Corrective Action Plans

Finding No.: 2023-017 AL Program: 15.875 - Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories COVID-19 15.875 Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories Area: Equipment and Real Property Management Questioned Costs: Undeterminable Contact Person(s): Epiphanio Cabrera, Jr., Grants Administrator, OGM-SC / Geraldine Cruz, Procurement Services Director Corrective Action Plan: Condition 1: The Procurement Services Division agrees with this finding. Improvements are needed in the way federally funded assets are tracked and reported. At present, the inventory management system is not configured to readily identify assets by specific federal award number, which makes it difficult to generate reports identifying assets purchased under individual grants. In addition, staffing limitations have affected the Commonwealth's ability to maintain and readily produce this information. To address this issue, the Property Management Branch has developed a revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), which is currently under review and pending finalization. The SOP strengthens procedures related to asset acquisition, tagging, inventory management, record retention, transfers, surveys, disposals, and supporting documentation. The Commonwealth is also evaluating available options to improve tracking and reporting of federally funded assets, including system enhancements, alternative tracking methods, technical assistance, and additional staffing resources where feasible. In the meantime, the Property Management Branch has begun asset reconciliation efforts, including physical inventories, record reviews, asset verification, and updates to inventory records. These efforts will continue while the revised SOP is finalized and implemented. Finding No.: 2023-017, continued AL Program: 15.875 - Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories COVID-19 15.875 Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories Area: Equipment and Real Property Management Questioned Costs: Undeterminable Contact Person(s): Epiphanio Cabrera, Jr., Grants Administrator, OGM-SC / Geraldine Cruz, Procurement Services Director Corrective Action Plan: These actions will help improve accountability, strengthen inventory records, and support compliance with federal property management requirements. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing Condition 2: The Procurement Services Division agrees with this finding. The Division agrees that the annual physical inventory required for FY2023 was not completed. As a result, the existence, location, condition, and accountability of all assets could not be fully verified during the audit period. To address this issue, Section 3 of the CNMI Property Management Policies and Procedures Manual was updated on September 9, 2024, changing the physical inventory requirement from an annual inventory to a biennial (every two years) inventory cycle. Property Management Branch is currently conducting physical inventories and random asset audits throughout the Commonwealth. These efforts include verifying asset locations, confirming accountability, reviewing asset condition and operational status, reconciling inventory records, and identifying assets that require transfer, survey, repair, replacement, or other corrective action. These inventory and reconciliation efforts are already underway and will continue while the SOP is finalized and implemented. Together, these measures will strengthen accountability, improve asset management practices, and help ensure compliance with federal and Commonwealth property management requirements. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing

AL Program: 15.875 – Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories Area: Cash Management Questioned Costs: $972,335 Contact Person(s): Angelina Phillips, Financial Analyst, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Corrective Action Plan: Condition 1-2: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) agrees with this finding. The underlying cause of this issue was the absence of succession planning and cross training, which resulted in a loss of institutional compliance knowledge during a staff transition. When the primary grant administrator unexpectedly left the organization, there was no transition plan, no cross trained backup staff, and no documented standard operating procedure in place. As a result, the departing administrator processed a drawdown request without leaving documentation of the drawdown or the corresponding vendor invoices. The untrained coverage staff, having only been informed that funds were received, subsequently processed the invoices for payment, which led to the timing discrepancy noted in the finding. To correct this issue, we have formally adopted the CNMI Department of Finance’s Internal Control for Federal Grants Management Manual effective May 1, 2025; the Department of Finance’s Federal Grant Drawdown Procedures effective June 20, 2025; and the Department of Finance’s Cash Management Policies and Procedures effective October 1, 2025. Collectively, these policies ensure compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. The step by step Standard Operating Procedures we have adopted for internal controls and the drawdown process clearly outline required documentation, approval workflows, and compliance timelines. In addition, we have initiated succession and continuity planning to ensure that at least Finding No.: 2023-016, continued AL Program: 15.875 – Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories Area: Cash Management Questioned Costs: $972,335 Contact Person(s): Angelina Phillips, Financial Analyst, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Corrective Action Plan: one alternate staff member is trained and capable of performing grant administration responsibilities to prevent future disruptions. Proposed Completion Date: Completed

Finding No.: 2023-015 AL Program: 15.875 – Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories Area: Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Questioned Costs: $4,203 Contact Person(s): Epiphanio Cabrera, Jr., Grants Administrator, OGM-SC Corrective Action Plan: Condition 1: The Office of Grants Management (OGM) disagrees with this finding and questioned costs of $1,400.00. The ATP document is vested with the Division of Energy (DOE) and not OGM. The award is from OIA; however, not all awards are under the possession of OGM. In this matter, CNMI Department of Energy is the recipient. However, we were able to obtain a copy of the document after several phone calls to their office. Document is available for review upon request. Proposed Completion Date: Completed Finding No.: 2023-015, continued AL Program: 15.875 – Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories Area: Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Questioned Costs: $4,203 Contact Person(s): Epiphanio Cabrera, Jr., Grants Administrator, OGM-SC Corrective Action Plan: Condition 2: The Office of Grants Management (OGM) disagrees with this finding and questioned cost of $2,803.00. The documents were obtained for both employees and are available for review upon request. Proposed Completion Date: Completed

Finding No.: 2023-014 AL Programs: 11.307 – Economic Adjustment Assistance Area: Reporting Questioned Costs: $-0- Contact Person(s): Elizabeth S. Balajadia, Office of Planning and Development Acting Director / James Kintol, Project Manager, Department of Finance Corrective Action Plan: Condition 1: For project no. FG17010001 (related to the Economic Resiliency Center), the CNMI Department of Finance respectfully disagrees with this finding. The Department was not aware that a documentation request had been submitted through the EY portal. This occurred because the ERC project was grouped with other OPD-related projects within the same EY portal request, resulting in the Department not receiving clear notification that additional documents were required. The Department maintains all relevant supporting documentation for these transactions and such documentation is available for review upon request from the Grantor. The Office of Planning and Development partially disagrees with the finding related to Project No. FG26050001 and FG26050006. OPD has located the SF-425 Federal Financial Report for Project No. FG26050001 / Grant Award No. 07-79-07631 for the reporting period ending September 30, 2022, and the report is maintained by OPD and available for review. With respect to Project No. FG26050006 / Grant Award No. ED22SEA3070013, OPD has been unable to locate the referenced SF-425 reports for the reporting periods ending September 30, 2022, and March 31, 2023. However, although the grant was awarded in 2022, the project was not established until June 12, 2023, and grant activities had not commenced during the reporting periods cited in the finding. OPD will coordinate with the Department of Finance to determine whether reporting requirements applied during the referenced periods. Should additional guidance or clarification indicate that such reporting requirements were applicable, OPD will review the information provided and take appropriate action, as necessary. Correspondence from the Department of Finance confirming the project establishment date is available for review. OPD will continue coordinating with the Department of Finance and reviewing grant award documentation to determine whether reporting requirements applied during the referenced reporting periods and to identify any records relevant to the audit finding. No further corrective action is proposed at this time pending clarification of the applicable reporting requirements. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing Condition 2a: For project no. FG17010001 (related to the Economic Resiliency Center), the Department of Finance respectfully disagrees with this finding. The Department was not aware that a documentation request had been submitted through the EY portal. This occurred because the ERC Finding No.: 2023-014, continued AL Programs: 11.307 – Economic Adjustment Assistance Area: Reporting Questioned Costs: $-0- Contact Person(s): Elizabeth S. Balajadia, Office of Planning and Development Acting Director / James Kintol, Project Manager, Department of Finance Corrective Action Plan: project was grouped with other OPD-related projects within the same EY portal request, resulting in the Department not receiving clear notification that additional documents were required. The Department maintains all relevant supporting documentation for these transactions and such documentation is available for review upon request from the Grantor. The Office of Planning and Development (OPD) respectfully disagrees with the finding related to Project No. 2605210018. OPD has located the SF-271 Outlay Reports and Requests for Reimbursement for Construction Program for Project No. 2605210018 / Grant Award No. 07-79-07562 covering the periods July 1, 2022, through October 31, 2022, and November 1, 2022, through January 9, 2023. These records are maintained by OPD and are available for review. No further corrective action is proposed. OPD has located the requested SF-271 reports and confirmed that they are maintained within its grant records and available for review. OPD will continue maintaining grant records in accordance with applicable record-retention requirements. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing Condition 2b: The Office of Planning and Development (OPD) respectfully disagrees with the finding. OPD has located supporting accounting records associated with the SF-271 for Project No. 2605210018 / Grant Award No. 07-79-07562 covering the period August 29, 2022, through April 30, 2023, including invoices, purchase orders, and check copies. These records are maintained by OPD and are available for review. No further corrective action is proposed. The requested supporting records have been located and are maintained by OPD for review. OPD will continue maintaining supporting financial documentation in accordance with applicable record-retention requirements. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing Condition 3a: For project no. FG17010001 (related to the Economic Resiliency Center), the Department of Finance respectfully disagrees with this finding. The Department was not aware that a documentation request had been submitted through the EY portal. This occurred because the ERC project was grouped with other OPD-related projects within the same EY portal request, resulting in the Department not receiving clear notification that additional documents were required. The Department maintains all relevant supporting documentation for these transactions and such documentation is available for review upon request from the Grantor. Finding No.: 2023-014, continued AL Programs: 11.307 – Economic Adjustment Assistance Area: Reporting Questioned Costs: $-0- Contact Person(s): Elizabeth S. Balajadia, Office of Planning and Development Acting Director / James Kintol, Project Manager, Department of Finance Corrective Action Plan: The Office of Planning and Development (OPD) respectfully disagrees with the finding. OPD has located the performance reports for Project No. FG26050001 / Grant Award No. 07-79-07631 and Project No. 2605210018 / Grant Award No. 07-79-07562 for the reporting period ending September 30, 2022. OPD believes the reports referenced in the finding as Periodic Performance Reports are maintained and submitted by OPD as Quarterly Progress Reports (QPRs). These records are maintained by OPD and are available for review. No further corrective action is proposed. The requested performance reports have been located and are maintained by OPD for review. OPD will continue maintaining programmatic records in accordance with applicable record-retention requirements. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing Condition 3b: The Office of Planning and Development (OPD) agrees with the finding. The Periodic Performance Report for Project No. 2605210018 / Grant Award No. 07-79-07562 for the reporting period ending December 31, 2022, was submitted after the required due date. Although operational circumstances at the time contributed to the delay, OPD recognizes the importance of timely reporting and will strengthen internal monitoring procedures to improve tracking of reporting deadlines and support timely submission of all required reports. OPD will implement a reporting calendar and periodic internal reviews to monitor upcoming reporting deadlines and ensure timely submission of all required reports. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing Condition 4: For project no. FG17010001 (related to the Economic Resiliency Center), the CNMI Department of Finance respectfully disagrees with this finding. Based on the project’s Special Award Conditions, the only reporting requirements identified for this award are the submission of Project Progress Reports and Financial Reports (SF-425). No additional reporting or documentation requirements – beyond those explicitly stated – were communicated to the Department. Accordingly, the Department requests further clarification from the auditor regarding the specific authority or requirement that forms this basis of this finding, including where such a requirement Finding No.: 2023-014, continued AL Programs: 11.307 – Economic Adjustment Assistance Area: Reporting Questioned Costs: $-0- Contact Person(s): Elizabeth S. Balajadia, Office of Planning and Development Acting Director / James Kintol, Project Manager, Department of Finance Corrective Action Plan: is documented. A copy of the Special Award Conditions is maintained by the Department and is available for review upon request. The Office of Planning and Development (OPD) respectfully disagrees with the finding. OPD reviewed the grant files, including the applicable Special Award Conditions, for Project No. 2605210018 / Grant Award No. 07-79-07562 and Project No. FG26050001 / Grant Award No. 07- 79-07631. OPD was unable to identify a requirement for submission of an Annual Performance Technical Report within the grant terms and conditions governing these awards. The applicable Special Award Conditions have been identified and are available for review. OPD respectfully requests clarification regarding the specific report referenced in the finding and will provide any applicable documentation should an applicable reporting requirement be identified. OPD will review any additional guidance or clarification provided regarding the reporting requirements applicable to these grants and will take appropriate action, if necessary. OPD will continue reviewing grant award requirements and maintaining documentation of applicable reporting obligations to support compliance and future audit reviews.

Finding No.: 2023-013 AL Programs: 11.307 – Economic Adjustment Assistance Area: Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Questioned Costs: $3,695,208 Contact Person(s): Elizabeth S. Balajadia, Office of Planning and Development Acting Director / James Kintol, Project Manager, Department of Finance Corrective Action Plan: Condition 1: The CNMI Department of Finance respectfully disagrees with this finding related to project number FG17010001 (Economic Resiliency Center). The Department acknowledges that although supporting documentation – such as journal entries, approvals of expense transfers, sole-source justification memo, and grantor approval - was submitted, copies of the related invoices and/or contract agreement were not included. This omission was an oversight and resulted in a documentation-timing deficiency. The Department maintains copies of all required documents, and they are available for review upon request. To prevent recurrence, the department will reinforce our internal review procedures to ensure that all required supporting documentation is consistently compiled, retained within the Tyler MUNIS system, and submitted as part of future audit requests. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing Condition 2: The CNMI Department of Finance respectfully disagrees with this finding related to PA Journals 478, 360, 2137, and 335. These transactions pertain to the Department’s Economic Resiliency Center (ERC) project. Due to internal scheduling constraints and the compressed 2-day turnaround to provide supporting documentation to the auditors, the requested documents were not submitted by the specified deadline. This timing issue resulted in the finding; however, it does not reflect a Finding No.: 2023-013, continued AL Programs: 11.307 – Economic Adjustment Assistance Area: Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Questioned Costs: $3,695,208 Contact Person(s): Elizabeth S. Balajadia, Office of Planning and Development Acting Director / James Kintol, Project Manager, Department of Finance Corrective Action Plan: lack of documentation or inadequate recordkeeping. The Department maintains all relevant supporting documentation for these transactions and such documentation is available for review upon request from the Grantor. The Office of Planning and Development (OPD) partially agrees with the finding. OPD reviewed the questioned transactions and supporting documentation available under its custody. Payment documentation has been identified for PA Journals 186, 142, 141, 2670, 270, 4200, 556, 4180, and 913 and is maintained by OPD for review. For PA Journals 191 and 144, OPD verified that the invoice amounts are consistent with Contract No. 32200454; however, the PA Journal effective dates and journal numbers provided in the audit schedule do not correspond with the records reflected in the Munis system. For PA Journals 1585, 1862, 2219, 1138, 197, 593, and 219, additional information is required to complete verification because the PA Journal effective dates and journal numbers differ from the Munis records available to OPD. The referenced invoice amounts alone are insufficient to identify the transactions, as they may represent portions of cost shared expenditures or partial payments associated with larger transactions. Identification of the vendor would significantly assist in locating and reconciling the transactions. OPD further notes that the compilation of requested documentation occurred under significant time constraints. During the audit process, agencies were at one point provided approximately two business days to submit requested samples and supporting documentation. Given the volume of transactions and the age of some records, the limited response timeframe may have affected the ability to fully research, reconcile, and compile all supporting documentation prior to submission. Additional time for both agency response and auditor review may have facilitated a more comprehensive reconciliation and verification of the questioned items. OPD will continue coordinating with the Department of Finance and the auditors to reconcile discrepancies between the audit schedules and Munis records, provide available supporting documentation, and strengthen record-retention and transaction-tracking procedures to ensure supporting documentation is readily identifiable and accessible for future audits. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing

Finding No.: 2023-010 AL Program: 10.539 – Nutrition Assistance Program Area: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Questioned Costs: $684,138 Contact Person(s): Margaret Aldan, NAP Administrator / Geraldine Cruz, Procurement Services Director Corrective Action Plan: Condition 1: The Procurement Services Division respectfully disagrees with this finding. Procurement Services agrees that the Commonwealth should periodically review its procurement regulations to ensure continued consistency with applicable federal requirements. However, Procurement Services notes that the Procurement Regulations currently establish procurement thresholds and procedures for locally funded procurements and procurements funded through a combination of local and federal funds. Procurements exceeding applicable small purchase thresholds are required to proceed through other procurement methods authorized under the Procurement Regulations, including competitive sealed bidding or other approved procurement methods, as applicable. Procurement Services further notes that procurements exceeding the applicable small purchase thresholds are governed by other provisions of the Procurement Regulations and are therefore not without regulatory direction. Accordingly, Procurement Services does not fully concur that the regulations are inconsistent as described in the finding. Finding No.: 2023-010, continued AL Program: 10.539 – Nutrition Assistance Program Area: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Questioned Costs: $684,138 Contact Person(s): Margaret Aldan, NAP Administrator / Geraldine Cruz, Procurement Services Director Corrective Action Plan: Nevertheless, Procurement Services recognizes the importance of ensuring that procurement regulations clearly align with applicable federal requirements and are sufficiently clear to avoid differing interpretations. Procurement Services is currently reviewing the applicable regulations, policies, and procedures with legal counsel to determine whether revisions, clarifications, or additional guidance are warranted. Due to the resignation of the Assistant Attorney General previously assigned to Procurement Services, this review will continue with newly assigned legal counsel. Any amendments to the Procurement Regulations will require legal review, drafting, public notice, and formal adoption before they can take effect. Procurement Services will also continue monitoring updates to federal procurement requirements and will incorporate any necessary changes into its policies, procedures, and guidance. These efforts will help improve clarity, consistency, and compliance with applicable procurement requirements. Proposed Completion Date: Ongoing Condition 2: CNMI NAP agrees with this finding. The issue occurred because the previous policies and procedures did not fully document the three allowable verification methods under 2 CFR 180.300 for covered transactions ≥ $25,000. As a result of repeat findings, CNMI NAP developed and implemented the updated “SOP for Procurement of Goods and Servicesv.3”, which explicitly requires verification of vendors in the SAM.gov exclusions list prior to award (Section 4.1 and 4.3) and after contract execution, in full compliance with 2 CFR 200.214 and 2 CFR 180.300. This SOP was approved and effective 5/1/25 and is available for review upon request. Additional step taken by CNMI NAP is to continue adhering to the “CNMI NAP Suspension and Debarment SOP” that requires a screen-print documentation and annual reviews. This SOP was approved on 9/24/24 and is available for review upon request. Finding No.: 2023-010, continued AL Program: 10.539 – Nutrition Assistance Program Area: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Questioned Costs: $684,138 Contact Person(s): Margaret Aldan, NAP Administrator / Geraldine Cruz, Procurement Services Director Corrective Action Plan: To prevent recurrence, CNMI NAP will deliver targeted training to all procurement, finance, and program staff on the updated SOPs, continue quarterly internal reviews of procurement files using new Google Sheet tracking system to verify ongoing SAM.gov compliance. Full staff training and first quarterly review will be completed by 9/30/26. Additionally, Procurement Services agrees that vendor eligibility was not verified in accordance with 2 CFR Part 180 prior to the covered transactions identified by the auditors. To address this issue, Procurement Services has incorporated suspension and debarment verification into its procurement review process. For federally funded covered transactions, expenditure authorities will be required to provide documentation from the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) verifying that the vendor is not suspended or debarred. This documentation must be submitted with the procurement package and retained in the procurement file prior to award. Procurement Services will review the documentation as part of its procurement review process and will provide additional guidance to procurement personnel and expenditure authorities regarding federal suspension and debarment requirements. These measures are intended to improve compliance with federal requirements and strengthen procurement documentation and oversight. Proposed Completion Date: Completed

We acknowledge the finding. The Municipality will be working on scheduling the reports required by each program. It is important to note that all reports are prepared by the accountants assigned to each federal program and reviewed and approved by the Finance Department and the Mayor. This process sometimes results in late report submissions. Staff have been instructed to work on the reports before the 10th of each month to allow sufficient time for proper review and submission, ensuring they are duly reviewed and approved. The reports due on September 15, 2022, and October 15, 2022, were delayed due to Hurricane Fiona's passage through Puerto Rico on September 14, 2022. We experienced power and internet outages at the Municipality. Personnel in charge: Daiana González Hernández, Finance Office Director Projected Completion Date: August 31, 2026

Audit Finding Reference: 2023-002 Internal Controls Over Reporting Planned Corrective Action: Finance Director will review quarterly report prior to submission Planned Implementation Date of Corrective Action: Immediately upon notification, June 09, 2025. Person Responsible for Corrective Action: County Administrator and Finance Director

2023-014 –TITLE I – INADEQUATE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION – ALN 84.010 – MATERIAL WEAKNESS & MATERIAL NONCOMPLIANCE Condition: Williston Basin Public School District No. 7 was unable to provide supporting documentation for expenses charged to the Title I program. 47 of the 60 expenditures we sampled did not have any support, leaving them with known questioned costs of $318,881. Management’s Response: We agree. WBSD#7 created a new Grants Coordinator position in July 2023 with one of the specific responsibilities for that position being oversight of all Federal programs. This oversight responsibility includes monitoring expenditures to ensure all expenditures are allowable within the parameters of each program and also that proper documentation for those expenditures has been maintained. It has taken the district some time to get this area cleaned up. The district is adding another position to this department to assist in maintaining documentation. Anticipated Completion Date: FY 2025

2023-013 – EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND - LACK OF SUPPORT OVER ESSER FUNDS – ALN 84.425 - MATERIAL WEAKNESS & MATERIAL NONCOMPLIANCE Condition: Williston Basin Public School District No. 7 was unable to provide supporting documentation for journal entries that were done to reallocate payroll. There were 3 journal entries totaling $6,391,442 that were completed at year end to move salaries into the Education Stabilization Fund program that did not have documentation to support the salary expenditures. Management’s Response: We agree. WBSD#7 created a new Grants Coordinator position in July 2023 with one of the specific responsibilities for that position being oversight of all Federal programs. This oversight responsibility includes monitoring expenditures to ensure all expenditures are allowable within the parameters of each program and also that proper documentation for those expenditures has been maintained. It has taken the district some time to get this area cleaned up. Anticipated Completion Date: FY 2025

2023-006 – CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS – IMPROPER AND UNTIMELY REPORTING OF EXPENDITURES & OBLIGATIONS – ALN 21.027 – MATERIAL WEAKNESS & MATERIAL NONCOMPLIANCE Condition: Mercer County did not properly report total cumulative and current period expenditures and obligations on the March 31, 2023, Project and Expenditure Report for the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds program. The total reported cumulative expenditures and obligations were overstated by $37,577 and $484,435. The total reported current period expenditures were understated by $345,365, and the total current period obligations were overstated by $780,000. In addition, the 2023 report was submitted on May 15, 2023, roughly two weeks after the April 30, 2023 deadline. Corrective Action Plan: We agree. We will ensure the future obligation reports that are sent are proper. Anticipated Completion Date: FY 2026

Management’s Response or Department’s Response The County agrees with the finding and recommendation. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan The County Auditor’s office will work with department heads to establish a formalized policy of tracking timely reporting and correspondence procedures with grantors in the case of delayed reporting. In addition the County will appropriately allocate employee resources to ensure compliance with deadlines. Anticipated Completion Date/Completion Date June 30, 2027 Contact Information of Responsible Official Name: Donald McNair Title: County Clerk & Auditor-Controller Phone: 209-533-6593

Finding No.: 2023-020 AL Program: 93.243 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance Area: Special Tests and Provisions - Key Level Management Questioned Costs: Undeterminable Views of Auditee and Corrective Action Plan: Management’s Position: PSS Management concurs with the findings. Financial and Grants Management processes were promulgated in a SOP on September 18, 2024. The SOPs are under review by an external consultant and recommendations made to improve documentation of time and effort allocable under federal awards. (See also 2023-004, 2023-0009) Corrective Action Plan: I. Establishment of Time and Effort SOPs: PSS will finalize and implement a dedicated Time and Effort Reporting SOP. This policy will explicitly define the key management Level of Effort (LOE) requirements by position and mandate the collection of specific supporting records, including Notice of Personnel Action (NOPA) forms, payroll registers, and certified timesheets. The SOP will feature robust internal controls and supervisory review procedures designed to prevent improper payments and ensure accurate labor distribution. II. Standardization of Key Management Records: PSS will obtain and systematically retain NOPA forms or equivalent documentation for all six positions identified in the grant agreement. This documentation will serve as the primary evidence to demonstrate compliance. III. Labor Distribution Monitoring Controls: PSS is implementing ongoing monitoring controls to ensure continued compliance. This includes a periodic internal review of payroll registers against the original grant agreements to verify that the labor costs charged to the award remain consistent with the approved personnel budget and documented effort. Proposed Completion Date: August 2026 Name of Contact Person and Title: Contact: Jacqueline Che, Federal Programs Officer Email Address: jacqueline.che@cnmipss.org

Finding No.: 2023-018 AL Program: 93.243 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance Area: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Questioned Costs: $-0- Views of Auditee and Corrective Action Plan: Management’s Position: PSS Management concurs with the finding. While internal verification of disbursements is a standard part of our fiscal workflow, we recognize that our current process has the space to improve. Corrective Action Plan: To ensure that all disbursements are verified and documented prior to payment, PSS will implement the following: I. High Level Review and Approval: Implementation of Comptroller/ Director of Finance review on the Batch Invoice Summary signifying invoice entries on the said batch are verified and correct. After the review, the Comptroller will sign. II. Updated Payment Verification Process: Payments via check or ACH are reviewed by the Comptroller/ Director of Finance through Payment Manager and marking the Batch Invoice Summary that payments matched the invoice. Proposed Completion Date: December 2025 Name of Contact Person and Title: Contact: Jonathan Aguon, Director of Finance Email Address: jonathan.aguon@cnmipss.org

Finding No.: 2023-017 AL Program: COVID-19 84.425A/84.425X Education Stabilization Fund Area: Special Tests and Provisions - Private School Participation Questioned Costs: Undeterminable Views of Auditee and Corrective Action Plan: Management’s Position: PSS Management disagrees with the finding. PSS asserts that timely and meaningful consultations were conducted with private school officials prior to making decisions regarding the size, scope, and funding of equitable services for FY2023. Calculations for the equitable share under the Education Stabilization Funds were performed in accordance with federal regulations, ensuring that per-pupil allocations for eligible private school students and teachers were equitable relative to public school expenditures. PSS maintains that consultation timelines, meeting records, and allocation formulas were maintained. While PSS is continuously refining its administrative workflows, the existing documentation and controls were sufficient to satisfy the requirements of 34 CFR § 299.7. Proposed Completion Date: Resolution in progress and on track for completion by August 2026. Name of Contact Person and Title: Contact: Jacqueline Che, Federal Programs Officer Email Address: jacqueline.che@cnmipss.org

Finding No.: 2023-016 AL Program: COVID-19 84.425A/84.425X Education Stabilization Fund Area: Special Tests and Provisions - Wage Rate Requirement Questioned Costs: Undeterminable Views of Auditee and Corrective Action Plan: Management’s Position: PSS Management concurs with the audit findings. We acknowledge that our current procurement and contract administration processes did not consistently incorporate the mandatory Davis-Bacon Act labor standard clauses or the subsequent collection of certified payrolls. PSS is committed to implementing a rigorous compliance framework for all federally funded construction and repair projects. Financial, Procurement, and Grants Management policies procedures were promulgated in a SOPs on September 18, 2024. The financial management system was subsequently changed to Tyler Munis to conform with CNMI central government requirements which will enhance capabilities. The SOPs and the Tyler Munis implementation are under review by an external consultant and recommendations made to improve documentation of cost allowability have been received. Payment procedures are being addressed in a separate SOP. Corrective Action Plan: To ensure full compliance with 29 CFR 5.5 and federal wage rate requirements, PSS will implement the following: I. Standardized Construction Contract Template: PSS Legal Counsel and the Procurement Office will develop a standardized "Federal Construction Contract Addendum." This addendum will contain all mandatory Davis-Bacon Act clauses required by 29 CFR 5.5(a)(1)-(10). Effective immediately, no contract or purchase order exceeding $2,000 for construction, alteration, or repair will be executed without the inclusion of this addendum. II. Mandatory Certified Payroll Submission Protocol: PSS will update its "Notice to Proceed" and project management guidelines to explicitly state that progress payments will be withheld until the contractor submits the required weekly certified payrolls. Contractors will be provided with the Form WH-347 (or an equivalent) to ensure they are using the correct reporting format. III. Pre-Construction Compliance Meetings: For all future Davis-Bacon covered projects, PSS will hold a mandatory pre-construction meeting with contractors to clearly communicate their obligations regarding certified payrolls and the posting of the applicable wage decision at the job site. IV. Document Retention and Review Audit: PSS will implement a "Project Close-out Checklist." Finance will not process the final retention payment for any construction project until the Labor Compliance Monitor certifies that all weekly certified payrolls have been received, reviewed, and filed. V. Updated Standard Operating Procedures and Training: PSS will finalize SOPs and policies internal controls with updated internal controls and procedures for required contract clauses and oversight. Checklists will be updated to include a specific control for Davis-Bacon reporting. Require all current contractors and those identified in this audit to submit certified payrolls for 2023 through the span of their contracts for all Davis-Bacon covered work. PSS Procurement and Supply staff will receive refresher training on cost principles annually regarding required contract clauses and documentation to support compliance with requirements. Proposed Completion Date: September 2026 Name of Contact Person and Title: Contact: Michael Jason A. Babauta, Chief Procurement & Supply Officer Email Address: michael.jason.babauta@cnmipss.org

Finding No.: 2023-015 AL Program: COVID-19 84.425A/84.425X Education Stabilization Fund Area: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking Questioned Costs: Undeterminable Views of Auditee and Corrective Action Plan: Management’s Position: PSS Management does not agree with the finding. PSS has allocated and expended more than 20% on evidence-based interventions to address learning loss. Specifically, projects listed under the ARP expense report are mapped directly to learning loss categories (e.g. expenses for summer school, extended learning opportunities, high dosage tutors, etc.). Based on this documentation, we request that the audit finding be revised to reflect compliance. Proposed Completion Date: Resolution in progress and on track for completion by August 2026. Name of Contact Person and Title: Contact: Jacqueline Che, Federal Programs Officer Email Address: jacqueline.che@cnmipss.org

Finding No.: 2023-013 AL Program: COVID-19 84.425A/84.425X Education Stabilization Fund Area: Activities Allowed/Unallowed, Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Questioned Costs: $-0- Views of Auditee and Corrective Action Plan: Management’s Position: PSS Management concurs with the findings. Financial and Grants Management policies procedures were promulgated in SOPs on September 18, 2024. The financial management system was subsequently changed to Tyler Munis to conform with CNMI central government requirements which will enhance capabilities. The SOPs and the Tyler Munis implementation are under review by an external consultant and recommendations made to improve documentation of cost allowability have been received. Corrective Action Plan: I. Finalization of Allowability and Disbursement SOPs: PSS will finalize comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and policies specifically governing allowability determinations and vendor payments. II. Enhanced Disbursement Controls: PSS is implementing a documented review and approval controls over the payment process. Before any check or ACH disbursement is finalized, a reviewer must verify that the payment amount agrees exactly with the approved invoice. This verification will be physically or digitally documented on the payment voucher to provide a clear audit trail of the pre-payment review. Proposed Completion Date: In progress for FY 2024 with full implementation and documentation processes expected to be completed in 2026. As part of this improvement, we are designing a standardized, documented review process to ensure all disbursements are verified against approved invoices prior to payment. Name of Contact Person and Title: Contact: Jonathan Aguon, Director of Finance Email Address: jonathan.aguon@cnmipss.org

Finding No.: 2023-010 AL Program: 84.403 Consolidated Grants to the Outlying Areas Area: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Questioned Costs: $-0- Views of Auditee and Corrective Action Plan: Management’s Position: PSS Management concurs with the findings. Financial and Grants Management policies procedures were promulgated in SOPs on September 18, 2024. The financial management system was subsequently changed to Tyler Munis to conform with CNMI central government requirements which will enhance capabilities. The SOPs and the Tyler Munis implementation are under review by an external consultant and recommendations made to improve documentation of cost allowability have been received. Corrective Action Plan: I. Finalization of Allowability and Disbursement SOPs: PSS will finalize comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and policies specifically governing allowability determinations and vendor payments. II. Enhanced Disbursement Controls: PSS is implementing a documented review and approval controls over the payment process. Before any check or ACH disbursement is finalized, a reviewer must verify that the payment amount agrees exactly with the approved invoice. This verification will be physically or digitally documented on the payment voucher to provide a clear audit trail of the pre-payment review. Proposed Completion Date: In progress for FY 2024 with full implementation and documentation processes expected to be completed in 2026. As part of this improvement, we are designing a standardized, documented review process to ensure all disbursements are verified against approved invoices prior to payment. Name of Contact Person and Title: Contact: Jonathan Aguon, Director of Finance Email Address: jonathan.aguon@cnmipss.org

Finding No.: 2023-003 AL Program: 10.555 National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Area: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Questioned Costs: $-0- Views of Auditee and Corrective Action Plan: Management’s Position: PSS Management concurs with the findings. Financial and Grants Management policies procedures were promulgated in SOPs on September 18, 2024. The financial management system was subsequently changed to Tyler Munis to conform with CNMI central government requirements which will enhance capabilities. The SOPs and the Tyler Munis implementation are under review by an external consultant and recommendations made to improve documentation of cost allowability have been received. Corrective Action Plan: I. Finalization of Allowability and Disbursement SOPs: PSS will finalize comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and policies specifically governing allowability determinations and vendor payments. II. Enhanced Disbursement Controls: PSS is implementing a documented review and approval controls over the payment process. Before any check or ACH disbursement is finalized, a reviewer must verify that the payment amount agrees exactly with the approved invoice. This verification will be physically or digitally documented on the payment voucher to provide a clear audit trail of the pre-payment review. Proposed Completion Date: In progress for FY 2024 with full implementation and documentation processes expected to be completed in 2026. As part of this improvement, we are designing a standardized, documented review process to ensure all disbursements are verified against approved invoices prior to payment. Name of Contact Person and Title: Contact: Jonathan Aguon, Director of Finance Email Address: jonathan.aguon@cnmipss.org

Director of American Rescue Plan (ARP) Programs, Federal program managers, and Chief Financial Officer January 2024 To ensure timely submission of the quarterly compliance reports, the reporting process was updated to remove the multi-level review requirement. Eliminating the multi-level review process allowed management to meet reporting deadlines more efficiently. Further, the Authority will strengthen financial oversight, by requiring all direct reports (monthly to bi-monthly financial reports) be submitted to the CFO. These reports will be used to continuously monitor program performance, identify any discrepancies, and address issues in a timely manner.

Director of American Rescue Plan (ARP) Programs, Federal program managers, and Chief Financial Officer October 2023 Management remains committed to continuous improvement and has taken corrective actions to strengthen internal controls, ensure proper documentation retention, and maintain full compliance with applicable federal regulations

Responsible Parties: Erik Estill and Russell Raney Finding: Due to the passage of time, the turnover of staff, and the use of a third-party payroll provider, supporting documentation necessary to verify and document vendor payments and payroll transactions was not available, resulting in the inability to obtain sufficient, appropriate audit evidence related to these amounts. Corrective Action: The school (LEAD Academy) contracted with New Schools for Alabama (NSFA) during 2023 to handle all their finance and accounting needs. By the end of 2023, the school also transitioned all payroll services to New Schools for Alabama. Prior to 2024, a third-party vendor was handling/processing payroll for LEAD Academy. Additionally, procedures were not in place to maintain monthly payroll data (timesheets, leave balances, documentation of annual salaries) prior to 2024. All financial records are now maintained digitally, with the original documents residing at the school. Additionally, NSFA worked with existing staff regarding proper documentation and filing of financial records and helped establish a new filing system. In 2024, payroll processing for the school was transitioned to NSFA, utilizing the state approved accounting/payroll software. Monthly procedures are now in place for the submission, approval and documentation of all payroll transactions. Expected Completion Date: September 30, 2024

Responsible Parties: Erik Estill and Russell Raney Finding: Due to the passage of time, the turnover of staff, supporting documentation necessary to verify and document vendor payment was not available, resulting in the inability to obtain sufficient, appropriate audit evidence related to these amounts. During the testing of ESSER funds, there were 2 instances where the purchase order could not be located and one invoice that could not be located. Corrective Action: The school (LEAD Academy) contracted with New Schools for Alabama (NSFA) during 2023 to handle all their finance and accounting needs. By the end of 2023, the school also transitioned all payroll services to New Schools for Alabama. NSFA helped establish a purchase order procedure and worked with the school to make sure a purchase order or signed contract is in place prior to the purchase of goods and services. Additionally, approval on all invoices is required before NSFA processes them for payment, in order to verify that all goods and services have been received. Prior to 2024, proper procedures were not in place to maintain vendor files and accounts payable documentation. All financial records are now maintained digitally, with the original documents residing at the school. Additionally, NSFA worked with existing staff regarding proper documentation and filing of financial records and helped establish a new filing system. NSFA requires the school to indicate the source of funding for purchases, in order to know how to code the expenditure. We utilize monthly budget to actual reports to verify that expenditures are in line with the approved budget, ensuring that the correct coding has been used. We also ensure that only allowable expenditures are charged to federal funds, based on approved federal Egap applications and budgets.

Responsible Parties: Erik Estill and Russell Raney Finding: Due to the passage of time, the turnover of staff, and the use of a third-party payroll provider, supporting documentation necessary to verify and document payroll transactions was not available, resulting in the inability to obtain sufficient, appropriate audit evidence related to these amounts. Corrective Action: The school (LEAD Academy) contracted with New Schools for Alabama (NSFA) during 2023 to handle all their finance and accounting needs. By the end of 2023, the school also transitioned all payroll services to New Schools for Alabama. Prior to 2024, a third-party vendor was handling/processing payroll for LEAD Academy. The upload file produced by the vendor was not accurately formatted, resulting in incorrect entries to some general ledger accounts, which required extensive corrections by NSFA to the FY 2023 financials. Many of these corrections involved federal ESSER funding, and the school was not able to identify specific individuals paid with ESSER funds or provide backup documentation. Additionally, procedures were not in place to maintain monthly payroll data (timesheets, leave balances, documentation of annual salaries) prior to 2024. All financial records are now maintained digitally, with the original documents residing at the school. Additionally, NSFA worked with existing staff regarding proper documentation and filing of financial records and helped establish a new filing system. In 2024, payroll processing for the school was transitioned to NSFA, utilizing the state approved accounting/payroll software. Monthly procedures are now in place for the submission, approval and documentation of all payroll transactions. Expected Completion Date: September 30, 2024