that these questioned costs be removed, as they reflect legitimate expenditures incurred within the approved grant periods. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing Condition 2 (N. Karakaya): CIP agrees with the finding. To address the finding and prevent recurrence, CIP will: - Revise and strengthen written financial management policies to clearly define documentation requirements to substantiate expenditures and ensure costs are within the award’s period of performance. - Incorporate federal regulation references, including 2 CFR 200.303 (Internal Controls) and 2 CFR 200.344 (Closeout). - Implement a standardized checklist for technical analyst and program managers to confirm that all expenditure documentation includes dates verifying that costs were incurred within the period of performance. - Require a secondary review and sign-off by the CIP Administrator prior to submission of documentation to auditors. - Conduct mandatory annual training for program on federal period of performance requirements and required supporting documentation standards. - Provide refresher sessions before each audit cycle. - Establish a quarterly self-audit of grant files to verify that documentation is complete and properly supports expenditures. - Document results of each review and address deficiencies immediately. The responsible official will report progress on corrective actions to the CNMI leadership and maintain documentation of all implemented changes. Evidence of compliance (updated policies, training records, and self-audit reports) will be provided to the auditors upon request. Proposed Completion Date: December 31, 2025

Finding No.: 2022-014 AL Program: 15.875 - Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories Area: Cash Management Questioned Costs: $482,041 Contact Person(s): Tracy B. Norita, Secretary of Finance / Nerissa B. Karakaya, CIP COTR Corrective Action Plan: Condition 1 (N. Karakaya): CIP agrees with the finding. However, this timing is inherent in our established process. For the Capital Improvement Program (CIP), once an expense is entered into Tyler Munis and posted, we request a drawdown for those expenses. The check clearing date will naturally occur after the drawdown request date because payment disbursement and check clearing are subsequent steps in the payment process. Our practice ensures that: • Drawdowns are based on recorded, approved, and posted expenditures, not on projected or unverified costs. • Requests for reimbursement are fully supported by documented and posted expenses, which comply with grant requirements. Corrective Action / Process Enhancement: Although we believe the current procedure meets federal and grantor requirements, we will: 1. Document the Existing Process: Prepare a written procedure that explains the sequence of posting expenses in Tyler Munis, requesting drawdowns, and issuing checks, to clarify why check clearing dates follow drawdown requests. 2. Communicate with Auditor/Grantor: Provide the written procedure to the auditors and grantor to ensure shared understanding of the process. 3. Consider Additional Controls (if recommended): If the grantor or auditor recommends further safeguards, CIP will evaluate and implement feasible enhancements. Proposed Completion Date: December 31, 2025

Finding No.: 2022-013 AL Program: 15.875 - Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories Area: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Questioned Costs: $1,828,733 Contact Person(s): Epiphanio Cabrera, Jr., Grants Administrator, OGM-SC / Nerissa B. Karakaya, CIP COTR Corrective Action Plan: Condition 1 (E. Cabrera): The Office of Grant Management (OGM) respectfully disagrees with this finding. Due to internal scheduling constraints and the compressed timeline required to complete the FY22 audit, the requested documents were not submitted by the specified deadline, resulting in this finding. However, OGM maintain all relevant supporting documentation and is prepared to provide it upon request from the Grantor. Furthermore, based on our documentation, the Authority to Proceed (ATP) requirement was not fully communicated or operationalized with the relevant agencies until late 2021. During this period, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance processes were nascent for both OGM and the partner agencies, and subsequently required coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for proper implementation. Given that these procedural requirements were still in the initial stages of establishment and integration, the CNMI Government should not be deemed liable for noncompliance with obligations that were not yet fully defined or operationalized. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing Condition 2 (N. Karakaya): We respectfully disagree with this finding. Our office has obtained an Authorization to Proceed (ATP) for all projects funded by the Office of Insular Affairs under the 702 Capital Improvement Project (CIP) grants. It appears that supporting documents may not have been provided to the assigned auditor within the required timeframe; however, our office has maintained all ATPs associated with the projects listed in Condition 2. In addition, the Capital Improvement Program has implemented a process to include the Authorization to Proceed when routing contracts for projects procured through sealed bid procurement and sealed proposals. Corrective Action Plan: 1. Centralized Record Submission: - Designate a staff member responsible for ensuring that all ATP supporting documents are submitted to the auditors during scheduled audits. - Create a checklist to confirm that all required ATP documentation is included in audit packets. 2. Process Improvement: - Incorporate a mandatory step in the contract routing process to attach the Authorization to Proceed for all projects procured through sealed bid procurement and sealed proposals. - Update internal procedures to reflect this requirement. Training & Awareness: - Conduct a briefing for CIP staff on the importance of timely submission of ATP documentation to auditors. - Provide refresher training annually to ensure continued compliance. 4. Timeline for Implementation: - Checklist & Process Update: By October 15, 2025 - Staff Training: By October 31, 2025 Proposed Completion Date: December 31, 2025

Finding No.: 2022-012 AL Programs: 10.542 - Pandemic EBT Food Benefits (P-EBT) Area: Eligibility Questioned Costs: $58,494 Contact Person(s): Margaret Aldan, NAP Administrator Corrective Action Plan: Condition 1 & 2: CNMI NAP respectfully disagrees. Audit finding states that documentation supporting eligibility determinations were not provided. Finding further states that CNMI NAP lacks monitoring control over the listing of validated eligibility roster data that were not uploaded into MAVEN eligibility system due to data entry capacity limitations (sic) were not being maintained; and Distributed coupons were not reconciled to the recorded expenditures for redeemed coupons. The resulting effect being that CNMI NAP is in noncompliance with the applicable eligibility requirements and questioned costs for condition 1. CNMI NAP was informed that this finding had been cleared so we are perplexed as to the re-emergence of this audit finding. CNMI NAP contends that: 1. Eligibility for P-EBT benefits is not determined by CNMI NAP. P-EBT eligibility was determined by identifying children who qualified for free or reduced-price school meals and then correlating that with a reduction of in-person schooling due to COVID-19. Children in households receiving SNAP and young children, under age six, were also eligible, provided their schools or childcare facilities closed or reduced hours for at least five consecutive days due to the pandemic. This data was provided by PSS, as well as the listing of eligible children that corresponded to this data set. 2. There are no “validated eligibility roster data case files” that were not uploaded into MAVEN due to data entry capacity limitations. All rosters provided by PSS were uploaded into MAVEN as this is the only way a case file can be generated in the system. 3. CNMI NAP has reconciled all benefits issued, including the P-EBT benefits for the audit year in question. This is a mandatory, non-negotiable process. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing

Planned Corrective Action: The Organization will implement and reinforce a comprehensive system for retaining all invoices, payment records, and supporting documentation associated with federal awards. Additionally, the Organization will create and maintain a clear record retention policy. Invoice and Payment Documentation: • All invoices related to the federal program will be promptly reviewed and approved by the appropriate personnel to ensure they reflect allowable costs under the specific terms and conditions of the award. • Management will establish clear procedures for the proper recording and classification of payments, ensuring that they are linked directly to the corresponding federal program expenses. • All supporting documentation (e.g., purchase orders, contracts, receipts) will be retained in electronic formats within the accounting system, in accordance with the Organization’s record retention policy, ensuring availability for future audits or reviews. Retention and Accessibility: • The Organization will maintain a secure, organized filing system for all invoices and payments, ensuring that each record is easily accessible for audit purposes. This system will include electronic records that are stored in a centralized database, with restricted access to authorized personnel. • Retained invoices and payment documentation will be kept for the full duration required by federal regulations, typically for a period of at least seven years after the final expenditure report for the federal award has been submitted, or as otherwise required by the specific federal agency. Periodic Reviews and Monitoring: • To ensure ongoing compliance, Management will perform periodic reviews of federal program expenditures and documentation. This will include random sampling of invoices and payment records to confirm that they are complete, accurate, and in compliance with federal regulations. • In the event of any discrepancies or issues identified during these reviews, Management will take immediate corrective action to address the issue and prevent recurrence. By maintaining thorough records of all invoices and payments, the Organization aims to not only comply with federal audit requirements but also to ensure transparency, accountability, and sound financial management of federal funds.

Unsupported Expenditures – Education Stabilization Funds INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBLE: Business Manager and Federal Grants Director ANTICIPATED COMPLETION DATE: FY2026 CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN: At this point in time the ESSR funds are no longer available, so there will not be any other documentation going forward. However, with other grants the processes have changed. Since FY2022 an accounting firm was hired to catch the school district up on grant requests. This accountant requested funds on a quarterly basis. On July 1, 2025, the District hired a Federal Grants Director to work with the Business Manager to complete the grant catch up process and to create a system that documents each expenditure and the timing of the requests. Once the system is in place cash requests will be completed monthly.