Reference Number: 2022-003 Prior Year Finding: No Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture State Agency: Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Federal Program: Child Nutrition Cluster, COVID-19 ? Child Nutrition Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 10.555, 10.559, 10.582 Award Number and Year: 214MA303N1099 (10/1/2020 ? 9/30/2021), 214MA303N1199 (10/1/2020 ? 9/30/2021) Compliance Requirement: Reporting ? Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: Compliance: Per the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), prime (direct) recipients of grants or cooperative agreements are required to report first-tier subawards of $30,000 or more to the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act Subaward Reporting System (FSRS). Reports must be filed in FSRS by the end of the month following the month in which the prime recipient awards any sub-grant greater than or equal to $30,000. If the initial award is below $30,000 but subsequent grant modifications result in a total award equal to or over $30,000, the award will be subject to the reporting requirements as of the date the award exceeds $30,000. If the initial award equals or exceeds $30,000 but funding is subsequently de-obligated such that the total award amount falls below $30,000, the award continues to be subject to FFATA reporting requirements. The following key data elements must be reported: Subawardee Name and Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number; Amount of Subaward (inclusive of modifications); Subaward Obligation/Action Date; Date of Report Submission; Subaward Number; Project Description; and Names and Compensation of Highly Compensated Officers. (Names and Compensation of Highly Compensated Officers must only be reported when the entity in the preceding fiscal year received 80 percent or more of its annual gross revenues in Federal awards; and $30,000,000 or more in annual gross revenues from Federal awards; and the public does not have access to this information about the compensation of the senior executives of the entity through periodic reports filed under section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. ?? 78m(a), 78o(d)) or section 6104 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.) Control: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a non-Federal entity must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should comply with guidance in ?Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government? issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the ?Internal Control Integrated Framework?, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Section III ? Findings and Questioned Costs ? Major Federal Programs (Continued) Condition: The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) did not report subaward information to FSRS timely. Context: Twenty-three of forty subrecipients selected for testing were not reported timely to FSRS during FY 2022. The subawards were reported from one to two months later than required by FFATA reporting requirements. SEE SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS FOR CHART/TABLE Cause: The Department?s procedures and controls were not sufficient to ensure that subawards were reported timely to FSRS during FY 2022. Effect: Subawards were not reported to FSRS in accordance with FFATA requirements. Questioned costs: None noted. Recommendation: We recommend the Department review and enhance procedures and internal controls to ensure that all required subawards are reported timely to FSRS no later than the end of the month following the month of issuance. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding.
Reference Number: 2022-004 Prior Year Finding: No Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture State Agency: Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Federal Program: Child and Adult Care Food Program, COVID-19 ? Child and Adult Care Food Program Assistance Listing Number: 10.558 Award Number and Year: 202120N202044 (10/1/2020 ? 9/30/2021), 202120H170644 (12/27/2020 ? 9/30/2021), 202222N202044 (10/1/2021 ? 9/30/2022), 202222N115044 (10/1/2021 ? 9/30/2022), 202221N115044 (10/1/2021 ? 9/30/2023) Compliance Requirement: Eligibility and Subrecipient Monitoring Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control Over Compliance, Material Noncompliance Criteria or specific requirement: Compliance: Eligibility ? Per 7 CFR section 226.2, subrecipients must meet the definition of ?independent center? or ?sponsoring organization?. In addition, all institutions must also meet the eligibility requirements stated in 7 CFR section 226.15 and 42 USC 1766(a)(6) and (d)(l). Definitions include: (1) Independent center means a child care center, at-risk afterschool care center, emergency shelter, outside-school-hours care center or adult day care center which enters into an agreement with the state agency to assume final administrative and financial responsibility for program operations. (2) Sponsoring organization means a public or nonprofit private organization that is entirely responsible for the administration of the food program. (3) For-profit center means a child care center, outside-school-hours care center, or adult day care center providing nonresidential care to adults or children that does not qualify for tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. For-profit centers serving adults must meet the criteria described in paragraph (a) of this definition. For-profit centers serving children must meet the criteria described in paragraphs (b )(1) or (b )(2) of this definition, except that children who only participate in the at-risk afterschool snack and/or meal component of the program must not be considered in determining the percentages under paragraphs (b )( 1) or (b)(2) of this definition. Subrecipient Monitoring ? Per 2 CFR section 200.332(a), all pass-through entities must ensure that every subaward is clearly identified to the subrecipient as a subaward and includes the following information at the time of the subaward and if any of these data elements change, include the changes in subsequent subaward modification. When some of this information is not available, the pass-through entity must provide the best information available to describe the Federal award and subaward. Required information includes: i. Subrecipient name (which must match the name associated with its unique entity identifier); ii. Subrecipient's unique entity identifier; iii. Federal Award Identification Number (FAIN); iv. Federal Award Date (see the definition of Federal award date in ? 200.1 of this part) of award to the recipient by the Federal agency; v. Subaward Period of Performance Start and End Date; vi. Subaward Budget Period Start and End Date; vii. Amount of Federal Funds Obligated by this action by the pass-through entity to the subrecipient; viii. Total Amount of Federal Funds Obligated to the subrecipient by the pass-through entity including the current financial obligation; ix. Total Amount of the Federal Award committed to the subrecipient by the pass-through entity; x. Federal award project description, as required to be responsive to the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA); xi. Name of Federal awarding agency, pass-through entity, and contact information for awarding official of the Pass-through entity; xii. Assistance Listings number and Title; the pass-through entity must identify the dollar amount made available under each Federal award and the Assistance Listings Number at time of disbursement; xiii. Identification of whether the award is R&D; and xiv. Indirect cost rate for the Federal award (including if the de minimis rate is charged) per section 200.414. Control: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a non-Federal entity must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should comply with guidance in ?Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government? issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the ?Internal Control Integrated Framework?, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Condition: The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) was unable to provide documentation that it issued subawards in compliance with federal regulations. Context: Forty subawards were selected for testing and the following exceptions were noted: ? For forty of forty subawards selected for testing, the Federal Award Identification Number (FAIN) was not provided to the subrecipient. ? For one of forty subawards selected for testing, the Department could not provide documentation that it had obtained the subrecipient?s Unique Entity Identifier. ? The Department documents subrecipient eligibility in a permanent agreement with each subrecipient. For three of forty subrecipients selected for testing, the Department was unable to provide a copy of the approved permanent agreement, therefore, eligibility for these subrecipients could not be verified. Questioned costs: Undetermined. Cause: The Department?s procedures and controls were not sufficient to ensure that subawards were issued in compliance with federal regulations. Effect: Excluding the required federal grant award information at the time of the subaward may cause subrecipients and their auditors to be uninformed about specific program and other regulations that apply to the funds they receive. There is also the potential for subrecipients to have incomplete Schedules of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) in their Single Audit reports, and federal funds may not be properly audited at the subrecipient level in accordance with the Uniform Guidance. Failure to ensure subrecipients are eligible to receive program funding could result in unauthorized entities receiving program funding. Recommendation: The Department should review and enhance internal controls and procedures to ensure that all subrecipients are eligible to receive program funds, that required information is included in all subawards, that it retains copies of all subaward agreements, and that documentation is readily available for audit. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding.
Reference Number: 2022-004 Prior Year Finding: No Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture State Agency: Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Federal Program: Child and Adult Care Food Program, COVID-19 ? Child and Adult Care Food Program Assistance Listing Number: 10.558 Award Number and Year: 202120N202044 (10/1/2020 ? 9/30/2021), 202120H170644 (12/27/2020 ? 9/30/2021), 202222N202044 (10/1/2021 ? 9/30/2022), 202222N115044 (10/1/2021 ? 9/30/2022), 202221N115044 (10/1/2021 ? 9/30/2023) Compliance Requirement: Eligibility and Subrecipient Monitoring Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control Over Compliance, Material Noncompliance Criteria or specific requirement: Compliance: Eligibility ? Per 7 CFR section 226.2, subrecipients must meet the definition of ?independent center? or ?sponsoring organization?. In addition, all institutions must also meet the eligibility requirements stated in 7 CFR section 226.15 and 42 USC 1766(a)(6) and (d)(l). Definitions include: (1) Independent center means a child care center, at-risk afterschool care center, emergency shelter, outside-school-hours care center or adult day care center which enters into an agreement with the state agency to assume final administrative and financial responsibility for program operations. (2) Sponsoring organization means a public or nonprofit private organization that is entirely responsible for the administration of the food program. (3) For-profit center means a child care center, outside-school-hours care center, or adult day care center providing nonresidential care to adults or children that does not qualify for tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. For-profit centers serving adults must meet the criteria described in paragraph (a) of this definition. For-profit centers serving children must meet the criteria described in paragraphs (b )(1) or (b )(2) of this definition, except that children who only participate in the at-risk afterschool snack and/or meal component of the program must not be considered in determining the percentages under paragraphs (b )( 1) or (b)(2) of this definition. Subrecipient Monitoring ? Per 2 CFR section 200.332(a), all pass-through entities must ensure that every subaward is clearly identified to the subrecipient as a subaward and includes the following information at the time of the subaward and if any of these data elements change, include the changes in subsequent subaward modification. When some of this information is not available, the pass-through entity must provide the best information available to describe the Federal award and subaward. Required information includes: i. Subrecipient name (which must match the name associated with its unique entity identifier); ii. Subrecipient's unique entity identifier; iii. Federal Award Identification Number (FAIN); iv. Federal Award Date (see the definition of Federal award date in ? 200.1 of this part) of award to the recipient by the Federal agency; v. Subaward Period of Performance Start and End Date; vi. Subaward Budget Period Start and End Date; vii. Amount of Federal Funds Obligated by this action by the pass-through entity to the subrecipient; viii. Total Amount of Federal Funds Obligated to the subrecipient by the pass-through entity including the current financial obligation; ix. Total Amount of the Federal Award committed to the subrecipient by the pass-through entity; x. Federal award project description, as required to be responsive to the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA); xi. Name of Federal awarding agency, pass-through entity, and contact information for awarding official of the Pass-through entity; xii. Assistance Listings number and Title; the pass-through entity must identify the dollar amount made available under each Federal award and the Assistance Listings Number at time of disbursement; xiii. Identification of whether the award is R&D; and xiv. Indirect cost rate for the Federal award (including if the de minimis rate is charged) per section 200.414. Control: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a non-Federal entity must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should comply with guidance in ?Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government? issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the ?Internal Control Integrated Framework?, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Condition: The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) was unable to provide documentation that it issued subawards in compliance with federal regulations. Context: Forty subawards were selected for testing and the following exceptions were noted: ? For forty of forty subawards selected for testing, the Federal Award Identification Number (FAIN) was not provided to the subrecipient. ? For one of forty subawards selected for testing, the Department could not provide documentation that it had obtained the subrecipient?s Unique Entity Identifier. ? The Department documents subrecipient eligibility in a permanent agreement with each subrecipient. For three of forty subrecipients selected for testing, the Department was unable to provide a copy of the approved permanent agreement, therefore, eligibility for these subrecipients could not be verified. Questioned costs: Undetermined. Cause: The Department?s procedures and controls were not sufficient to ensure that subawards were issued in compliance with federal regulations. Effect: Excluding the required federal grant award information at the time of the subaward may cause subrecipients and their auditors to be uninformed about specific program and other regulations that apply to the funds they receive. There is also the potential for subrecipients to have incomplete Schedules of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) in their Single Audit reports, and federal funds may not be properly audited at the subrecipient level in accordance with the Uniform Guidance. Failure to ensure subrecipients are eligible to receive program funding could result in unauthorized entities receiving program funding. Recommendation: The Department should review and enhance internal controls and procedures to ensure that all subrecipients are eligible to receive program funds, that required information is included in all subawards, that it retains copies of all subaward agreements, and that documentation is readily available for audit. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding.
Reference Number: 2022-002 Prior Year Finding: No Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture State Agency: Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Federal Program: Child Nutrition Cluster, COVID-19 ? Child Nutrition Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 10.555, 10.559, 10.582 Award Number and Year: 214MA303N1099 (10/1/2020 ? 9/30/2021), 214MA303N1199 (10/1/2020 ? 9/30/2021) Compliance Requirement: Eligibility Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: Compliance: Subrecipient Eligibility - Administering agencies may disburse program funds only to those organizations that meet eligibility requirements under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Special Milk Program for Children (SMP), and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP). Control: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a non-Federal entity must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should comply with guidance in ?Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government? issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the ?Internal Control Integrated Framework?, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Condition: The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) was unable to provide documentation that its subrecipients met eligibility requirements. Context: The Department documents subrecipient eligibility in a permanent agreement with each subrecipient. For 2 of 40 subrecipients selected for testing, the Department was unable to provide a copy of the approved permanent agreement, therefore, eligibility for these subrecipients could not be verified. Questioned costs: Undetermined. Cause: The Department?s procedures and internal controls were not sufficient to ensure that it retained documentation of subrecipient eligibility. Effect: Failure to verify and maintain documentation of subrecipient eligibility could allow the Commonwealth to issue program payments to subrecipients that are not eligible to receive payments under the program. Recommendation: The Department should enhance its policies and procedures to ensure that it retains copies of permanent agreements where subrecipient eligibility is documented and that this documentation is available for audit. Views of responsible officials: Management agrees with the finding.
Reference Number: 2022-003 Prior Year Finding: No Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture State Agency: Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Federal Program: Child Nutrition Cluster, COVID-19 ? Child Nutrition Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 10.555, 10.559, 10.582 Award Number and Year: 214MA303N1099 (10/1/2020 ? 9/30/2021), 214MA303N1199 (10/1/2020 ? 9/30/2021) Compliance Requirement: Reporting ? Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: Compliance: Per the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), prime (direct) recipients of grants or cooperative agreements are required to report first-tier subawards of $30,000 or more to the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act Subaward Reporting System (FSRS). Reports must be filed in FSRS by the end of the month following the month in which the prime recipient awards any sub-grant greater than or equal to $30,000. If the initial award is below $30,000 but subsequent grant modifications result in a total award equal to or over $30,000, the award will be subject to the reporting requirements as of the date the award exceeds $30,000. If the initial award equals or exceeds $30,000 but funding is subsequently de-obligated such that the total award amount falls below $30,000, the award continues to be subject to FFATA reporting requirements. The following key data elements must be reported: Subawardee Name and Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number; Amount of Subaward (inclusive of modifications); Subaward Obligation/Action Date; Date of Report Submission; Subaward Number; Project Description; and Names and Compensation of Highly Compensated Officers. (Names and Compensation of Highly Compensated Officers must only be reported when the entity in the preceding fiscal year received 80 percent or more of its annual gross revenues in Federal awards; and $30,000,000 or more in annual gross revenues from Federal awards; and the public does not have access to this information about the compensation of the senior executives of the entity through periodic reports filed under section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. ?? 78m(a), 78o(d)) or section 6104 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.) Control: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a non-Federal entity must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should comply with guidance in ?Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government? issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the ?Internal Control Integrated Framework?, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Section III ? Findings and Questioned Costs ? Major Federal Programs (Continued) Condition: The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) did not report subaward information to FSRS timely. Context: Twenty-three of forty subrecipients selected for testing were not reported timely to FSRS during FY 2022. The subawards were reported from one to two months later than required by FFATA reporting requirements. SEE SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS FOR CHART/TABLE Cause: The Department?s procedures and controls were not sufficient to ensure that subawards were reported timely to FSRS during FY 2022. Effect: Subawards were not reported to FSRS in accordance with FFATA requirements. Questioned costs: None noted. Recommendation: We recommend the Department review and enhance procedures and internal controls to ensure that all required subawards are reported timely to FSRS no later than the end of the month following the month of issuance. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding.
Reference Number: 2022-002 Prior Year Finding: No Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture State Agency: Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Federal Program: Child Nutrition Cluster, COVID-19 ? Child Nutrition Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 10.555, 10.559, 10.582 Award Number and Year: 214MA303N1099 (10/1/2020 ? 9/30/2021), 214MA303N1199 (10/1/2020 ? 9/30/2021) Compliance Requirement: Eligibility Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: Compliance: Subrecipient Eligibility - Administering agencies may disburse program funds only to those organizations that meet eligibility requirements under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Special Milk Program for Children (SMP), and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP). Control: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a non-Federal entity must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should comply with guidance in ?Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government? issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the ?Internal Control Integrated Framework?, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Condition: The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) was unable to provide documentation that its subrecipients met eligibility requirements. Context: The Department documents subrecipient eligibility in a permanent agreement with each subrecipient. For 2 of 40 subrecipients selected for testing, the Department was unable to provide a copy of the approved permanent agreement, therefore, eligibility for these subrecipients could not be verified. Questioned costs: Undetermined. Cause: The Department?s procedures and internal controls were not sufficient to ensure that it retained documentation of subrecipient eligibility. Effect: Failure to verify and maintain documentation of subrecipient eligibility could allow the Commonwealth to issue program payments to subrecipients that are not eligible to receive payments under the program. Recommendation: The Department should enhance its policies and procedures to ensure that it retains copies of permanent agreements where subrecipient eligibility is documented and that this documentation is available for audit. Views of responsible officials: Management agrees with the finding.
Reference Number: 2022-003 Prior Year Finding: No Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture State Agency: Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Federal Program: Child Nutrition Cluster, COVID-19 ? Child Nutrition Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 10.555, 10.559, 10.582 Award Number and Year: 214MA303N1099 (10/1/2020 ? 9/30/2021), 214MA303N1199 (10/1/2020 ? 9/30/2021) Compliance Requirement: Reporting ? Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: Compliance: Per the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), prime (direct) recipients of grants or cooperative agreements are required to report first-tier subawards of $30,000 or more to the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act Subaward Reporting System (FSRS). Reports must be filed in FSRS by the end of the month following the month in which the prime recipient awards any sub-grant greater than or equal to $30,000. If the initial award is below $30,000 but subsequent grant modifications result in a total award equal to or over $30,000, the award will be subject to the reporting requirements as of the date the award exceeds $30,000. If the initial award equals or exceeds $30,000 but funding is subsequently de-obligated such that the total award amount falls below $30,000, the award continues to be subject to FFATA reporting requirements. The following key data elements must be reported: Subawardee Name and Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number; Amount of Subaward (inclusive of modifications); Subaward Obligation/Action Date; Date of Report Submission; Subaward Number; Project Description; and Names and Compensation of Highly Compensated Officers. (Names and Compensation of Highly Compensated Officers must only be reported when the entity in the preceding fiscal year received 80 percent or more of its annual gross revenues in Federal awards; and $30,000,000 or more in annual gross revenues from Federal awards; and the public does not have access to this information about the compensation of the senior executives of the entity through periodic reports filed under section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. ?? 78m(a), 78o(d)) or section 6104 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.) Control: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a non-Federal entity must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should comply with guidance in ?Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government? issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the ?Internal Control Integrated Framework?, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Section III ? Findings and Questioned Costs ? Major Federal Programs (Continued) Condition: The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) did not report subaward information to FSRS timely. Context: Twenty-three of forty subrecipients selected for testing were not reported timely to FSRS during FY 2022. The subawards were reported from one to two months later than required by FFATA reporting requirements. SEE SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS FOR CHART/TABLE Cause: The Department?s procedures and controls were not sufficient to ensure that subawards were reported timely to FSRS during FY 2022. Effect: Subawards were not reported to FSRS in accordance with FFATA requirements. Questioned costs: None noted. Recommendation: We recommend the Department review and enhance procedures and internal controls to ensure that all required subawards are reported timely to FSRS no later than the end of the month following the month of issuance. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding.
Reference Number: 2022-002 Prior Year Finding: No Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture State Agency: Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Federal Program: Child Nutrition Cluster, COVID-19 ? Child Nutrition Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 10.555, 10.559, 10.582 Award Number and Year: 214MA303N1099 (10/1/2020 ? 9/30/2021), 214MA303N1199 (10/1/2020 ? 9/30/2021) Compliance Requirement: Eligibility Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: Compliance: Subrecipient Eligibility - Administering agencies may disburse program funds only to those organizations that meet eligibility requirements under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Special Milk Program for Children (SMP), and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP). Control: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a non-Federal entity must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should comply with guidance in ?Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government? issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the ?Internal Control Integrated Framework?, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Condition: The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) was unable to provide documentation that its subrecipients met eligibility requirements. Context: The Department documents subrecipient eligibility in a permanent agreement with each subrecipient. For 2 of 40 subrecipients selected for testing, the Department was unable to provide a copy of the approved permanent agreement, therefore, eligibility for these subrecipients could not be verified. Questioned costs: Undetermined. Cause: The Department?s procedures and internal controls were not sufficient to ensure that it retained documentation of subrecipient eligibility. Effect: Failure to verify and maintain documentation of subrecipient eligibility could allow the Commonwealth to issue program payments to subrecipients that are not eligible to receive payments under the program. Recommendation: The Department should enhance its policies and procedures to ensure that it retains copies of permanent agreements where subrecipient eligibility is documented and that this documentation is available for audit. Views of responsible officials: Management agrees with the finding.
Reference Number: 2022-003 Prior Year Finding: No Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture State Agency: Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Federal Program: Child Nutrition Cluster, COVID-19 ? Child Nutrition Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 10.555, 10.559, 10.582 Award Number and Year: 214MA303N1099 (10/1/2020 ? 9/30/2021), 214MA303N1199 (10/1/2020 ? 9/30/2021) Compliance Requirement: Reporting ? Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: Compliance: Per the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), prime (direct) recipients of grants or cooperative agreements are required to report first-tier subawards of $30,000 or more to the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act Subaward Reporting System (FSRS). Reports must be filed in FSRS by the end of the month following the month in which the prime recipient awards any sub-grant greater than or equal to $30,000. If the initial award is below $30,000 but subsequent grant modifications result in a total award equal to or over $30,000, the award will be subject to the reporting requirements as of the date the award exceeds $30,000. If the initial award equals or exceeds $30,000 but funding is subsequently de-obligated such that the total award amount falls below $30,000, the award continues to be subject to FFATA reporting requirements. The following key data elements must be reported: Subawardee Name and Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number; Amount of Subaward (inclusive of modifications); Subaward Obligation/Action Date; Date of Report Submission; Subaward Number; Project Description; and Names and Compensation of Highly Compensated Officers. (Names and Compensation of Highly Compensated Officers must only be reported when the entity in the preceding fiscal year received 80 percent or more of its annual gross revenues in Federal awards; and $30,000,000 or more in annual gross revenues from Federal awards; and the public does not have access to this information about the compensation of the senior executives of the entity through periodic reports filed under section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. ?? 78m(a), 78o(d)) or section 6104 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.) Control: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a non-Federal entity must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should comply with guidance in ?Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government? issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the ?Internal Control Integrated Framework?, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Section III ? Findings and Questioned Costs ? Major Federal Programs (Continued) Condition: The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) did not report subaward information to FSRS timely. Context: Twenty-three of forty subrecipients selected for testing were not reported timely to FSRS during FY 2022. The subawards were reported from one to two months later than required by FFATA reporting requirements. SEE SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS FOR CHART/TABLE Cause: The Department?s procedures and controls were not sufficient to ensure that subawards were reported timely to FSRS during FY 2022. Effect: Subawards were not reported to FSRS in accordance with FFATA requirements. Questioned costs: None noted. Recommendation: We recommend the Department review and enhance procedures and internal controls to ensure that all required subawards are reported timely to FSRS no later than the end of the month following the month of issuance. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding.
Reference Number: 2022-005 Prior Year Finding: No Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Labor State Agency: Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development Federal Program: Unemployment Insurance, COVID-19 ? Unemployment Insurance Assistance Listing Number: 17.225 Award Number and Year: UI372292255A25 (10/1/2021 ? 12/31/2024), UI356542155A25 (10/1/2020 ? 12/31/2023) Compliance Requirement: Matching Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control Over Compliance, Material Noncompliance Criteria or specific requirement: Compliance: The state is required to provide 50 percent of the amounts paid to the majority of eligible Extended Benefits (EB) claimants (those not covered by federal law or special provisions of state law) (20 CFR sections 615.2 and 615.14(a)). Those EB amounts paid by the State Workforce Agency (SWA), and that are not the responsibility of the state, are reimbursable to the state from the Unemployment Trust Fund (UTF) (20 CFR section 615.14). The first week of EB is reimbursable to the state only if, in addition to other requirements, the state requires the first week of an individual?s benefit year to be an ?unpaid waiting week?. Control: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a non-Federal entity must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should comply with guidance in ?Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government? issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the ?Internal Control Integrated Framework?, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Condition: The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (the Department) was unable to provide documentation that it had provided the required 50 percent of matching funds for Extended Benefits. Context: The Department was unable to provide documentation that it provided 50 percent of the amount paid to Extended Benefits claimants nor that it had an approved federal waiver stating that the Department was not required to match these funds. Questioned costs: Undetermined. Cause: The Department?s procedures and controls were not sufficient to ensure it provided the required 50 percent match for Extended Benefits payments. Effect: The Department claimed Federal reimbursement for the State share of costs of the program. Recommendation: We recommend the Department review and enhance procedures and controls to ensure that it is in compliance with the matching requirements of the program. Views of responsible officials: Management agrees with the finding.
Reference Number: 2022-006 Prior Year Finding: No Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Labor State Agency: Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development Federal Program: Unemployment Insurance, COVID-19 ? Unemployment Insurance Assistance Listing Number: 17.225 Award Number and Year: UI372292255A25 (10/1/2021 ? 12/31/2024), UI356542155A25 (10/1/2020 ? 12/31/2023) Compliance Requirement: Eligibility Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: Compliance: Under state Unemployment Compensation (UC) laws, a worker?s benefit rights depend on the amount of the worker?s wages and/or weeks of work in covered employment in a ?base period.? While most states define the base period as the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters prior to the filing of the claim, other base periods may be used. To qualify for benefits, a claimant must have earned a certain amount of wages or have worked a certain number of weeks or calendar quarters within the base period or meet some combination of wage and employment requirements. Some states require a waiting period of one week of total or partial unemployment before UC is payable. A ?waiting period? is a non-compensable period of unemployment in which the worker is otherwise eligible for benefits. To be eligible to receive UC, all states provide that a claimant must have been separated from suitable work for non-disqualifying reasons under state law (i.e., not because of such acts as leaving voluntarily without good cause or discharge for misconduct connected with work). After separation, they must be able and available for work, actively seeking work, legally authorized to work in the United States and must not have refused an offer of suitable work. Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development procedures require that a monetary determination letter be sent to each claimant upon completion of eligibility determination and the calculation of the weekly benefit amount. This letter provides the claimant with an official notification that benefits have been approved. Control: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a non-Federal entity must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should comply with guidance in ?Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government? issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the ?Internal Control Integrated Framework?, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Condition: After completing eligibility determination for a claimant, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (the Department) did not send a monetary determination letter. Context: For one of sixty claimants selected for testing, the Department did not send a monetary determination letter to the claimant identifying the approved weekly benefit amount. Auditors were able to recalculate the weekly benefit amount from other sources and determined that it had been accurately calculated. Questioned costs: None noted. Cause: The Department?s procedures and controls were not sufficient to ensure it sent monetary determination letters to all claimants upon completion of eligibility determination. Effect: The Department was unable to provide documentation that it had sent a monetary determination letter to a claimant. Recommendation: We recommend the Department review and enhance procedures and controls to ensure that it sends a monetary determination letter to all claimants upon completion of eligibility determination. Views of responsible officials: Management agrees with the finding.
Reference Number: 2022-007 Prior Year Finding: 2021-009 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Labor State Agency: Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development Federal Program: Unemployment Insurance, COVID-19 ? Unemployment Insurance Assistance Listing Number: 17.225 Award Number and Year: UI372292255A25 (10/1/2021 ? 12/31/2024), UI356542155A25 (10/1/2020 ? 12/31/2023) Compliance Requirement: Reporting Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: Compliance: ETA 9130, Financial Status Report, UI Programs ? This report is used to report program and administrative expenditures. All ETA grantees are required to submit quarterly financial reports for each grant award which they operate, including standard program and pilot, demonstration, and evaluation projects. Financial data is required to be reported cumulatively from grant inception through the end of each reporting period. A separate ETA 9130 is submitted for each of the following: UI, PEUC, and PUA Administration, DUA, TRA/RTAA, and UA Projects (administration and benefits). See TEGL No. 02-16 for specific and clarifying instructions about the ETA 9130. Per 9130 guidelines the report is submitted via an on-line reporting system. The report submission process is 3-steps (1) secondary contact enters in the data (2) primary contact is responsible for certifying the accuracy of the data by entering the PIN (3) DOl/ETA is responsible for reviewing the FSR, communicating with the grantee and accepting the report within 10 working days after certification. Quarterly reporting deadlines: May 15 (March end date), August 14 (June 30 end date), November 14 (September end date), February 14 (December 31 end date). Control: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a non-Federal entity must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should comply with guidance in ?Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government? issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the ?Internal Control Integrated Framework?, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Condition: ETA 9130 reports submitted by the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (the Department) did not agree to supporting documentation. In addition, several reports were not submitted timely. Context: Reports for the 12/31/2021 and 6/30/2022 quarters were selected for testing, which resulted in testing eleven individual reports. The following exceptions were noted: ? For ten of eleven reports, current period and cumulative indirect expenditures were included in supporting documentation but were not included in the report. ? For three of eleven reports, the federal share of expenditures in the previous period and current period did not agree to supporting documentation. The cumulative federal share of expenditures did tie to supporting documentation. ? For one of eleven reports, the federal share of expenditures in the previous period, current period and cumulative did not agree to supporting documentation. In addition, the federal share of unliquidated obligations, total federal share of obligations and unliquidated balance of federal funds did not agree to supporting documentation. This resulted in an underreporting of the Federal share. ? Six of eleven reports were not submitted timely. The reports were submitted from one to four days late. Questioned costs: None noted, as the reporting errors did not result in an overclaim of the federal share of expenditures. Cause: The Department does not have sufficient internal controls in place over compliance of the ETA 9130 reporting process. Effect: ETA 9130 reports did not agree to supporting documentation and were submitted late. Recommendation: We recommend that policies and procedures be enhanced to ensure that financial reports are filed timely and accurately. Views of responsible officials: Management agrees with the finding.
Reference Number: 2022-008 Prior Year Finding: No Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Labor State Agency: Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development Federal Program: Unemployment Insurance, COVID-19 ? Unemployment Insurance Assistance Listing Number: 17.225 Award Number and Year: UI372292255A25 (10/1/2021 ? 12/31/2024), UI356542155A25 (10/1/2020 ? 12/31/2023) Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions ? Match with IRS 940 FUTA Tax Form Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: Compliance: States are required to annually certify for each taxpayer the total amount of contributions required to be paid under the state law for the calendar year and the amounts and dates of such payments in order for the taxpayer to be allowed the credit against the Federal Unemployment (FUTA) tax (26 CFR sections 31.3302(a)-3(a)). In order to accomplish this certification, states annually perform a match of employer tax payments with credit claimed for these payments on the employer?s IRS 940 FUTA tax form. Control: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a non-Federal entity must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should comply with guidance in ?Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government? issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the ?Internal Control Integrated Framework?, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Condition: The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (the Department) did not complete the annual match of employer tax payments with IRS 940 FUTA tax forms on a timely basis. Context: The Department initiated the annual match process, but it was not completed until after auditors requested documentation that it had been performed. Questioned costs: Undetermined. Cause: The Department?s procedures and controls were not sufficient to ensure it completed the annual FUTA tax certification process on a timely basis. Effect: Untimely annual FUTA tax certifications could result in unresolved errors in the payment of the FUTA tax and related credits taken by taxpayers. Recommendation: We recommend the Department review and enhance procedures and controls to ensure that the annual match of employer tax payments with employers? IRS 940 FUTA tax forms is completed on a timely basis. Views of responsible officials: Management agrees with the finding.
Reference Number: 2022-009 Prior Year Finding: No Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Labor State Agency: Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development Federal Program: Unemployment Insurance, COVID-19 ? Unemployment Insurance Assistance Listing Number: 17.225 Award Number and Year: UI372292255A25 (10/1/2021 ? 12/31/2024), UI356542155A25 (10/1/2020 ? 12/31/2023) Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions ? UI Benefit Payments Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: Compliance: The State Workforce Agency (SWA) is required by 20 CFR section 602.11(d) to operate and maintain a quality control system. The Benefits Accuracy Measurement (BAM) program is DOL?s quality control system designed to assess the accuracy of UI benefit payments and denied claims, unless the SWA is exempted from such requirement (20 CFR section 602.22). The program estimates error rates, that is, numbers of claims improperly paid or denied, and dollar amounts of benefits improperly paid or denied, by projecting the results from investigations of statistically sound random samples to the universe of all claims paid and denied in a state. Specifically, the SWA?s BAM unit is required to draw a weekly sample of payments and denied claims, complete prompt, and in-depth investigations to determine if the administration of the UC program is consistent with state and federal law (20 CFR section 602.21(d)). As presented in the ET Handbook No. 395, the investigation involves a review of state agency records, as well as contacting the claimant, employers, and third parties (either in-person, by telephone, or by fax) to conduct new and original fact-finding related to all of the information pertinent to the paid or denied claim that was sampled. BAM investigators review cases for adherence to federal and state law as well as official policy. The following time limits are established for completion of all cases for the year. (The "year" includes all batches of weeks ending in the calendar year.): ? a minimum of 70 percent of cases must be completed within 60 days of the week ending date of the batch; ? 95 percent of cases must be completed within 90 days of the week ending date of the batch; ? a minimum of 98 percent of cases for the year must be completed within 120 days of the ending date of the calendar year. Control: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a non-Federal entity must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should comply with guidance in ?Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government? issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the ?Internal Control Integrated Framework?, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Condition: The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (the Department) did not complete BAM case investigations within the time limits established in the ET Handbook No. 395. Context: Sixty cases were selected for testing. The Department did not meet the required time limits for closing cases within 90 or 120 days. Specifically, we noted the following exceptions: ? 90% of cases tested (54 of 60 cases) were closed within 90 days which is less than the required 95% ? 96.7% of cases tested (58 of 60 cases) were closed within 120 days which is less than the required 98% ? The remaining 3.3% of cases tested (2 of 60 cases) were closed from between 130 and 160 days. In addition, claims selected for testing by the Department must cover claims paid and denied claims. For 8 weeks selected for testing, only claims paid were selected for testing by the Department. Questioned costs: Undetermined. Cause: The Department?s procedures and controls were not sufficient to ensure it met the required BAM investigation time limits for closing cases and to ensure all claim types were part of weekly testing. Effect: Noncompliance with BAM case investigation time limits could delay the detection and correction of inaccurate benefit payments and denied claims. Recommendation: We recommend the Division review and enhance procedures and controls to ensure that BAM case investigations are completed timely in accordance with the time limits established in the ET Handbook No. 395 and that both paid and denied claims are selected for testing. Views of responsible officials: Management agrees with the finding.
Criteria or specific requirement: 2 CFR part 200 section 200.303 requires that non-Federal entities receiving Federal awards (i.e., auditee management) establish and maintain internal control designed to reasonably ensure compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Condition: During Benefits Accuracy Measurement (BAM) case testing, it was noted that cases were not being completed timely. 25 out 40 cases sampled were not completed within 60 days (62.50% error rate), it is required that 70 percent be completed within 60 days of the week ending date of the batch. 8 out of 40 of the sampled cases were not completed under 90 days (20.00% error rate), it is required that 95 percent of cases must be completed within 90 days of the week of date of the batch. 3 of 37 of the sampled cases were not completed within 120 days (7.50% error rate), it is required that 98 percent be completed within 120 days of the week ending date of the batch. Questioned costs: None. Context: BAM cases need to be completed at minimum of 70 percent of cases competed within 60 days of the week ending of the date of batch, 95 percent of cases completed within 90 days of the week ending date of the batch and 98 percent of cases for the year must be completed within 120 days of the ending date of calendar year. Cause: Due to COVID-19 circumstances and a rise of BAM cases to review, cases were not reviewed timely due to the amount and staffing issues. Effect: This indicates that BAM cases are not being reviewed timely, this can cause potential issues to not be appropriately and timely addressed that are looked at during BAM case reviews. Repeat Finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend that internal controls are in place to ensure that cases are reviewed within the required timeframes. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.
Criteria or specific requirement: 2 CFR part 200 section 200.303 requires that non-Federal entities receiving Federal awards (i.e., auditee management) establish and maintain internal control designed to reasonably ensure compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Condition: During Benefits Accuracy Measurement (BAM) case testing, it was noted that cases were not being completed timely. 25 out 40 cases sampled were not completed within 60 days (62.50% error rate), it is required that 70 percent be completed within 60 days of the week ending date of the batch. 8 out of 40 of the sampled cases were not completed under 90 days (20.00% error rate), it is required that 95 percent of cases must be completed within 90 days of the week of date of the batch. 3 of 37 of the sampled cases were not completed within 120 days (7.50% error rate), it is required that 98 percent be completed within 120 days of the week ending date of the batch. Questioned costs: None. Context: BAM cases need to be completed at minimum of 70 percent of cases competed within 60 days of the week ending of the date of batch, 95 percent of cases completed within 90 days of the week ending date of the batch and 98 percent of cases for the year must be completed within 120 days of the ending date of calendar year. Cause: Due to COVID-19 circumstances and a rise of BAM cases to review, cases were not reviewed timely due to the amount and staffing issues. Effect: This indicates that BAM cases are not being reviewed timely, this can cause potential issues to not be appropriately and timely addressed that are looked at during BAM case reviews. Repeat Finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend that internal controls are in place to ensure that cases are reviewed within the required timeframes. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.
Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR 200.303, requires that non-federal entities receiving federal awards establish and maintain internal control designed to reasonably ensure compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award. Effective internal controls should include timely submission to ensure the compliance of all reports submitted to the federal agency. Condition: During our testing of performance reports, we noted five out the five tested reports were not submitted timely and lacked documentation of review. Questioned costs: None. Context: Out of the five reports tested, all five reports did not have supporting documentation that reports were submitted timely or reviewed by an authorized official. Cause: The agency had staffing turnover during the fiscal year causing lack of review and untimely submission. Effect: Compliance with the timeliness reporting requirement for this program was not being met. Repeat Finding: Yes, finding 2021-009. Recommendation: We recommend the agency implement procedures to ensure reports are properly reviewed and submitted in a timely manner as well as increase training efforts on reporting requirements if there is future staffing turnover. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.
Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR 200.331(a) states that all pass-through entities must ensure that every subaward is clearly identified to the subrecipient as a subaward and includes the following information at the time of the subaward and if any of these data elements change, include the changes in subsequent subaward modification. When some of this information is not available, the pass-through entity must provide the best information available to describe the Federal award and subaward. Required information includes, federal award identification, subrecipient name, subrecipient?s DUNS number, federal award identification number (FAIN), federal award date, subaward start and end date, amount of federal funds obligated, total amount of federal award, federal award project description, name of federal awarding agency, Assistance Listing (CFDA) number and name, identification of whether the award is R&D and indirect cost rate for federal award. Per 2 CFR 200.303, requires that non-federal entities receiving federal awards establish and maintain internal control designed to reasonably ensure compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award. Effective internal control should include procedures to ensure required information is communicated prior to the issuance of the subaward. Condition: During our testing, we noted forty out of the forty subrecipients (with expenditures totaling $10,453,259) had required information omitted from the sub agreements to the subrecipients including Assistance Listing (CFDA) title and number, subrecipient?s DUNS number, Federal Award Identification Number (FAIN), identification of whether the award is research and development, and indirect cost rate for federal award. Questioned costs: None. Context: Forty out of the Forty subrecipients did not include required information in sub agreements issued to subrecipients. Cause: Lack of sufficient controls in place to ensure that subaward agreements contain all required information. Effect: Failure to communicate required information could result in subrecipients not properly administering the federal programs in accordance with federal regulations. Repeat Finding: Yes, finding 2021-011. Recommendation: We recommend that the agency review its procedures for communicating information to subrecipients and implement the procedures necessary to ensure information is included in the subrecipient award documents at time of funding. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.
Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR 200.303, requires that non-federal entities receiving federal awards establish and maintain internal control designed to reasonably ensure compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award. Effective internal controls should include procedures in place to ensure the required certifications for covered contracts and subawards are received, documented, and contracts are not made with a debarred or suspended party. Condition: During our testing of sixty covered transactions (thirty-six vendors and twenty-four subrecipients), we noted twenty-one vendors did not have proper supporting documentation for suspension and debarment procedures for state vendors. Questioned costs: None. Context: Twenty-one of the sixty covered transaction tested did not have proper supporting documentation for suspension and debarment procedures. Cause: Several of these vendors were previously approved under Kansas State statute and through the Kansas Department of Administration, which does not perform suspension and debarment procedures over vendors. Effect: Failure to obtain the required certifications or perform verification procedures with the SAM could result in the payment of federal funds to vendors that are suspended or debarred from participation in federal assistance programs. Repeat Finding: Yes, finding 2021-010. Recommendation: We recommend the agency obtain certifications from vendor stating their organization is not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded from participation in federal assistance programs or document the procedures performed to verify the vendor is not identified as suspended or debarred on SAM. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.
Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR 200.331(a) states that all pass-through entities must ensure that every subaward is clearly identified to the subrecipient as a subaward and includes the following information at the time of the subaward and if any of these data elements change, include the changes in subsequent subaward modification. When some of this information is not available, the pass-through entity must provide the best information available to describe the Federal award and subaward. Required information includes, federal award identification, subrecipient name, subrecipient?s DUNS number, federal award identification number (FAIN), federal award date, subaward start and end date, amount of federal funds obligated, total amount of federal award, federal award project description, name of federal awarding agency, Assistance Listing number and name, identification of whether the award is R&D and indirect cost rate for federal award. 2 CFR part 200 section 200.303 requires that non-Federal entities receiving Federal awards (i.e., auditee management) establish and maintain internal control designed to reasonably ensure compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Condition: During our testing of sixty covered transactions (thirty-six vendors and twenty-four subrecipients), we noted that management was not able to provide supporting documentation for two vendors and three subrecipients. This includes suspension and debarment verification documentation and other supporting details including contract agreements. Questioned costs: None. Context: Management was not able to provide supporting documentation for two vendors and three subrecipients. Cause: Lack of sufficient tracking and monitoring procedures related to tracking of suspension and debarment for vendors and subrecipients. Effect: Failure to obtain the required certifications or perform verification procedures with the SAM could result in the payment of federal funds to vendors that are suspended or debarred from participation in federal assistance programs. Repeat Finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend the agency obtain certifications from vendor stating their organization is not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded from participation in federal assistance programs or document the procedures performed to verify the vendor is not identified as suspended or debarred on SAM. We recommend that the agency have proper procedures in place to ensure that all contractual documentation is maintained and able to be located. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.
Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR 200.303, requires that non-federal entities receiving federal awards establish and maintain internal control designed to reasonably ensure compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award. Effective internal controls should include timely submission to ensure the compliance of all reports submitted to the federal agency. Condition: During our testing of performance reports, we noted five out the five tested reports were not submitted timely and lacked documentation of review. Questioned costs: None. Context: Out of the five reports tested, all five reports did not have supporting documentation that reports were submitted timely or reviewed by an authorized official. Cause: The agency had staffing turnover during the fiscal year causing lack of review and untimely submission. Effect: Compliance with the timeliness reporting requirement for this program was not being met. Repeat Finding: Yes, finding 2021-009. Recommendation: We recommend the agency implement procedures to ensure reports are properly reviewed and submitted in a timely manner as well as increase training efforts on reporting requirements if there is future staffing turnover. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.
Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR 200.331(a) states that all pass-through entities must ensure that every subaward is clearly identified to the subrecipient as a subaward and includes the following information at the time of the subaward and if any of these data elements change, include the changes in subsequent subaward modification. When some of this information is not available, the pass-through entity must provide the best information available to describe the Federal award and subaward. Required information includes, federal award identification, subrecipient name, subrecipient?s DUNS number, federal award identification number (FAIN), federal award date, subaward start and end date, amount of federal funds obligated, total amount of federal award, federal award project description, name of federal awarding agency, Assistance Listing (CFDA) number and name, identification of whether the award is R&D and indirect cost rate for federal award. Per 2 CFR 200.303, requires that non-federal entities receiving federal awards establish and maintain internal control designed to reasonably ensure compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award. Effective internal control should include procedures to ensure required information is communicated prior to the issuance of the subaward. Condition: During our testing, we noted forty out of the forty subrecipients (with expenditures totaling $10,453,259) had required information omitted from the sub agreements to the subrecipients including Assistance Listing (CFDA) title and number, subrecipient?s DUNS number, Federal Award Identification Number (FAIN), identification of whether the award is research and development, and indirect cost rate for federal award. Questioned costs: None. Context: Forty out of the Forty subrecipients did not include required information in sub agreements issued to subrecipients. Cause: Lack of sufficient controls in place to ensure that subaward agreements contain all required information. Effect: Failure to communicate required information could result in subrecipients not properly administering the federal programs in accordance with federal regulations. Repeat Finding: Yes, finding 2021-011. Recommendation: We recommend that the agency review its procedures for communicating information to subrecipients and implement the procedures necessary to ensure information is included in the subrecipient award documents at time of funding. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.
Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR 200.303, requires that non-federal entities receiving federal awards establish and maintain internal control designed to reasonably ensure compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award. Effective internal controls should include procedures in place to ensure the required certifications for covered contracts and subawards are received, documented, and contracts are not made with a debarred or suspended party. Condition: During our testing of sixty covered transactions (thirty-six vendors and twenty-four subrecipients), we noted twenty-one vendors did not have proper supporting documentation for suspension and debarment procedures for state vendors. Questioned costs: None. Context: Twenty-one of the sixty covered transaction tested did not have proper supporting documentation for suspension and debarment procedures. Cause: Several of these vendors were previously approved under Kansas State statute and through the Kansas Department of Administration, which does not perform suspension and debarment procedures over vendors. Effect: Failure to obtain the required certifications or perform verification procedures with the SAM could result in the payment of federal funds to vendors that are suspended or debarred from participation in federal assistance programs. Repeat Finding: Yes, finding 2021-010. Recommendation: We recommend the agency obtain certifications from vendor stating their organization is not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded from participation in federal assistance programs or document the procedures performed to verify the vendor is not identified as suspended or debarred on SAM. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.
Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR 200.331(a) states that all pass-through entities must ensure that every subaward is clearly identified to the subrecipient as a subaward and includes the following information at the time of the subaward and if any of these data elements change, include the changes in subsequent subaward modification. When some of this information is not available, the pass-through entity must provide the best information available to describe the Federal award and subaward. Required information includes, federal award identification, subrecipient name, subrecipient?s DUNS number, federal award identification number (FAIN), federal award date, subaward start and end date, amount of federal funds obligated, total amount of federal award, federal award project description, name of federal awarding agency, Assistance Listing number and name, identification of whether the award is R&D and indirect cost rate for federal award. 2 CFR part 200 section 200.303 requires that non-Federal entities receiving Federal awards (i.e., auditee management) establish and maintain internal control designed to reasonably ensure compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Condition: During our testing of sixty covered transactions (thirty-six vendors and twenty-four subrecipients), we noted that management was not able to provide supporting documentation for two vendors and three subrecipients. This includes suspension and debarment verification documentation and other supporting details including contract agreements. Questioned costs: None. Context: Management was not able to provide supporting documentation for two vendors and three subrecipients. Cause: Lack of sufficient tracking and monitoring procedures related to tracking of suspension and debarment for vendors and subrecipients. Effect: Failure to obtain the required certifications or perform verification procedures with the SAM could result in the payment of federal funds to vendors that are suspended or debarred from participation in federal assistance programs. Repeat Finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend the agency obtain certifications from vendor stating their organization is not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded from participation in federal assistance programs or document the procedures performed to verify the vendor is not identified as suspended or debarred on SAM. We recommend that the agency have proper procedures in place to ensure that all contractual documentation is maintained and able to be located. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.
Criteria or specific requirement: 2 CFR part 200 section 200.303 requires that non-Federal entities receiving Federal awards (i.e., auditee management) establish and maintain internal control designed to reasonably ensure compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Condition: During testing of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reports, it was noted that the reports were not filed timely for the fiscal year. Transactions Tested Subaward Not Reported Report Not Timely Subaward Amount Incorrect Subaward Missing Key Elements 10 0 6 0 0 Dollar Amount of Tested Transactions Subaward Not Reported Report Not Timely Subaward Amount Incorrect Subaward Missing Key Elements $ 10,644,442 $ 0 $ 6,688,567 $ 0 $ 0 Questioned costs: None. Context: While the reports were not filed timely, the supporting documentation that was needed to file the reports was gathered by KDCF and the filing was actually completed. Cause: KDCF was understaffed during the fiscal year which impacted the timeliness. Effect: Compliance with the reporting requirement for this program is not being met and the information is not being provided on the public website. Repeat Finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend that KDCF implement a process that includes tracking the timely submission of the FFATA reports. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.
Criteria or specific requirement: 2 CFR part 200 section 200.303 requires that non-Federal entities receiving Federal awards (i.e., auditee management) establish and maintain internal control designed to reasonably ensure compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Condition: During testing of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reports, it was noted that the reports were not filed timely for the fiscal year. Transactions Tested Subaward Not Reported Report Not Timely Subaward Amount Incorrect Subaward Missing Key Elements 10 0 6 0 0 Dollar Amount of Tested Transactions Subaward Not Reported Report Not Timely Subaward Amount Incorrect Subaward Missing Key Elements $ 10,644,442 $ 0 $ 6,688,567 $ 0 $ 0 Questioned costs: None. Context: While the reports were not filed timely, the supporting documentation that was needed to file the reports was gathered by KDCF and the filing was actually completed. Cause: KDCF was understaffed during the fiscal year which impacted the timeliness. Effect: Compliance with the reporting requirement for this program is not being met and the information is not being provided on the public website. Repeat Finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend that KDCF implement a process that includes tracking the timely submission of the FFATA reports. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.
Criteria or specific requirement: 2 CFR part 200 section 200.303 requires that non-Federal entities receiving Federal awards (i.e., auditee management) establish and maintain internal control designed to reasonably ensure compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Condition: During testing of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reports, it was noted that the reports were not filed at all for the fiscal year. Transactions Tested Subaward Not Reported Report Not Timely Subaward Amount Incorrect Subaward Missing Key Elements 2 2 2 2 2 Dollar Amount of Tested Transactions Subaward Not Reported Report Not Timely Subaward Amount Incorrect Subaward Missing Key Elements $ 3,246,853 $ 3,246,853 $ 3,246,853 $ 3,246,853 $ 3,246,853 Questioned costs: None. Context: While the reports were not filed, the supporting documentation that was needed to file the reports was gathered by KDCF and KHRC. Cause: Both KDCF and KHRC assumed that the other agency was going to complete this reporting. Effect: Compliance with the reporting requirement for this program is not being met and could result in a miscommunication to subrecipients as to the nature of the subaward. Repeat Finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend that KDCF and KHRC implement a process that includes ensuring the timely submission of the FFATA reports. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.
Criteria or specific requirement: 2 CFR part 200 section 200.303 requires that non-Federal entities receiving Federal awards (i.e., auditee management) establish and maintain internal control designed to reasonably ensure compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Condition: During testing of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reports, it was noted that the reports were not filed at all for the fiscal year. Transactions Tested Subaward Not Reported Report Not Timely Subaward Amount Incorrect Subaward Missing Key Elements 2 2 2 2 2 Dollar Amount of Tested Transactions Subaward Not Reported Report Not Timely Subaward Amount Incorrect Subaward Missing Key Elements $ 3,246,853 $ 3,246,853 $ 3,246,853 $ 3,246,853 $ 3,246,853 Questioned costs: None. Context: While the reports were not filed, the supporting documentation that was needed to file the reports was gathered by KDCF and KHRC. Cause: Both KDCF and KHRC assumed that the other agency was going to complete this reporting. Effect: Compliance with the reporting requirement for this program is not being met and could result in a miscommunication to subrecipients as to the nature of the subaward. Repeat Finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend that KDCF and KHRC implement a process that includes ensuring the timely submission of the FFATA reports. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.
Criteria or specific requirement: 2 CFR part 200 section 200.303 requires that non-Federal entities receiving Federal awards (i.e., auditee management) establish and maintain internal control designed to reasonably ensure compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Condition: During testing of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reports, it was noted that the reports were not filed timely for the fiscal year. Transactions Tested Subaward Not Reported Report Not Timely Subaward Amount Incorrect Subaward Missing Key Elements 10 0 6 0 0 Dollar Amount of Tested Transactions Subaward Not Reported Report Not Timely Subaward Amount Incorrect Subaward Missing Key Elements $ 10,644,442 $ 0 $ 6,688,567 $ 0 $ 0 Questioned costs: None. Context: While the reports were not filed timely, the supporting documentation that was needed to file the reports was gathered by KDCF and the filing was actually completed. Cause: KDCF was understaffed during the fiscal year which impacted the timeliness. Effect: Compliance with the reporting requirement for this program is not being met and the information is not being provided on the public website. Repeat Finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend that KDCF implement a process that includes tracking the timely submission of the FFATA reports. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.
Criteria or specific requirement: 2 CFR part 200 section 200.303 requires that non-Federal entities receiving Federal awards (i.e., auditee management) establish and maintain internal control designed to reasonably ensure compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Per the grant agreement, ?nonrecurring expenses of adoption may be paid on behalf of the child?. The case file should have documentation for the nonrecurring expenses. Condition: During testing of eligibility, it was noted that two participants out of the sixty tested lacked supporting documentation for non-recurring expenses paid on behalf of those participants. Questioned costs: None. Context: The participants were considered eligible for the program, however their case files were not complete for non-recurring expenses portion of the file. Cause: Internal controls did not catch the missing documentation. Effect: The non-recurring expenses that lacked documentation could have been for ineligible expenses. Repeat Finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend that DCF have internal controls in place to mitigate this from happening in the future. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.
FINDING 2022-002 Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, COVID-19 - School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, COVID-19 - National School Lunch Program Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 2020-2021, 2021-2022 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. A total of forty food service program disbursements were selected for testing. Fourteen disbursements across four contracted vendors had items purchased that were not charged in accordance with contracted prices. An additional thirteen disbursements, from a single vendor, did not have supporting documentation to determine if the amount charged per the invoices agreed to the initial bid pricing documentation. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, cost must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles. (b) Conform to any limitations or exclusions set forth in these principles or in the Federal award as to types or amount of cost items. (c) Be consistent with policies and procedures that apply uniformly to both federally financed and other activities of the non-Federal entity. . . . (g) Be adequately documented. . . ." Cause Management had not developed an effective system of internal control that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system enabled noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish an effective system of internal control to ensure compliance and comply with the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2022-003 Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, COVID-19 - School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, COVID-19 - National School Lunch Program Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 2020-2021, 2021-2022 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Repeat Finding This is a repeat finding from the immediate prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2020-004. Condition and Context An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirement. The School Corporation had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to ensure that proper procurement procedures for small purchases were followed. There was no oversight, review, or approval process in place and documented at the School Corporation to ensure proper procedures were followed and price or rate quotations were obtained. Federal regulations allow for informal procurement methods when the value of the procurement for property or services does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, which is set at $150,000 per Indiana Code. This informal process allows for methods other than the formal bid process. The informal process is divided between two methods based on thresholds. Micro-purchases, typically for those purchases $10,000 or under, and small purchase procedures for those purchases above the micropurchase threshold, but below the simplified acquisition threshold. Micro-purchases may be awarded without soliciting competitive price rate quotations. If small purchase procedures are used, then price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources. The School Corporation did not obtain price or rate quotes for the six vendors tested that were less than the simplified acquisition threshold of $150,000, but exceeded the $10,000 micro-purchase threshold. Documentation detailing the history of procurement, which must include the reason for the procurement method used, was not available for audit. In addition, contracts were not awarded for two of the six vendors tested with purchases exceeding $50,000. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.318(i) states: "The non-Federal entity must maintain records sufficient to detail the history of procurement. These records will include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following: Rationale for the method of procurement, selection of contract type, contractor selection or rejection, and the basis for the contract price." 2 CFR 200.320 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent with the standards of this section and ?? 200.317, 200.318, and 200.319 for any of the following methods of procurement used for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or sub-award. (a) Informal procurement methods. When the value of the procurement for property or services under a Federal award does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), as defined in ? 200.1, or a lower threshold established by a non-Federal entity, formal procurement methods are not required. The non-Federal entity may use informal procurement methods to expedite the completion of its transactions and minimize the associated administrative burden and cost. The informal methods used for procurement of property or services at or below the SAT include: . . . (2) Small purchases? (i) Small purchase procedures. The acquisition of property or services, the aggregate dollar amount of which is higher than the micro-purchase threshold but does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. If small purchase procedures are used, price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources as determined appropriate by the non-Federal entity. . . ." Indiana Code 5-22-8-3 states in part: "(a) . . . if the purchasing agent expects the purchase to be: (1) at least fifty thousand dollars ($50,000); and (2) not more than one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000). . . . (d) . . . the purchasing agent shall award a contract to the lowest responsible and responsive offeror for each line or class of supplies required. . . ." Cause Management had not developed a system of internal control that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system enabled material noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a system of internal control to ensure compliance and comply with the grant agreement and the Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2022-002 Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, COVID-19 - School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, COVID-19 - National School Lunch Program Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 2020-2021, 2021-2022 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. A total of forty food service program disbursements were selected for testing. Fourteen disbursements across four contracted vendors had items purchased that were not charged in accordance with contracted prices. An additional thirteen disbursements, from a single vendor, did not have supporting documentation to determine if the amount charged per the invoices agreed to the initial bid pricing documentation. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, cost must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles. (b) Conform to any limitations or exclusions set forth in these principles or in the Federal award as to types or amount of cost items. (c) Be consistent with policies and procedures that apply uniformly to both federally financed and other activities of the non-Federal entity. . . . (g) Be adequately documented. . . ." Cause Management had not developed an effective system of internal control that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system enabled noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish an effective system of internal control to ensure compliance and comply with the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2022-003 Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, COVID-19 - School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, COVID-19 - National School Lunch Program Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 2020-2021, 2021-2022 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Repeat Finding This is a repeat finding from the immediate prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2020-004. Condition and Context An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirement. The School Corporation had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to ensure that proper procurement procedures for small purchases were followed. There was no oversight, review, or approval process in place and documented at the School Corporation to ensure proper procedures were followed and price or rate quotations were obtained. Federal regulations allow for informal procurement methods when the value of the procurement for property or services does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, which is set at $150,000 per Indiana Code. This informal process allows for methods other than the formal bid process. The informal process is divided between two methods based on thresholds. Micro-purchases, typically for those purchases $10,000 or under, and small purchase procedures for those purchases above the micropurchase threshold, but below the simplified acquisition threshold. Micro-purchases may be awarded without soliciting competitive price rate quotations. If small purchase procedures are used, then price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources. The School Corporation did not obtain price or rate quotes for the six vendors tested that were less than the simplified acquisition threshold of $150,000, but exceeded the $10,000 micro-purchase threshold. Documentation detailing the history of procurement, which must include the reason for the procurement method used, was not available for audit. In addition, contracts were not awarded for two of the six vendors tested with purchases exceeding $50,000. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.318(i) states: "The non-Federal entity must maintain records sufficient to detail the history of procurement. These records will include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following: Rationale for the method of procurement, selection of contract type, contractor selection or rejection, and the basis for the contract price." 2 CFR 200.320 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent with the standards of this section and ?? 200.317, 200.318, and 200.319 for any of the following methods of procurement used for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or sub-award. (a) Informal procurement methods. When the value of the procurement for property or services under a Federal award does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), as defined in ? 200.1, or a lower threshold established by a non-Federal entity, formal procurement methods are not required. The non-Federal entity may use informal procurement methods to expedite the completion of its transactions and minimize the associated administrative burden and cost. The informal methods used for procurement of property or services at or below the SAT include: . . . (2) Small purchases? (i) Small purchase procedures. The acquisition of property or services, the aggregate dollar amount of which is higher than the micro-purchase threshold but does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. If small purchase procedures are used, price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources as determined appropriate by the non-Federal entity. . . ." Indiana Code 5-22-8-3 states in part: "(a) . . . if the purchasing agent expects the purchase to be: (1) at least fifty thousand dollars ($50,000); and (2) not more than one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000). . . . (d) . . . the purchasing agent shall award a contract to the lowest responsible and responsive offeror for each line or class of supplies required. . . ." Cause Management had not developed a system of internal control that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system enabled material noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a system of internal control to ensure compliance and comply with the grant agreement and the Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2022-002 Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, COVID-19 - School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, COVID-19 - National School Lunch Program Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 2020-2021, 2021-2022 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. A total of forty food service program disbursements were selected for testing. Fourteen disbursements across four contracted vendors had items purchased that were not charged in accordance with contracted prices. An additional thirteen disbursements, from a single vendor, did not have supporting documentation to determine if the amount charged per the invoices agreed to the initial bid pricing documentation. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, cost must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles. (b) Conform to any limitations or exclusions set forth in these principles or in the Federal award as to types or amount of cost items. (c) Be consistent with policies and procedures that apply uniformly to both federally financed and other activities of the non-Federal entity. . . . (g) Be adequately documented. . . ." Cause Management had not developed an effective system of internal control that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system enabled noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish an effective system of internal control to ensure compliance and comply with the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2022-003 Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, COVID-19 - School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, COVID-19 - National School Lunch Program Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 2020-2021, 2021-2022 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Repeat Finding This is a repeat finding from the immediate prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2020-004. Condition and Context An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirement. The School Corporation had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to ensure that proper procurement procedures for small purchases were followed. There was no oversight, review, or approval process in place and documented at the School Corporation to ensure proper procedures were followed and price or rate quotations were obtained. Federal regulations allow for informal procurement methods when the value of the procurement for property or services does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, which is set at $150,000 per Indiana Code. This informal process allows for methods other than the formal bid process. The informal process is divided between two methods based on thresholds. Micro-purchases, typically for those purchases $10,000 or under, and small purchase procedures for those purchases above the micropurchase threshold, but below the simplified acquisition threshold. Micro-purchases may be awarded without soliciting competitive price rate quotations. If small purchase procedures are used, then price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources. The School Corporation did not obtain price or rate quotes for the six vendors tested that were less than the simplified acquisition threshold of $150,000, but exceeded the $10,000 micro-purchase threshold. Documentation detailing the history of procurement, which must include the reason for the procurement method used, was not available for audit. In addition, contracts were not awarded for two of the six vendors tested with purchases exceeding $50,000. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.318(i) states: "The non-Federal entity must maintain records sufficient to detail the history of procurement. These records will include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following: Rationale for the method of procurement, selection of contract type, contractor selection or rejection, and the basis for the contract price." 2 CFR 200.320 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent with the standards of this section and ?? 200.317, 200.318, and 200.319 for any of the following methods of procurement used for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or sub-award. (a) Informal procurement methods. When the value of the procurement for property or services under a Federal award does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), as defined in ? 200.1, or a lower threshold established by a non-Federal entity, formal procurement methods are not required. The non-Federal entity may use informal procurement methods to expedite the completion of its transactions and minimize the associated administrative burden and cost. The informal methods used for procurement of property or services at or below the SAT include: . . . (2) Small purchases? (i) Small purchase procedures. The acquisition of property or services, the aggregate dollar amount of which is higher than the micro-purchase threshold but does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. If small purchase procedures are used, price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources as determined appropriate by the non-Federal entity. . . ." Indiana Code 5-22-8-3 states in part: "(a) . . . if the purchasing agent expects the purchase to be: (1) at least fifty thousand dollars ($50,000); and (2) not more than one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000). . . . (d) . . . the purchasing agent shall award a contract to the lowest responsible and responsive offeror for each line or class of supplies required. . . ." Cause Management had not developed a system of internal control that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system enabled material noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a system of internal control to ensure compliance and comply with the grant agreement and the Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2022-002 Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, COVID-19 - School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, COVID-19 - National School Lunch Program Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 2020-2021, 2021-2022 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. A total of forty food service program disbursements were selected for testing. Fourteen disbursements across four contracted vendors had items purchased that were not charged in accordance with contracted prices. An additional thirteen disbursements, from a single vendor, did not have supporting documentation to determine if the amount charged per the invoices agreed to the initial bid pricing documentation. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, cost must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles. (b) Conform to any limitations or exclusions set forth in these principles or in the Federal award as to types or amount of cost items. (c) Be consistent with policies and procedures that apply uniformly to both federally financed and other activities of the non-Federal entity. . . . (g) Be adequately documented. . . ." Cause Management had not developed an effective system of internal control that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system enabled noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish an effective system of internal control to ensure compliance and comply with the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2022-003 Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, COVID-19 - School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, COVID-19 - National School Lunch Program Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 2020-2021, 2021-2022 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Repeat Finding This is a repeat finding from the immediate prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2020-004. Condition and Context An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirement. The School Corporation had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to ensure that proper procurement procedures for small purchases were followed. There was no oversight, review, or approval process in place and documented at the School Corporation to ensure proper procedures were followed and price or rate quotations were obtained. Federal regulations allow for informal procurement methods when the value of the procurement for property or services does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, which is set at $150,000 per Indiana Code. This informal process allows for methods other than the formal bid process. The informal process is divided between two methods based on thresholds. Micro-purchases, typically for those purchases $10,000 or under, and small purchase procedures for those purchases above the micropurchase threshold, but below the simplified acquisition threshold. Micro-purchases may be awarded without soliciting competitive price rate quotations. If small purchase procedures are used, then price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources. The School Corporation did not obtain price or rate quotes for the six vendors tested that were less than the simplified acquisition threshold of $150,000, but exceeded the $10,000 micro-purchase threshold. Documentation detailing the history of procurement, which must include the reason for the procurement method used, was not available for audit. In addition, contracts were not awarded for two of the six vendors tested with purchases exceeding $50,000. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.318(i) states: "The non-Federal entity must maintain records sufficient to detail the history of procurement. These records will include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following: Rationale for the method of procurement, selection of contract type, contractor selection or rejection, and the basis for the contract price." 2 CFR 200.320 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent with the standards of this section and ?? 200.317, 200.318, and 200.319 for any of the following methods of procurement used for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or sub-award. (a) Informal procurement methods. When the value of the procurement for property or services under a Federal award does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), as defined in ? 200.1, or a lower threshold established by a non-Federal entity, formal procurement methods are not required. The non-Federal entity may use informal procurement methods to expedite the completion of its transactions and minimize the associated administrative burden and cost. The informal methods used for procurement of property or services at or below the SAT include: . . . (2) Small purchases? (i) Small purchase procedures. The acquisition of property or services, the aggregate dollar amount of which is higher than the micro-purchase threshold but does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. If small purchase procedures are used, price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources as determined appropriate by the non-Federal entity. . . ." Indiana Code 5-22-8-3 states in part: "(a) . . . if the purchasing agent expects the purchase to be: (1) at least fifty thousand dollars ($50,000); and (2) not more than one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000). . . . (d) . . . the purchasing agent shall award a contract to the lowest responsible and responsive offeror for each line or class of supplies required. . . ." Cause Management had not developed a system of internal control that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system enabled material noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a system of internal control to ensure compliance and comply with the grant agreement and the Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2022-002 Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, COVID-19 - School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, COVID-19 - National School Lunch Program Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 2020-2021, 2021-2022 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. A total of forty food service program disbursements were selected for testing. Fourteen disbursements across four contracted vendors had items purchased that were not charged in accordance with contracted prices. An additional thirteen disbursements, from a single vendor, did not have supporting documentation to determine if the amount charged per the invoices agreed to the initial bid pricing documentation. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, cost must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles. (b) Conform to any limitations or exclusions set forth in these principles or in the Federal award as to types or amount of cost items. (c) Be consistent with policies and procedures that apply uniformly to both federally financed and other activities of the non-Federal entity. . . . (g) Be adequately documented. . . ." Cause Management had not developed an effective system of internal control that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system enabled noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish an effective system of internal control to ensure compliance and comply with the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2022-003 Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, COVID-19 - School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, COVID-19 - National School Lunch Program Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 2020-2021, 2021-2022 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Repeat Finding This is a repeat finding from the immediate prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2020-004. Condition and Context An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirement. The School Corporation had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to ensure that proper procurement procedures for small purchases were followed. There was no oversight, review, or approval process in place and documented at the School Corporation to ensure proper procedures were followed and price or rate quotations were obtained. Federal regulations allow for informal procurement methods when the value of the procurement for property or services does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, which is set at $150,000 per Indiana Code. This informal process allows for methods other than the formal bid process. The informal process is divided between two methods based on thresholds. Micro-purchases, typically for those purchases $10,000 or under, and small purchase procedures for those purchases above the micropurchase threshold, but below the simplified acquisition threshold. Micro-purchases may be awarded without soliciting competitive price rate quotations. If small purchase procedures are used, then price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources. The School Corporation did not obtain price or rate quotes for the six vendors tested that were less than the simplified acquisition threshold of $150,000, but exceeded the $10,000 micro-purchase threshold. Documentation detailing the history of procurement, which must include the reason for the procurement method used, was not available for audit. In addition, contracts were not awarded for two of the six vendors tested with purchases exceeding $50,000. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.318(i) states: "The non-Federal entity must maintain records sufficient to detail the history of procurement. These records will include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following: Rationale for the method of procurement, selection of contract type, contractor selection or rejection, and the basis for the contract price." 2 CFR 200.320 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent with the standards of this section and ?? 200.317, 200.318, and 200.319 for any of the following methods of procurement used for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or sub-award. (a) Informal procurement methods. When the value of the procurement for property or services under a Federal award does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), as defined in ? 200.1, or a lower threshold established by a non-Federal entity, formal procurement methods are not required. The non-Federal entity may use informal procurement methods to expedite the completion of its transactions and minimize the associated administrative burden and cost. The informal methods used for procurement of property or services at or below the SAT include: . . . (2) Small purchases? (i) Small purchase procedures. The acquisition of property or services, the aggregate dollar amount of which is higher than the micro-purchase threshold but does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. If small purchase procedures are used, price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources as determined appropriate by the non-Federal entity. . . ." Indiana Code 5-22-8-3 states in part: "(a) . . . if the purchasing agent expects the purchase to be: (1) at least fifty thousand dollars ($50,000); and (2) not more than one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000). . . . (d) . . . the purchasing agent shall award a contract to the lowest responsible and responsive offeror for each line or class of supplies required. . . ." Cause Management had not developed a system of internal control that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system enabled material noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a system of internal control to ensure compliance and comply with the grant agreement and the Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2022-002 Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, COVID-19 - School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, COVID-19 - National School Lunch Program Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 2020-2021, 2021-2022 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. A total of forty food service program disbursements were selected for testing. Fourteen disbursements across four contracted vendors had items purchased that were not charged in accordance with contracted prices. An additional thirteen disbursements, from a single vendor, did not have supporting documentation to determine if the amount charged per the invoices agreed to the initial bid pricing documentation. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, cost must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles. (b) Conform to any limitations or exclusions set forth in these principles or in the Federal award as to types or amount of cost items. (c) Be consistent with policies and procedures that apply uniformly to both federally financed and other activities of the non-Federal entity. . . . (g) Be adequately documented. . . ." Cause Management had not developed an effective system of internal control that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system enabled noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish an effective system of internal control to ensure compliance and comply with the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2022-003 Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, COVID-19 - School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, COVID-19 - National School Lunch Program Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 2020-2021, 2021-2022 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Repeat Finding This is a repeat finding from the immediate prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2020-004. Condition and Context An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirement. The School Corporation had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to ensure that proper procurement procedures for small purchases were followed. There was no oversight, review, or approval process in place and documented at the School Corporation to ensure proper procedures were followed and price or rate quotations were obtained. Federal regulations allow for informal procurement methods when the value of the procurement for property or services does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, which is set at $150,000 per Indiana Code. This informal process allows for methods other than the formal bid process. The informal process is divided between two methods based on thresholds. Micro-purchases, typically for those purchases $10,000 or under, and small purchase procedures for those purchases above the micropurchase threshold, but below the simplified acquisition threshold. Micro-purchases may be awarded without soliciting competitive price rate quotations. If small purchase procedures are used, then price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources. The School Corporation did not obtain price or rate quotes for the six vendors tested that were less than the simplified acquisition threshold of $150,000, but exceeded the $10,000 micro-purchase threshold. Documentation detailing the history of procurement, which must include the reason for the procurement method used, was not available for audit. In addition, contracts were not awarded for two of the six vendors tested with purchases exceeding $50,000. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.318(i) states: "The non-Federal entity must maintain records sufficient to detail the history of procurement. These records will include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following: Rationale for the method of procurement, selection of contract type, contractor selection or rejection, and the basis for the contract price." 2 CFR 200.320 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent with the standards of this section and ?? 200.317, 200.318, and 200.319 for any of the following methods of procurement used for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or sub-award. (a) Informal procurement methods. When the value of the procurement for property or services under a Federal award does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), as defined in ? 200.1, or a lower threshold established by a non-Federal entity, formal procurement methods are not required. The non-Federal entity may use informal procurement methods to expedite the completion of its transactions and minimize the associated administrative burden and cost. The informal methods used for procurement of property or services at or below the SAT include: . . . (2) Small purchases? (i) Small purchase procedures. The acquisition of property or services, the aggregate dollar amount of which is higher than the micro-purchase threshold but does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. If small purchase procedures are used, price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources as determined appropriate by the non-Federal entity. . . ." Indiana Code 5-22-8-3 states in part: "(a) . . . if the purchasing agent expects the purchase to be: (1) at least fifty thousand dollars ($50,000); and (2) not more than one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000). . . . (d) . . . the purchasing agent shall award a contract to the lowest responsible and responsive offeror for each line or class of supplies required. . . ." Cause Management had not developed a system of internal control that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system enabled material noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a system of internal control to ensure compliance and comply with the grant agreement and the Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2022-005 Subject: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies - Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies Assistance Listings Number: 84.010 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S010A190014; S010A200014, S010A210014 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Condition and Context An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Level of Effort - Supplement not Supplant The School Corporation had not designed, nor implemented policies and procedures to ensure that all Title I schools received an equitable share of the state and local funds that it would have received had they not been receiving Title I funds. The Title I applications included the methodology used to distribute state and local funds to all schools within the School Corporation; however, documentation was not presented for audit that reflected the actual calculation. Therefore, it could not be determined that the schools received an equitable share of the state and local funds. Earmarking The School Corporation had not designed, nor implemented policies and procedures to ensure that the required level of expenditures for Parent Involvement was met. The School Corporation did not meet the required level of expenditures for Parental Involvement for the FY20 grant. The required amount for parental involvement was $51,094 and the School Corporation had expenses of $37. The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. The noncompliance over Level of Effort - Supplement not Supplant was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. The noncompliance over the Earmarking compliance requirement was isolated to the S010A190014 grant award. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 20 USC 6321(b) states in part: "Federal funds to supplement, not supplant, non-Federal funds (1) In general A State educational agency or local educational agency shall use Federal funds received under this part only to supplement the funds that would, in the absence of such Federal funds, be made available from State and local sources for the education of students participating in programs assisted under this part, and not to supplant such funds. (2) Compliance To demonstrate compliance with paragraph (1), a local educational agency shall demonstrate that the methodology used to allocate State and local funds to each school receiving assistance under this part ensures that such school receives all of the State and local funds it would otherwise receive if it were not receiving assistance under this part. . . ." 20 USC 6318(a)(3) states in part: "(A) In general Each local educational agency shall reserve at least 1 percent of its allocation under subpart 2 to assist schools to carry out the activities described in this section, except that this subparagraph shall not apply if 1 percent of such agency's allocation under subpart 2 for the fiscal year for which the determination is made is $5,000 or less. Nothing in this subparagraph shall be construed to limit local educational agencies from reserving more than 1 percent of its allocation under subpart 2 to assist schools to carry out activities described in this section. . . . (D) Use of Funds Funds reserved under subparagraph (A) by a local educational agency shall be used to carry out activities and strategies consistent with the local educational agency's parent and family engagement policy, including not less than 1 of the following: (i) Supporting schools and nonprofit organizations in providing professional development for local educational agency and school personnel regarding parent and family engagement strategies, which may be provided jointly to teachers, principals, other school leaders, specialized instructional support personnel, paraprofessionals, early childhood educators, and parents and family members. (ii) Supporting programs that reach parents and family members at home, in the community, and at school. (iii) Disseminating information on best practices focused on parent and family engagement, especially best practices for increasing the engagement of economically disadvantaged parents and family members. (iv) Collaborating, or providing subgrants to schools to enable such schools to collaborate, with community-based or other organizations or employers with a record of success in improving and increasing parent and family engagement. (v) Engaging in any other activities and strategies that the local educational agency determines are appropriate and consistent with such agency's parent and family engagement policy." Cause Management had not developed, nor implemented an effective system of internal control that would have ensured compliance, or that supporting documentation be retained for audit, with the grant agreement and the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system enabled material noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement could have resulted in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a system of internal control, and retain all supporting documentation, to ensure compliance and comply with the grant agreement and the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2022-006 Subject: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies - Internal Controls Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies Assistance Listings Number: 84.010 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S010A190014, S010A200014, S010A210014 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirements: Eligibility, Reporting Audit Finding: Material Weakness Condition and Context An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Eligibility and the Reporting compliance requirements. Eligibility The School Corporation had not designed, nor implemented policies and procedures to ensure that information submitted to the Indiana Department of Education for Enrollment and Poverty were supported by the School Corporation's records. Reporting The School Corporation had not designed, nor implemented a system of internal control to ensure that the Annual Expenditure Report was complete and accurately submitted. The report was prepared by one employee without an oversight, review, or approval process in place to prevent, or detect and correct errors. The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." Cause Management had not developed, nor implemented a system of internal control that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Eligibility and the Reporting compliance requirements. Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system placed the School Corporation at risk of noncompliance with the grant agreement and the Eligibility and the Reporting compliance requirements. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a system of internal control related to the grant agreement and the Eligibility and the Reporting compliance requirements. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2022-005 Subject: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies - Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies Assistance Listings Number: 84.010 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S010A190014; S010A200014, S010A210014 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Condition and Context An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Level of Effort - Supplement not Supplant The School Corporation had not designed, nor implemented policies and procedures to ensure that all Title I schools received an equitable share of the state and local funds that it would have received had they not been receiving Title I funds. The Title I applications included the methodology used to distribute state and local funds to all schools within the School Corporation; however, documentation was not presented for audit that reflected the actual calculation. Therefore, it could not be determined that the schools received an equitable share of the state and local funds. Earmarking The School Corporation had not designed, nor implemented policies and procedures to ensure that the required level of expenditures for Parent Involvement was met. The School Corporation did not meet the required level of expenditures for Parental Involvement for the FY20 grant. The required amount for parental involvement was $51,094 and the School Corporation had expenses of $37. The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. The noncompliance over Level of Effort - Supplement not Supplant was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. The noncompliance over the Earmarking compliance requirement was isolated to the S010A190014 grant award. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 20 USC 6321(b) states in part: "Federal funds to supplement, not supplant, non-Federal funds (1) In general A State educational agency or local educational agency shall use Federal funds received under this part only to supplement the funds that would, in the absence of such Federal funds, be made available from State and local sources for the education of students participating in programs assisted under this part, and not to supplant such funds. (2) Compliance To demonstrate compliance with paragraph (1), a local educational agency shall demonstrate that the methodology used to allocate State and local funds to each school receiving assistance under this part ensures that such school receives all of the State and local funds it would otherwise receive if it were not receiving assistance under this part. . . ." 20 USC 6318(a)(3) states in part: "(A) In general Each local educational agency shall reserve at least 1 percent of its allocation under subpart 2 to assist schools to carry out the activities described in this section, except that this subparagraph shall not apply if 1 percent of such agency's allocation under subpart 2 for the fiscal year for which the determination is made is $5,000 or less. Nothing in this subparagraph shall be construed to limit local educational agencies from reserving more than 1 percent of its allocation under subpart 2 to assist schools to carry out activities described in this section. . . . (D) Use of Funds Funds reserved under subparagraph (A) by a local educational agency shall be used to carry out activities and strategies consistent with the local educational agency's parent and family engagement policy, including not less than 1 of the following: (i) Supporting schools and nonprofit organizations in providing professional development for local educational agency and school personnel regarding parent and family engagement strategies, which may be provided jointly to teachers, principals, other school leaders, specialized instructional support personnel, paraprofessionals, early childhood educators, and parents and family members. (ii) Supporting programs that reach parents and family members at home, in the community, and at school. (iii) Disseminating information on best practices focused on parent and family engagement, especially best practices for increasing the engagement of economically disadvantaged parents and family members. (iv) Collaborating, or providing subgrants to schools to enable such schools to collaborate, with community-based or other organizations or employers with a record of success in improving and increasing parent and family engagement. (v) Engaging in any other activities and strategies that the local educational agency determines are appropriate and consistent with such agency's parent and family engagement policy." Cause Management had not developed, nor implemented an effective system of internal control that would have ensured compliance, or that supporting documentation be retained for audit, with the grant agreement and the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system enabled material noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement could have resulted in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a system of internal control, and retain all supporting documentation, to ensure compliance and comply with the grant agreement and the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2022-006 Subject: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies - Internal Controls Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies Assistance Listings Number: 84.010 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S010A190014, S010A200014, S010A210014 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirements: Eligibility, Reporting Audit Finding: Material Weakness Condition and Context An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Eligibility and the Reporting compliance requirements. Eligibility The School Corporation had not designed, nor implemented policies and procedures to ensure that information submitted to the Indiana Department of Education for Enrollment and Poverty were supported by the School Corporation's records. Reporting The School Corporation had not designed, nor implemented a system of internal control to ensure that the Annual Expenditure Report was complete and accurately submitted. The report was prepared by one employee without an oversight, review, or approval process in place to prevent, or detect and correct errors. The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." Cause Management had not developed, nor implemented a system of internal control that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Eligibility and the Reporting compliance requirements. Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system placed the School Corporation at risk of noncompliance with the grant agreement and the Eligibility and the Reporting compliance requirements. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a system of internal control related to the grant agreement and the Eligibility and the Reporting compliance requirements. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2022-004 Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listings Number: 84.425 Federal Award Numbers and Years or (Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425D210013, S425U210013 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context An effective internal control system was not designed, nor implemented at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance requirement. The School Corporation had not designed, nor implemented a system of internal control to ensure that the annual Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) annual data reports (Reports) were complete and accurately submitted. The Reports were prepared by one employee without an oversight, or review process in place to detect and correct errors. Additionally, for one of ten key line items tested the School Corporation did not accurately report the information. The Full-time Equivalent (FTE) positions as of March 13, 2020, and September 30, 2020, as required by the ESSER 1, Year 1 annual data report did not agree with the documentation provided. The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. The noncompliance was isolated to the ESSER I, Year 1 report. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.302(b) states in part: "The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following . . . (2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in ?? 200.328 and 200.329. . . ." 34 CFR 76.722 states: "A State may require a subgrantee to submit reports in a manner and format that assists the State in complying with the requirements under 34 CFR 76.720 and in carrying out other responsibilities under the program." Cause Management had not developed, nor implemented a system of internal control that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system enabled material noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish internal controls to ensure compliance and comply with the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2022-004 Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listings Number: 84.425 Federal Award Numbers and Years or (Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425D210013, S425U210013 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context An effective internal control system was not designed, nor implemented at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance requirement. The School Corporation had not designed, nor implemented a system of internal control to ensure that the annual Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) annual data reports (Reports) were complete and accurately submitted. The Reports were prepared by one employee without an oversight, or review process in place to detect and correct errors. Additionally, for one of ten key line items tested the School Corporation did not accurately report the information. The Full-time Equivalent (FTE) positions as of March 13, 2020, and September 30, 2020, as required by the ESSER 1, Year 1 annual data report did not agree with the documentation provided. The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. The noncompliance was isolated to the ESSER I, Year 1 report. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.302(b) states in part: "The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following . . . (2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in ?? 200.328 and 200.329. . . ." 34 CFR 76.722 states: "A State may require a subgrantee to submit reports in a manner and format that assists the State in complying with the requirements under 34 CFR 76.720 and in carrying out other responsibilities under the program." Cause Management had not developed, nor implemented a system of internal control that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system enabled material noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish internal controls to ensure compliance and comply with the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2022-004 Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listings Number: 84.425 Federal Award Numbers and Years or (Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425D210013, S425U210013 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context An effective internal control system was not designed, nor implemented at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance requirement. The School Corporation had not designed, nor implemented a system of internal control to ensure that the annual Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) annual data reports (Reports) were complete and accurately submitted. The Reports were prepared by one employee without an oversight, or review process in place to detect and correct errors. Additionally, for one of ten key line items tested the School Corporation did not accurately report the information. The Full-time Equivalent (FTE) positions as of March 13, 2020, and September 30, 2020, as required by the ESSER 1, Year 1 annual data report did not agree with the documentation provided. The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. The noncompliance was isolated to the ESSER I, Year 1 report. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.302(b) states in part: "The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following . . . (2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in ?? 200.328 and 200.329. . . ." 34 CFR 76.722 states: "A State may require a subgrantee to submit reports in a manner and format that assists the State in complying with the requirements under 34 CFR 76.720 and in carrying out other responsibilities under the program." Cause Management had not developed, nor implemented a system of internal control that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system enabled material noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish internal controls to ensure compliance and comply with the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2022-004 Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listings Number: 84.425 Federal Award Numbers and Years or (Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425D210013, S425U210013 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context An effective internal control system was not designed, nor implemented at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance requirement. The School Corporation had not designed, nor implemented a system of internal control to ensure that the annual Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) annual data reports (Reports) were complete and accurately submitted. The Reports were prepared by one employee without an oversight, or review process in place to detect and correct errors. Additionally, for one of ten key line items tested the School Corporation did not accurately report the information. The Full-time Equivalent (FTE) positions as of March 13, 2020, and September 30, 2020, as required by the ESSER 1, Year 1 annual data report did not agree with the documentation provided. The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. The noncompliance was isolated to the ESSER I, Year 1 report. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.302(b) states in part: "The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following . . . (2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in ?? 200.328 and 200.329. . . ." 34 CFR 76.722 states: "A State may require a subgrantee to submit reports in a manner and format that assists the State in complying with the requirements under 34 CFR 76.720 and in carrying out other responsibilities under the program." Cause Management had not developed, nor implemented a system of internal control that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system enabled material noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish internal controls to ensure compliance and comply with the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.