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: ...
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.