Finding 2024-002 | Subrecipient Not Monitored — City of Laredo Across Three Programs Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance | First-Time Finding Programs Affected: Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (ALN 93.917) | HOPWA (ALN 14.241) | State Services (HHS001317000004) Compliance Requirement: N — Special Tests / Subrecipient Monitoring (2 CFR 200.332) Questioned Costs: $0 Known / $0 Likely — no noncompliance identified at City of Laredo Repeat Finding: No — First-Time Finding Condition: City of Laredo was not monitored in FY2024 under any of the three programs for which it served as a subrecipient: Ryan White — $377,343 (11.7% of program total); State Services — $654,132 (24.5% of program total); HOPWA — $130,943 (7.5% of program total). Combined unmonitored expenditures: $1,162,418. Criteria: 2 CFR §200.332 requires pass-through entities to monitor the activities of subrecipients to ensure that federal awards are used for authorized purposes in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and the terms of the subaward. STDC's Subrecipient Monitoring Policy, adopted as part of the corrective action for Finding 2022-006, requires annual monitoring of all subrecipients under each program. Cause: No formal, documented annual subrecipient monitoring schedule was maintained during FY2024. The absence of a structured tracking mechanism allowed the City of Laredo to go unmonitored across all three programs for the full fiscal year. STDC notes that five of six Ryan White and State Services subrecipients and three of four HOPWA subrecipients were monitored during FY2024; the lapse was isolated to the City of Laredo. Effect: STDC did not fulfill its pass-through entity obligations under 2 CFR §200.332 for the City of Laredo across three programs with combined subrecipient expenditures of $1,162,418. No noncompliance was identified at the City of Laredo based on available documentation. Recommendation: STDC should develop and maintain a formal Annual Subrecipient Monitoring Schedule at the start of each grant year, covering all active programs and all subrecipients. The schedule should identify the monitoring method, assigned staff, planned dates, and actual completion dates, and should be reviewed and approved by the Executive Director. A Monitoring Tracking Log should be maintained and reviewed weekly, with quarterly progress reports to the Executive Director.
Finding No.: 2024-016 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Interior AL Program: 15.875 Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories Federal Award No.: Various Area: Subrecipient Monitoring Questioned Costs: $ Undeterminable Criteria: In accordance with applicable subrecipient monitoring requirements, a pass-through entity (PTE) must: a) Identify the Award and Applicable Requirements – Clearly identify to the subrecipient: (1) the award as a subaward at the time of subaward (or subsequent subaward modification) by providing the information described in 2 CFR section 200.332(a)(1); (2) all requirements imposed by the PTE on the subrecipient so that the federal award is used in accordance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the award (2 CFR section 200.332(a)(2)); and (3) any additional requirements that the PTE imposes on the subrecipient in order for the PTE to meet its own responsibility for the federal award (e.g., financial, performance, and special reports) (2 CFR section 200.332(a)(3)). b) Evaluate Risk – Evaluate each subrecipient’s risk of noncompliance for purposes of determining the appropriate subrecipient monitoring related to the subaward (2 CFR section 200.332(b)). c) Monitor – Monitor the activities of the subrecipient as necessary to ensure that the subaward is used for authorized purposes, complies with the terms and conditions of the subaward, and achieves performance goals (2 CFR sections 200.332(d) through (f)). Condition: Schedule of subrecipients were received past the deadline, and copies of related subaward documents including the terms and conditions of the subawards were not provided during the audit. Total amount passed through to subrecipients during the fiscal year is $713,822. Finding No.: 2024-016, continued Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Interior AL Program: 15.875 Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories Federal Award No.: Various Area: Subrecipient Monitoring Questioned Costs: $ Undeterminable Cause: Bureau of Budget and Management Research (BBMR) management did not respond to audit requests in a timely manner. Effect: We are unable to verify compliance with the requirements for subrecipient monitoring. No questioned cost is presented as we are unable to quantify the extent of noncompliance. Recommendation: BBMR management should establish internal policies and procedures over timely response to audit-related matters. Views of Responsible Officials: BBMR will create Standard Operating Procedures as well as a checklist, to assist in the monitoring of subrecipient compliance.
Finding No.: 2024-028 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Treasury AL Program: 21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Federal Award No.: COVID-19 Section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Area: Subrecipient Monitoring Questioned Costs: $ Undeterminable Criteria: In accordance with applicable subrecipient monitoring requirements, a pass-through entity (PTE) must: a) Identify the Award and Applicable Requirements – Clearly identify to the subrecipient: (1) the award as a subaward at the time of subaward (or subsequent subaward modification) by providing the information described in 2 CFR section 200.332(a)(1); (2) all requirements imposed by the PTE on the subrecipient so that the federal award is used in accordance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the award (2 CFR section 200.332(a)(2)); and (3) any additional requirements that the PTE imposes on the subrecipient in order for the PTE to meet its own responsibility for the federal award (e.g., financial, performance, and special reports) (2 CFR section 200.332(a)(3)). b) Evaluate Risk – Evaluate each subrecipient’s risk of noncompliance for purposes of determining the appropriate subrecipient monitoring related to the subaward (2 CFR section 200.332(b)). c) Monitor – Monitor the activities of the subrecipient as necessary to ensure that the subaward is used for authorized purposes, complies with the terms and conditions of the subaward, and achieves performance goals (2 CFR sections 200.332(d) through (f)). Condition: There were no executed subaward documents relative to the amount passed through to subrecipient amounting to $5,000,000. Finding No.: 2024-028, continued Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Treasury AL Program: 21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Federal Award No.: COVID-19 Section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Area: Subrecipient Monitoring Questioned Costs: $ Undeterminable Cause: Department of Administration (DOA) management relied on the Executive Order published by the Office of the Governor without establishing subaward agreement to specify applicable terms and conditions of the award. Effect: We are unable to verify compliance with the requirements for subrecipient monitoring. No questioned cost is presented as we are unable to quantify the extent of noncompliance. Identification as a Repeat Finding: 2023-018 Recommendation: DOA management should establish internal policies and procedures regarding monitoring of subrecipients. Views of Responsible Officials: The Agency disagrees with this finding. Please refer to a letter dated March 31, 2026, regarding Reports on Compliance September 30, 2024. Auditor’s Response: Our finding remains because we were unable to determine compliance with applicable requirements.
Finding No.: 2024-031 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Treasury AL Program: 21.029 Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund Federal Award No.: COVID-19 42 U.S.C. Section 804(b)(1)(B) Area: Subrecipient Monitoring Questioned Costs: $ Undeterminable Criteria: In accordance with applicable subrecipient monitoring requirements, a pass-through entity (PTE) must: a) Identify the Award and Applicable Requirements – Clearly identify to the subrecipient: (1) the award as a subaward at the time of subaward (or subsequent subaward modification) by providing the information described in 2 CFR section 200.332(a)(1); (2) all requirements imposed by the PTE on the subrecipient so that the federal award is used in accordance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the award (2 CFR section 200.332(a)(2)); and (3) any additional requirements that the PTE imposes on the subrecipient in order for the PTE to meet its own responsibility for the federal award (e.g., financial, performance, and special reports) (2 CFR section 200.332(a)(3)). b) Evaluate Risk – Evaluate each subrecipient’s risk of noncompliance for purposes of determining the appropriate subrecipient monitoring related to the subaward (2 CFR section 200.332(b)). c) Monitor – Monitor the activities of the subrecipient as necessary to ensure that the subaward is used for authorized purposes, complies with the terms and conditions of the subaward, and achieves performance goals (2 CFR sections 200.332(d) through (f)). Furthermore, per September 2021 U.S. Department of the Treasury Guidance for the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund for States, Territories & Freely Associated States, it states that recipients are responsible for monitoring and overseeing subrecipients’ use of funds and other activities related to the award to ensure that the subrecipient complies with the statutory and regulatory requirements and the terms and conditions of the award. Recipients remain responsible for reporting to U.S. Department of the Treasury on their subrecipients’ use of funds. Condition: Schedule of subrecipient(s) and copies of related subaward documents including the terms and conditions of the subaward(s) were not provided during the audit. Total amount passed through to subrecipients during the fiscal year is $4,110,914. Finding No.: 2024-031, continued Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Treasury AL Program: 21.029 Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund Federal Award No.: COVID-19 42 U.S.C. Section 804(b)(1)(B) Area: Subrecipient Monitoring Questioned Costs: $ Undeterminable Cause: Bureau of Budget and Management Research (BBMR) management did not respond to audit requests in a timely manner. Effect: We are unable to verify compliance with the requirements for subrecipient monitoring. No questioned cost is presented as we are unable to quantify the extent of noncompliance. Identification as a Repeat Finding: 2023-020 Recommendation: BBMR management should establish internal policies and procedures over timely response to audit-related matters. Views of Responsible Officials: BBMR will create Standard Operating Procedures as well as a checklist, to assist in the monitoring of subrecipient compliance.
Compliance Requirement Subrecipient Monitoring Material Weakness Material Noncompliance 2024-002. The County should establish controls to ensure subrecipients are sufficiently monitored. CFDA Number 20.106 Federal Award Airport Improvement Program Federal Agency U.S. Department of Transportation Pass-through N/A – Direct Award Questioned Costs None Context There were sixteen transactions noted that were passed-through to subrecipients. Repeat Finding No Criteria The Federal Compliance Supplement and 2 CFR Section 200.332 requires pass-through entities to communicate and clearly identify to the subrecipient: 1) the award as a subaward at the time of the subaward by providing the information described in 2 CFR section 200.332(a)(1); 2) all requirements imposed by the pass-through entity on the subrecipient so that the federal award is used in accordance with federal statutes, regulations, and terms and conditions of the award; and 3) any additional requirements the pass-through entity imposes on the subrecipient in order to meet its own responsibility for the federal award. It also requires the pass-through entity to verify that every subrecipient is audited under the Uniform Guidance when required. Condition The County did not have an effective process in place to ensure required communications with subrecipients of federal awards and appropriate monitoring of the subrecipient’s use of federal awards occurred. There was no agreement with the subrecipient that explicitly included certain information required under 2 CFR 200.332(a)(1). Cause Management was not aware of the additional communication requirements imposed on pass-through entities. Effect Failure to monitor subrecipient’s use of federal awards could result in the erroneous or fraudulent spending of federal awards, as well as the risk the subrecipient may not be audited in accordance with the Uniform Guidance when required. Recommendation We recommend the County update its communications with the subrecipient to include the required communications of the subrecipient’s responsibilities under the federal requirements, grant agreements and award requirements including, but not limited to, its audit obligations under the Uniform Guidance. Views of Responsible Official(s) See Auditee’s Corrective Action Plan.
Finding Number: 2024-042 Prior Year Finding Number: N/A Compliance Requirement: Subrecipient Monitoring Program: U.S. Department of the Interior Government Department/Agency: Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) Emergency Supplemental Historic Preservation Fund ALN: 15.957 Award #: P19AP00016 Award Period: 03/01/2019 - 09/30/2026 Criteria – A pass-through entity (PTE) must: • Verify the Subrecipient – Verify that the subrecipient is not excluded or disqualified in accordance with 2 CFR 180.300. Verification methods are provided in 2 CFR 180.300, which include confirming in SAM.gov that a potential subrecipient is not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded from receiving Federal funds (2 CFR 200.322(a)). • Identify the Award and Applicable Requirements – Clearly identify to the subrecipient the award as a subaward at the time of subaward (or subsequent subaward modification) by providing the information described in 2 CFR section 200.332(b). • Evaluate Risk – Evaluate each subrecipient’s risk of noncompliance for purposes of determining the appropriate subrecipient monitoring related to the subaward (2 CFR section 200.332(c)). This evaluation of risk may include consideration of such factors as the following: 1. The subrecipient’s prior experience with the same or similar subawards; 2. The results of previous audits including whether or not the subrecipient receives a single audit in accordance with 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F, and the extent to which the same or similar subaward has been audited as a major program; 3. Whether the subrecipient has new personnel or new or substantially changed systems; and 4. The extent and results of Federal awarding agency monitoring (e.g., if the subrecipient also receives Federal awards directly from a Federal awarding agency). • Monitor – Monitor the activities of the subrecipient as necessary to ensure that the subaward is used for authorized purposes, complies with the terms and conditions of the subaward, and achieves performance goals (2 CFR sections 200.332(e) through (g)). In addition to procedures identified as necessary based upon the evaluation of subrecipient risk or specifically required by the terms and conditions of the award, subaward monitoring must include the following: 1. Reviewing financial and performance reports required by the PTE. 2. Ensure that the subrecipient takes corrective action on all significant developments that negatively affect the subaward in accordance with 2 CFR 200.332(e)(2). 3. Issuing a management decision for audit findings pertaining to the Federal award provided to the subrecipient from the PTE as required by 2 CFR section 200.521. 4. Resolve audit findings specifically related to the subaward. • Ensure Accountability of For-Profit Subrecipients – Some Federal awards may be passed through to for-profit entities. For-profit subrecipients are accountable to the PTE for the use of the Federal funds provided. Because 2 CFR Part 200 does not make Subpart F applicable to for-profit subrecipients, the PTE is responsible for establishing requirements, to ensure compliance by for-profit subrecipients. The subaward with the for-profit subrecipient must describe applicable compliance requirements and the for-profit subrecipient's compliance responsibility. Methods to ensure compliance for Federal awards made to for-profit subrecipients may include pre-award audits, monitoring throughout the performance of the subaward, and post-award audits (2 CFR section 200.501(i)). Further, the Uniform Guidance in 2 CFR Section 200.303, Internal Controls, requires that non-federal entities receiving Federal awards (i.e., auditee management) establish, document, and maintain internal control designed to ensure compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Condition – DPNR did not provide supporting documentation to determine whether it designed and implemented a formal process to ensure compliance with subrecipient monitoring requirements during the year under audit. Additionally, DPNR was not able to provide a listing of subrecipient payments made during the year under audit. Cause – It appears that DPNR did not maintain or provide sufficient documentation to demonstrate the design and implementation of controls and compliance with subrecipient monitoring requirements. Effect or Potential Effect – Failure to properly adhere to policies and procedures can result in noncompliance with laws and regulations and failure to meet the program’s objectives along with loss of funding. Questioned Costs – $6,964,757. Context – This is a condition identified per review of DPNR’s compliance with the specified requirements and general compliance principles. The total subrecipient payments made during the year were $6,964,757. Recommendation – We recommend that DPNR strengthen its policies and procedures for documenting and retaining the evidence to ensure that internal controls over subrecipient monitoring are designed and operating effectively. DPNR should also maintain a complete and accurate listing of subrecipients for the year to support monitoring activities. Views of Responsible Officials – The Government concurs with the auditor’s findings and recommendations. DPNR, with the support of federal agency’s, consultant will implement a centralized electronic repository system to serve as the official recordkeeping location for all subrecipient supporting documentation. The planned corrective actions are presented in the Government’s Corrective Action Plan attached as Appendix B to the Single Audit Report.
Finding Number: 2024-052 Prior Year Finding Number: 2023-048 Compliance Requirement: Subrecipient Monitoring Program: U.S. Department of the Treasury Government Department/Agency: Office of Management and Budget (OMB) COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds ALN: 21.027 Award #: N/A Award Period: 03/03/2021 – 12/31/2024 Criteria – A pass-through entity (PTE) must: • Verify the Subrecipient – Verify that the subrecipient is not excluded or disqualified in accordance with 2 CFR 180.300. Verification methods are provided in 2 CFR 180.300, which include confirming in SAM.gov that a potential subrecipient is not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded from receiving Federal funds (2 CFR 200.322(a)). • Identify the Award and Applicable Requirements – Clearly identify to the subrecipient the award as a subaward at the time of subaward (or subsequent subaward modification) by providing the information described in 2 CFR section 200.332(b). • Evaluate Risk – Evaluate each subrecipient’s risk of noncompliance for purposes of determining the appropriate subrecipient monitoring related to the subaward (2 CFR section 200.332(c)). This evaluation of risk may include consideration of such factors as the following: 1. The subrecipient’s prior experience with the same or similar subawards; 2. The results of previous audits including whether or not the subrecipient receives a single audit in accordance with 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F, and the extent to which the same or similar subaward has been audited as a major program; 3. Whether the subrecipient has new personnel or new or substantially changed systems; and 4. The extent and results of Federal awarding agency monitoring (e.g., if the subrecipient also receives Federal awards directly from a Federal awarding agency). • Monitor – Monitor the activities of the subrecipient as necessary to ensure that the subaward is used for authorized purposes, complies with the terms and conditions of the subaward, and achieves performance goals (2 CFR sections 200.332(e) through (g)). In addition to procedures identified as necessary based upon the evaluation of subrecipient risk or specifically required by the terms and conditions of the award, subaward monitoring must include the following: 1. Reviewing financial and performance reports required by the PTE. 2. Ensure that the subrecipient takes corrective action on all significant developments that negatively affect the subaward in accordance with 2 CFR 200.332(e)(2). 3. Issuing a management decision for audit findings pertaining to the Federal award provided to the subrecipient from the PTE as required by 2 CFR section 200.521. 4. Resolve audit findings specifically related to the subaward. • Ensure Accountability of For-Profit Subrecipients – Some Federal awards may be passed through to for-profit entities. For-profit subrecipients are accountable to the PTE for the use of the Federal funds provided. Because 2 CFR Part 200 does not make Subpart F applicable to for-profit subrecipients, the PTE is responsible for establishing requirements, to ensure compliance by for-profit subrecipients. The subaward with the for-profit subrecipient must describe applicable compliance requirements and the for-profit subrecipient's compliance responsibility. Methods to ensure compliance for Federal awards made to for-profit subrecipients may include pre-award audits, monitoring throughout the performance of the subaward, and post-award audits (2 CFR section 200.501(i)). Further, the Uniform Guidance in 2 CFR Section 200.303, Internal Controls, requires that non-federal entities receiving Federal awards (i.e., auditee management) establish, document, and maintain internal control designed to ensure compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Condition – We reviewed 8 out of 19 subrecipients and found no evidence that the subrecipient monitoring workbook, which outlines all processes and procedures for ensuring compliance, had been reviewed by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Grants Administrator. Cause – OMB does not have policies and procedures in place to ensure personnel adhere to the internal procedures to properly monitor subrecipients to ensure adherence to applicable federal regulations, including expending federal awards for allowable expenditures. Effect or Potential Effect – Failure to properly adhere to policies and procedures can result in noncompliance with laws and regulations and failure to meet the program’s objectives. Questioned Costs – None. Context – This is a condition identified per review of OMB’s compliance with the specified requirements using a statistically valid sample. The total amount of expenditures passed through to subrecipients in fiscal year 2024 were $15,142,370. The total amount of our sample totaled $3,730,369. Recommendation – We recommend that OMB implement policies, procedures, and controls to ensure subrecipients are identified and monitored in accordance with federal statutes. Views of Responsible Officials – The Government concurs with the auditor’s findings and recommendations. To address this finding, OMB will strengthen its subrecipient monitoring controls and formalize procedures to ensure compliance with federal regulations, including requirements related to identifying subawards, assessing subrecipient risk, documenting monitoring activities, following up on deficiencies, and maintaining evidence of supervisory review. The planned corrective actions are presented in the Government’s Corrective Action Plan attached as Appendix B to the Single Audit Report.
Finding Number: 2024-057 Prior Year Finding Number: N/A Compliance Requirement: Subrecipient Monitoring Program: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Government Department/Agency: Department of Public Works (DPW) Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) Construction Grants for Wastewater Treatment Works ALN: 66.418 Award #: Various Award Period: Various Criteria - A pass-through entity (PTE) must: • Verify the Subrecipient – Verify that the subrecipient is not excluded or disqualified in accordance with 2 CFR 180.300. Verification methods are provided in 2 CFR 180.300, which include confirming in SAM.gov that a potential subrecipient is not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded from receiving Federal funds (2 CFR 200.322(a)). • Identify the Award and Applicable Requirements – Clearly identify to the subrecipient the award as a subaward at the time of subaward (or subsequent subaward modification) by providing the information described in 2 CFR section 200.332(b). • Evaluate Risk – Evaluate each subrecipient’s risk of noncompliance for purposes of determining the appropriate subrecipient monitoring related to the subaward (2 CFR section 200.332(c)). This evaluation of risk may include consideration of such factors as the following: 1. The subrecipient’s prior experience with the same or similar subawards; 2. The results of previous audits including whether or not the subrecipient receives a single audit in accordance with 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F, and the extent to which the same or similar subaward has been audited as a major program; 3. Whether the subrecipient has new personnel or new or substantially changed systems; and 4. The extent and results of Federal awarding agency monitoring (e.g., if the subrecipient also receives Federal awards directly from a Federal awarding agency). • Monitor – Monitor the activities of the subrecipient as necessary to ensure that the subaward is used for authorized purposes, complies with the terms and conditions of the subaward, and achieves performance goals (2 CFR sections 200.332(e) through (g)). In addition to procedures identified as necessary based upon the evaluation of subrecipient risk or specifically required by the terms and conditions of the award, subaward monitoring must include the following: 1. Reviewing financial and performance reports required by the PTE. 2. Ensure that the subrecipient takes corrective action on all significant developments that negatively affect the subaward in accordance with 2 CFR 200.332(e)(2). 3. Issuing a management decision for audit findings pertaining to the Federal award provided to the subrecipient from the PTE as required by 2 CFR section 200.521. 4. Resolve audit findings specifically related to the subaward. • Ensure Accountability of For-Profit Subrecipients – Some Federal awards may be passed through to for-profit entities. For-profit subrecipients are accountable to the PTE for the use of the Federal funds provided. Because 2 CFR Part 200 does not make Subpart F applicable to for-profit subrecipients, the PTE is responsible for establishing requirements, to ensure compliance by for-profit subrecipients. The subaward with the for-profit subrecipient must describe applicable compliance requirements and the for-profit subrecipient's compliance responsibility. Methods to ensure compliance for Federal awards made to for-profit subrecipients may include pre-award audits, monitoring throughout the performance of the subaward, and post-award audits (2 CFR section 200.501(i)). Further, the Uniform Guidance in 2 CFR Section 200.303, Internal Controls, requires that non-federal entities receiving Federal awards (i.e., auditee management) establish, document, and maintain internal control designed to ensure compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Condition – DPW did not provide supporting documentation to demonstrate whether they implemented a formal process during the year to ensure compliance with subrecipient monitoring requirements. Cause – DPW does not have policies and procedures in place to ensure personnel adhere to the internal procedures to properly monitor subrecipients to ensure adherence to applicable federal regulations, including expending federal awards for allowable expenditures. Effect or Potential Effect – DPW is not in compliance with the stated provisions. Failure to properly adhere to policies and procedures can result in noncompliance with laws and regulations and failure to meet the program’s objectives. Questioned Costs – $6,364,139. Context – This is a condition identified per review of DPW’s compliance with the specified requirements using a statistically valid sample. The total amount of expenditures passed through to subrecipients in fiscal year 2024 were $6,364,139. Recommendation – We recommend that DPW implement policies, procedures, and controls to ensure subrecipients are identified and monitored in accordance with federal statutes. Views of Responsible Officials – The Government concurs with the auditor’s findings and recommendations. DPW will develop subrecipient monitoring policies and procedures: including subrecipient risk assessments, tracking and monitoring over reporting, and audit findings. The planned corrective actions are presented in the Government’s Corrective Action Plan attached as Appendix B to the Single Audit Report.
Finding Number: 2024-103 Prior Year Finding Number: 2023-086 Compliance Requirement: Subrecipient Monitoring Program: U.S. Department of Homeland Security Government Department/Agency: Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (Presidentially Declared Disasters) ALN: 97.036 Award#: FEMA-4335-DR, FEMA-4340-DR-VI, FEMA-4513-DR FEMA-3603-EM, FEMA-3581-EM Award Periods: 09/20/2017 – 09/07/2026 09/07975/2017 – 09/16/2025 04/02/2020 – 05/11/2023 Criteria – A pass-through entity (PTE) must: • Verify the Subrecipient – Verify that the subrecipient is not excluded or disqualified in accordance with 2 CFR 180.300. Verification methods are provided in 2 CFR 180.300, which include confirming in SAM.gov that a potential subrecipient is not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded from receiving Federal funds (2 CFR 200.322(a)). • Identify the Award and Applicable Requirements – Clearly identify to the subrecipient the award as a subaward at the time of subaward (or subsequent subaward modification) by providing the information described in 2 CFR section 200.332(b). • Evaluate Risk – Evaluate each subrecipient’s risk of noncompliance for purposes of determining the appropriate subrecipient monitoring related to the subaward (2 CFR section 200.332(c)). This evaluation of risk may include consideration of such factors as the following: 5. The subrecipient’s prior experience with the same or similar subawards; 6. The results of previous audits including whether or not the subrecipient receives a single audit in accordance with 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F, and the extent to which the same or similar subaward has been audited as a major program; 7. Whether the subrecipient has new personnel or new or substantially changed systems; and 8. The extent and results of Federal awarding agency monitoring (e.g., if the subrecipient also receives Federal awards directly from a Federal awarding agency). • Monitor – Monitor the activities of the subrecipient as necessary to ensure that the subaward is used for authorized purposes, complies with the terms and conditions of the subaward, and achieves performance goals (2 CFR sections 200.332(e) through (g)). In addition to procedures identified as necessary based upon the evaluation of subrecipient risk or specifically required by the terms and conditions of the award, subaward monitoring must include the following: 5. Reviewing financial and performance reports required by the PTE. 6. Ensure that the subrecipient takes corrective action on all significant developments that negatively affect the subaward in accordance with 2 CFR 200.332(e)(2). 7. Issuing a management decision for audit findings pertaining to the Federal award provided to the subrecipient from the PTE as required by 2 CFR section 200.521. 8. Resolve audit findings specifically related to the subaward. • Ensure Accountability of For-Profit Subrecipients – Some Federal awards may be passed through to for-profit entities. For-profit subrecipients are accountable to the PTE for the use of the Federal funds provided. Because 2 CFR Part 200 does not make Subpart F applicable to for-profit subrecipients, the PTE is responsible for establishing requirements, to ensure compliance by for-profit subrecipients. The subaward with the for-profit subrecipient must describe applicable compliance requirements and the for-profit subrecipient's compliance responsibility. Methods to ensure compliance for Federal awards made to for-profit subrecipients may include pre-award audits, monitoring throughout the performance of the subaward, and post-award audits (2 CFR section 200.501(i)). Further, the Uniform Guidance in 2 CFR Section 200.303, Internal Controls, requires that non-federal entities receiving Federal awards (i.e., auditee management) establish, document, and maintain internal control designed to ensure compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Condition – We have selected 8 of 32 subrecipients for testing and found the following: • 8 instances where we were unable to obtain Quarterly Progress Reports. • 8 instances where we were unable to obtain completion/inspection certificate. • 8 subrecipients with no supporting documentation that VITEMA verified that subrecipients expected to be audited as required by 2 CFR part 200, subpart F. Further, it does not appear that the controls in place are operating at a level of precision to ensure compliance with the subrecipient monitoring compliance requirements or proper identification of subrecipients. Cause – VITEMA does not have internal controls in place to properly identify and monitor subrecipients to ensure adherence to applicable federal regulations, including expending federal awards for allowable expenditures. Effect or Potential Effect – VITEMA is not in compliance with the stated provisions. Failure to properly identify and monitor subrecipients can result in noncompliance with laws and regulations and failure to meet the program's objectives. Questioned Costs – None. Context – This is a condition identified per review of VITEMA’s compliance with the specified requirements using a statistically valid sample. The total amount of expenditures passed through to subrecipients in fiscal year 2024 was $194,161,499. The total amount of our samples totaled $104,355,230. Recommendation – We recommend that VITEMA implement policies, procedures, and controls to ensure subrecipients are identified and monitored in accordance with federal statutes. Views of Responsible Officials – The Government concurs with the auditor’s findings and recommendations. VITEMA has implemented new policies and procedures by implementing a quarterly report deadline, a centralized location for supporting documentation and audit compliance, an inspection and certification of reports, and an annual notification to subrecipients of their audit responsibilities. The planned corrective actions are presented in the Government’s Corrective Action Plan attached as Appendix B to the Single Audit Report.
Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Interior AL Program: 15.875 Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories Federal Award No.: D23AF00263, D24AF003334, D24AF00335, D24AF00336, D24AF00340, D24AF00341, D24AF00344, D24AF00350, D24AF00378 Area: Subrecipient Monitoring Questioned Costs: $94,422,154 Criteria: Article VI, Section 1(n) of the Fiscal Procedures Agreement (FPA) states that the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia will follow its laws and procedures when awarding and administering Sub-Grants. The Governments shall ensure that: (i) Every Sub-Grant includes any clauses required by the 2023 Amended Compact, the Grant terms and conditions, and this Agreement; (ii) Sub-Grantees are aware of requirements imposed upon them by the 2023 Amended Compact, the Grant terms and conditions, and this agreement; and (iii) The Sub-Grantee can meet the financial management standards of this Agreement. Article VI, Section 2(a)(i) also states that the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia shall be responsible for the management and monitoring of the day-today operations of all Sector Grants and their activities, to assure compliance with all applicable Sector Grant terms and conditions. Additionally, Article VI, Section 1(h) requires The Government of the Federated States of Micronesia shall not award funds received pursuant to the 2023 Amended Compact to any party which is debarred, suspended or otherwise excluded from and ineligible for participation in United States assistance programs. The Government of the Federated States of Micronesia shall ensure that Grants shall not go to those parties identified in the SAM Exclusions List. Furthermore, Article IV, Section 5(b)(ii) says the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia maintains procedures to minimize the time elapsing between the disbursement of funds to the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia and its payment of the Accrued Expenditure. Condition: 1. The FSM National Government does not have subrecipient monitoring procedures as required by the FPA. Thus, the FSM National Government did not perform the minimum subrecipient monitoring requirements over the $94,422,154 amounts passed to subrecipients. a. Ensure that every sub-grant includes any clauses required by the 2023 Amended Compact, the Grant terms and conditions, and the FPA. b. Ensure Sub Grantees are aware of requirements imposed upon them by the Compact, as amended, the sector Grant awards and the FPA. c. The Sub-Grantee can meet the financial management standards of the FPA. d. Suspension and debarment verification procedures prior to approving of the subaward. 2. FSMNG did not properly monitor payments to subrecipients, with a total population of $23,177,976, to ensure that the subrecipients timely disbursed the funds upon receipt from FSMNG. No questioned costs are presented as amounts are already questioned at Condition 1. Cause: 1. FSMNG does not have policies and procedures that comply with Article VI, Section 1 of the Fiscal Procedures Agreement. 2. FSMNG does not have established policies and procedures to minimize time elapsing between the transfer of federal funds to the subrecipient and the disbursement of such funds by the subrecipient. Effect or potential effect: 1. FSM National Government is in noncompliance with applicable subrecipient monitoring requirements and questioned costs of $94,422,154, which is the total subrecipient disbursements made during the year, result. 2. The FSM National Government is in noncompliance with the applicable subrecipient cash management monitoring requirements. Identification as a Repeat Finding: 2023-009 Recommendation: 1. FSMNG should update their established policies and procedures to be in accordance with Article VI, Section 1(n) and Section 2(a)(i) of the Fiscal Procedures Agreement to comply with the requirements for pass-through-entities. FSMNG should consider adopting the provisions identified in 2 CFR 200.322 when designing the policies in procedures, which provide details regarding the requirements for Pass-Through Entities for subrecipient monitoring. 2. FSMNG should establish a policy and implement formal monitoring procedures to ensure that the subrecipient complies with the requirement to minimize the time elapsing between the transfer of federal funds to the subrecipient and the disbursement of such funds for program purposes. Management should consider the three-business day rule on cash advance funding stated in 31 CFR part 205.12(b)(4). Views of Responsible Officials: Management disagrees with condition 1. The FSM National Government does have a subrecipient agreement in place. All Compact sector grants are properly allocated through JEMCO for all sub-grantees, and a subrecipient agreement is transmitted to the FSM State Governments for their concurrence each year, under which the states are obliged to the grant terms and conditions. This agreement is signed by both parties — the President and the Governors, as the allottees of the funds — and the process is facilitated by the Office of Compact Management. The matters listed at conditions 1(a) through 1(d) — the inclusion of clauses required by the 2023 Amended Compact, the sub-grantees' awareness of the requirements imposed upon them, their ability to meet the financial management standards of the FPA, and verification prior to approval of the subaward — are all part of this signed subrecipient agreement. Management further notes that condition 1's statement that subrecipient monitoring procedures are 'required by the FPA' is not accurate: nowhere in the FPA is such a requirement prescribed. Throughout the FPA, the obligations rest with the 'Government of the Federated States of Micronesia,' which the FPA itself defines as the Government established and organized by the Constitution of the Federated States of Micronesia, including all the political subdivisions and entities comprising that Government. Under the FSM's longstanding interpretation of that definition, each FSM State Government is itself a grantee within the Government of the FSM and is entitled to its own management and monitoring of the day-to-day operations of its sector grants, consistent with Article VI, Section 2(a)(i). Under the recent interpretation advanced by DOI, however, these responsibilities rest with the FSM National Government, which is now to be classed as a pass-through entity in respect of the states' shares of Compact funds. This classification is a new proposed treatment arising from the ongoing Compact discussions with DOI, consistent with the matters described in the responses to Findings 2024-008 and 2024-009. The FSM National Government is now working on establishing the subrecipient agreement framework and the associated policies and procedures to align with DOI's requirements, taking into account the Uniform Guidance provisions on pass-through entity requirements referred to in the recommendation. Management also disagrees with condition 2. The Compact sector grants concerned are paid on an advance basis: under Article IV, Section 5(b)(i) of the FPA, periodic payments for operational grants are made as soon as practicable after the first business day of each fiscal quarter to fund the financial requirements of that quarter. The time-elapsing provision relied upon in the criteria — Article IV, Section 5(b)(ii) — applies only to sector grants for infrastructure projects, which are paid on the basis of accrued expenditures. The requirement to minimize the time elapsing therefore does not apply to these disbursements to the states, unless they relate to infrastructure. In any event, as demonstrated by the samples tested, funds are disbursed to the states within the month of receipt, through the FSM National Government's required wire-out approval process as described in the response to Finding 2024-010. With respect to the questioned costs of $94,422,154 — the total of subrecipient disbursements made during the year — management's position is that the matters identified constitute, at most, internal control deficiencies relating to the formal documentation of subrecipient monitoring policies and procedures. That framework is now being established, and in accordance with the agreement with DOI, it is to be implemented by 1 October 2026. The conditions do not warrant questioned costs. All samples requested were provided to the auditors, vouched, and cleared, meaning the underlying disbursements are fully supported by adequate documentation. The costs did not result from a violation of the terms and conditions of the Federal award, given that the FPA prescribes no subrecipient monitoring procedures and the pass-through classification is a newly proposed treatment still being settled with DOI; and the costs are not unreasonable, representing the allocation of Compact sector grant funds to the FSM State Governments as approved through JEMCO. Under the definition of questioned costs in 2 CFR 200.1, including paragraph (3)(i), questioning the entire population of subrecipient disbursements on account of an internal control deficiency is not warranted. Management accordingly requests that the finding be reported as an internal control deficiency with questioned costs of $0. Summary Schedule — Remarks (2024-013): Repeat 2023-009. Condition 1 disagreed — a subrecipient agreement exists, signed annually by the President and Governors as allottees, facilitated by the Office of Compact Management, covering conditions 1(a)–(d), with allocations approved through JEMCO; the FPA prescribes no subrecipient monitoring procedures, and the pass-through classification for National is a new treatment per DOI discussions. Condition 2 disagreed — Compact sector grants are paid on an advance basis under FPA Article IV, Section 5(b)(i); the time-elapsing proviso in Section 5(b)(ii) applies only to infrastructure, and in any event disbursements to states are made within the month of receipt. At most internal control deficiencies — the monitoring framework is being established and, per the DOI agreement, is to be implemented by 1 October 2026. Questioned costs contested — all samples provided, vouched, and cleared; per 2 CFR 200.1, including paragraph (3)(i), questioned costs of $0 are warranted. Auditor Response: Condition 1 – Based on February 11, 2026 communication provided by the Department of Interior, the interpretation that the FPA aligns with the provisions of 2 CFR 200.332 is correct and consistent with expectation that FSMNG should conduct subrecipient monitoring procedures over funds passed down to the different FSM states. Condition 2 – The amount of questioned cost identified pertains to fund 19 infrastructure projects passed-through to each state, therefore subject to be monitored for timeliness of disbursement as required by the FPA.
Finding No.: 2024-016 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Interior AL Program: 15.875 Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories Federal Award No.: Compact of Free Association, As Amended Area: Subrecipient Monitoring Questioned Costs: $6,795,269 Criteria: Article VIII, Section 1(a)(i) of the Fiscal Procedures Agreement (FPA) states that fiscal control and accounting procedures of RepMar, as well as its Sub-Grantees, shall be sufficient to: (a) permit the preparation of reports required by the FPA and the 2023 Amended Compact; and (b) permit the tracing of funds to a level of expenditures adequate to establish that such funds have been used in compliance with the provisions of the 2023 Amended Compact, and applicable agreements. Furthermore, Article VIII, Section 1(n)(i) of the FPA states that RepMar shall ensure that: (a) every Sub-Grant includes any clauses required by the 2023 Amended Compact, the Grant terms and condition, and the FPA; (b) Sub-Grantees are aware of requirements imposed upon them by the 2023 Amended Compact, the Grants terms and conditions and the FPA; and (c) Sub-Grantees can meet the financial management requirements of the FPA. 2 CFR 200.332(c) states that a pass-through entity (PTE) must evaluate each subrecipient’s fraud risk and risk of noncompliance with a subaward to determine the appropriate subrecipient monitoring tool. When evaluating a subrecipient's risk, a PTE should consider the following: (1) The subrecipient's prior experience with the same or similar subawards; (2) The results of previous audits. This includes considering whether or not the subrecipient receives a Single Audit in accordance with subpart F and the extent to which the same or similar subawards have been audited as a major program; (3) Whether the subrecipient has new personnel or new or substantially changed systems; and (4) The extent and results of any Federal agency monitoring (for example, if the subrecipient also receives Federal awards directly from the Federal agency). 2 CFR 200.332(e) states that a PTE must monitor the activities of a subrecipient as necessary to ensure that the subrecipient complies with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the subaward. The PTE is responsible for monitoring the overall performance of a subrecipient to ensure that the goals and objectives of the subaward are achieved. In monitoring a subrecipient, a PTE must: (1) Review financial and performance reports; (2) Ensure that the subrecipient takes corrective action on all significant developments that negatively affect the subaward. Significant developments include Single Audit findings related to the subaward, other audit findings, site visits, and written notifications from a subrecipient of adverse conditions which will impact their ability to meet the milestones or the objectives of a subaward. When significant developments negatively impact the subaward, a subrecipient must provide the PTE with information on their plan for corrective action and any assistance needed to resolve the situation; (3) Issue a management decision for audit findings related to the subaward, in accordance with 2 CFR §200.521; and (4) Resolve audit findings that are specifically related to the subaward. 2 CFR 200.303(a) states that a recipient of a Federal award must establish, document, and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the recipient is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should align with the 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 1: RepMar did not evaluate and document each subrecipient’s fraud risk and risk of noncompliance prior to issuing subawards. In addition, RepMar did not design and implement risk‑based subrecipient monitoring procedures. As a result, RepMar lacked a defined process to identify subrecipient risk and did not tailor monitoring activities to provide reasonable assurance that subawards were administered in compliance with applicable Federal requirements. Condition 2: For 12 (or 100%) subawards tested out of 22 issued during the audit period, no documented evidence was made available to demonstrate that the Ministry of Finance, Banking and Postal Services (MOFBPS) effectively evaluated and monitored subrecipients and their activities. Consequently, we were unable to ascertain whether MOFBPS monitored subrecipient compliance with subaward agreements, Compact Agreement, grant awards, and the Fiscal Procedures Agreement (FPA). Item # Subrecipient Fund # BRV/ MOA # Sub-Grant Amount Questioned Cost 1 College of the Marshall Islands 10401, 10402, 10406, 10409 BRV-23-0227 $ 2,000,328 $ 2,000,328 2 National Training Council 10402 BRV-23-5304 18,819 18,819 3 Kora in Okrane (KIO) 10402 BRV-23-2962 15,000 15,000 4 Assumption Schools 10401 BRV-23-7258 100,000 100,000 5 Marshall Islands Scholarship 10401 BRV-25-7100 750,000 750,000 6 National Training Council 10401 BRV-23-7253 250,000 250,000 7 College of the Marshall Islands 10401 BRV-23-7180 200,000 200,000 8 Kwajalein Atoll Joint Utilities Resources 10412 BRV-23-0226 938,930 938,930 9 KalGov-Local Council Management 10412 BRV-23-3559 150,000 150,000 10 Jabro Private School 10406 BRV-23-3148 15,475 15,475 11 Father Hacker High School 10406 BRV-23-3151 12,690 12,690 12 Gem School 10406 BRV-23-3149 23,327 23,327 $ 4,474,569 $ 4,474,569 Condition 3: For 10 (or 71%) of 14 payments to subrecipients tested, aggregating $944,078 of $5,684,200 in total transactions, the following deficiencies were noted: Item # Subrecipient Fund # Payment Basis Payment Amount Questioned Cost 1 Women United Together Marshall Islands 10402 4th quarter $ 16,250 $ 16,250 2 National Training Council 10402 70% initial payment 24,742 24,742 3 KORA IN OKRANE (KIO) 10412 1st Quarter 3,750 - 4 KALGOV- Local Council Management 10412 2nd quarter 37,500 - 5 KALGOV- Local Council Management 10412 3rd quarter 37,500 - 6 KALGOV- Local Council Management 10412 4th quarter 37,500 - 7 National Training Council 10401 4th quarter 62,500 - 8 College of the Marshall Islands 10401 4th quarter 50,000 - 9 Ebeye Seventh Day Adventist 10406 1st half 33,460 33,460 10 Queen of Peace 10406 1st half 17,626 17,626 $ 320,828 $ 92,078 For item #s 1 through 6, RepMar did not ensure that costs were expended by the subrecipients prior to payment. Further, for item # 3, no expenditure documentation was provided. Accordingly, the reimbursement timing requirement under 2 CFR §200.305(b)(1) was not met. No additional questioned costs are reported for item #s 3 through 6 as these same subrecipients were previously tested under Condition 2 above and the full-related disbursed amounts were already reported as questioned costs. Accordingly, the amounts are not repeated under this condition. For items #s 7 through 10, RepMar did not implement procedures to minimize the time elapsing between the transfer of Federal funds to subrecipients and the subrecipients’ disbursement of such funds for program purposes. Accordingly, the requirement under 2 CFR §200.305(b)(1) was not met. No additional questioned costs are reported for item #s 7 and 8 as these same subrecipients were previously tested under Condition 2 and the full-related disbursed amounts were already reported as questioned costs. Accordingly, the amounts are not repeated under this condition. Condition 4: Subrecipient schedule provided by MOFBPS was incomplete. Grant assistance under award nos. D23AF000740, D24AF00030, D24AF00071, and D24AF00369 aggregating $2,228,622 was sub-granted to a subrecipient that was not included in the monitoring schedule. Further the sub-grant was prohibited by the grant award terms and conditions. Accordingly, questioned cost of $2,228,622 results. Cause: RepMar lacks comprehensive internal control policies and procedures governing subrecipient evaluation and monitoring for compliance with underlying grant awards, memoranda of agreement, and Compact provisions. Effect or Potential Effect: RepMar is in noncompliance with applicable subrecipient monitoring requirements. The reportable questioned cost is $6,795,269. Identification as a Repeat Finding: 2023-019 Recommendation: RepMar should comply with the applicable provisions of the Fiscal Procedures Agreement (FPA) and Federal subrecipient monitoring requirements and should develop, document, and implement effective subrecipient monitoring policies and procedures. Furthermore, the Ministry of Finance, Banking and Postal Services (MOFBPS) should enforce compliance with subaward agreements, including ensuring that subrecipients obtain and timely submit Single Audit reports, as applicable. Views of Responsible Officials: Condition 1. On July 31, the newly developed pre-award risk assessment tool was rolled out to all subrecipients and ministries with oversight, effective FY2027. Conditions 2-3: On July 29, July 31 and August 5, 2026, training was conducted on Majuro and Ebeye to introduce new and enhanced tools to strengthen subrecipient monitoring. Views of Responsible Officials, continued: It covered the following topics: 1. Audit findings related to subrecipient arrangements. 2. Grants Management Manual with emphasis on its scope and the Management Decision Letter (MDL). 3. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), which is mandatory. 4. Memorandum of Agreement and the significance of each section. 5. MOA circulation process. 6. Procurement Code 2023 7. Reporting and Required Supporting Documents: - Pre-award Risk Assessment - Site Visit Checklist - Enhanced SubGrant Forms and Review Checklist (SG1/Subgrant Objectives and Budget Proposal and SG2/Performance and Financial Evaluation) - SG Forms supporting documentation (salaries & wages, fuel purchase, food purchase, vehicle rental, housing allowance, travel, etc.) 8. Conflict of Interest In September 2026, officers from the Compliance and SOE Monitoring Unit will start going out to conduct the pre-award risk assessment. Results of the assessment will determine whether the entity can sign an MOA with the MOF or not as well as the entity's risk rating, which will determine the frequency of site visits to be conducted by Compliance beginning FY2027. Condition 4 Effective 3rd quarter of FY2025, all transactions charged to the Enewetak grant go through the national procurement and payment process.
Federal Program: COVID-19 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds - Assistance Listing #21.027 - Award # 5070101; Passed through the Texas Office of the Governor- Criminal Justice Division. Criteria: 2 CFR section 200.332 requires a pass-through entity to ensure that every subaward is clearly identified to the subrecipient as a subaward and include the information described in 2 CFR section 200.332 (b)(1). A pass-through entity must provide the best available information when some of the information is unavailable. A pass-through entity must provide the unavailable information when it is obtained. Condition /Context: Subrecipients did not receive notice or an updated subaward agreement when the grant funding source changed from state to federal funding. Therefore, not all required subaward information under the Uniform Guidance was provided, specifically: - Federal Award Identification Number (FAIN) - Federal award date of award to the recipient by the federal agency - Total amount of federal funds obligated to the subrecipient by the pass-through entity, including the current financial obligation - Name of the Federal agency, pass-through entity, and contact information for awarding official of the pass-through entity - Assistance listing number and title Questioned Costs: None Effect: Texas CASA, Inc. was not in compliance with the Uniform Guidance requirements as it relates to subrecipient award agreement elements. Cause: During the fiscal year, the granting agency awarded additional funds to Texas CASA, Inc., which changed the funding source from state to federal funds. Texas CASA, Inc. did not have a process in place to communicate the changes in funding sources to the subrecipients. Recommendations: Texas CASA, Inc. should prepare and implement procedures to timely communicate any necessary revisions or changes to subawards to the subrecipients. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: See Schedule of Corrective Action Plan
Reference Number 2024-004 Subaward Agreements Federal Awards: GEAR UP (ALN 84.334A) Criteria and Condition: A pass-through entity must clearly identify to the subrecipient; (1) the award as a subaward at the time of subaward (or subsequent subaward modification) by providing the information described in 2 CFR section 200.332(b)(1); (2) all requirements imposed by the pass-through entity on the subrecipient so that the federal award is used in accordance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the award; and (3) any additional requirements that the pass-through entity imposes on the subrecipient in order for the pass-through entity to meet its own responsibility for the federal award. We noted a formal subaward agreement outlining all the required information is not prepared and executed by the Center (pass-through entity) and its subrecipients. Amended guidance was communicated to the Center as 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129 was amended on August 29, 2024. Under this new guidance, an agreement that details the activities that each member of the group plans to perform, and binds each member of the group to every statement and assurance made by the application will be required on an ongoing basis. The Center intends to comply with this requirement on an ongoing basis. Cause and Effect: The Center provides separate documents to its subrecipients such as the District/Campus Commitment Form that outlines some of the applicable compliance requirements and a Program Budget Award Worksheet. A formal subaward agreement executed by both parties containing all the information required by 200.332(b)(1) is not in place. This results in noncompliance with subrecipient monitoring requirements. Repeat Finding from Prior Year(s): N/A Questioned Costs: $0 Recommendation: As 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129 was amended on August 29, 2024, we recommend management implement this guidance and maintain formal agreements between the Center and the subrecipients/partners in the program. Views of Responsible Officials: See management’s corrective action plan.
Reference Number 2024-004 Subaward Agreements Federal Awards: GEAR UP (ALN 84.334A) Criteria and Condition: A pass-through entity must clearly identify to the subrecipient; (1) the award as a subaward at the time of subaward (or subsequent subaward modification) by providing the information described in 2 CFR section 200.332(b)(1); (2) all requirements imposed by the pass-through entity on the subrecipient so that the federal award is used in accordance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the award; and (3) any additional requirements that the pass-through entity imposes on the subrecipient in order for the pass-through entity to meet its own responsibility for the federal award. We noted a formal subaward agreement outlining all the required information is not prepared and executed by the Center (pass-through entity) and its subrecipients. Amended guidance was communicated to the Center as 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129 was amended on August 29, 2024. Under this new guidance, an agreement that details the activities that each member of the group plans to perform, and binds each member of the group to every statement and assurance made by the application will be required on an ongoing basis. The Center intends to comply with this requirement on an ongoing basis. Cause and Effect: The Center provides separate documents to its subrecipients such as the District/Campus Commitment Form that outlines some of the applicable compliance requirements and a Program Budget Award Worksheet. A formal subaward agreement executed by both parties containing all the information required by 200.332(b)(1) is not in place. This results in noncompliance with subrecipient monitoring requirements. Repeat Finding from Prior Year(s): N/A Questioned Costs: $0 Recommendation: As 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129 was amended on August 29, 2024, we recommend management implement this guidance and maintain formal agreements between the Center and the subrecipients/partners in the program. Views of Responsible Officials: See management’s corrective action plan.
Reference Number 2024-004 Subaward Agreements Federal Awards: GEAR UP (ALN 84.334A) Criteria and Condition: A pass-through entity must clearly identify to the subrecipient; (1) the award as a subaward at the time of subaward (or subsequent subaward modification) by providing the information described in 2 CFR section 200.332(b)(1); (2) all requirements imposed by the pass-through entity on the subrecipient so that the federal award is used in accordance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the award; and (3) any additional requirements that the pass-through entity imposes on the subrecipient in order for the pass-through entity to meet its own responsibility for the federal award. We noted a formal subaward agreement outlining all the required information is not prepared and executed by the Center (pass-through entity) and its subrecipients. Amended guidance was communicated to the Center as 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129 was amended on August 29, 2024. Under this new guidance, an agreement that details the activities that each member of the group plans to perform, and binds each member of the group to every statement and assurance made by the application will be required on an ongoing basis. The Center intends to comply with this requirement on an ongoing basis. Cause and Effect: The Center provides separate documents to its subrecipients such as the District/Campus Commitment Form that outlines some of the applicable compliance requirements and a Program Budget Award Worksheet. A formal subaward agreement executed by both parties containing all the information required by 200.332(b)(1) is not in place. This results in noncompliance with subrecipient monitoring requirements. Repeat Finding from Prior Year(s): N/A Questioned Costs: $0 Recommendation: As 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129 was amended on August 29, 2024, we recommend management implement this guidance and maintain formal agreements between the Center and the subrecipients/partners in the program. Views of Responsible Officials: See management’s corrective action plan.
Subrecipient Monitoring Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Title: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) ALN: 93.558 93.667 Pass-Through Agency: N/A Pass-Through Number(s): N/A Award Number and Period: TANF 2301TXTANF, 2301TXTAN3, 2401TXTANF, 2401TXTAN3 October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023 and October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024 SSBG 2401TXSOSR October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2025 Statistically Valid Sample: No, and not intended to be a statistically valid sample Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Noncompliance Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR 200.303(a), Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) must establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that it 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 the “Internal Control Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). 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 certain information at the time of the subaward and if any of these data elements change, include the changes in the 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 the subrecipient’s unique entity identifier (UEI). Condition: Audit procedures included a review of subaward agreements for required information. We noted the following instances of noncompliance: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families – The UEI was not included in eight of the eight agreements selected for testing. The start and end dates for the agreements were September 1, 2020 – August 31, 2024. Social Services Block Grant –The UEI was not included in one of the 19 agreements selected for testing. The start and end dates for the agreement was January 1, 2021 – August 31, 2024. Questioned costs: None. Context: See “Condition.” Cause: The current contract review process to ensure all required elements are included per 2 CFR 200 §200.332 prior to execution is not at the correct precision level. Effect: Providing incomplete information to subrecipients may result in inaccurate reporting by the subrecipients and ultimately by HHSC. Repeat Finding: 2023-011 Recommendation: We recommend management enhance existing controls around the review of all subaward agreements to ensure that all pass-through agreements include each of the required elements by 2 CFR §200.332. Views of responsible officials: HHSC concurs with the finding.
Subrecipient Monitoring Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Title: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) ALN: 93.558 93.667 Pass-Through Agency: N/A Pass-Through Number(s): N/A Award Number and Period: TANF 2301TXTANF, 2301TXTAN3, 2401TXTANF, 2401TXTAN3 October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023 and October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024 SSBG 2401TXSOSR October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2025 Statistically Valid Sample: No, and not intended to be a statistically valid sample Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Noncompliance Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR 200.303(a), Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) must establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that it 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 the “Internal Control Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). 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 certain information at the time of the subaward and if any of these data elements change, include the changes in the 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 the subrecipient’s unique entity identifier (UEI). Condition: Audit procedures included a review of subaward agreements for required information. We noted the following instances of noncompliance: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families – The UEI was not included in eight of the eight agreements selected for testing. The start and end dates for the agreements were September 1, 2020 – August 31, 2024. Social Services Block Grant –The UEI was not included in one of the 19 agreements selected for testing. The start and end dates for the agreement was January 1, 2021 – August 31, 2024. Questioned costs: None. Context: See “Condition.” Cause: The current contract review process to ensure all required elements are included per 2 CFR 200 §200.332 prior to execution is not at the correct precision level. Effect: Providing incomplete information to subrecipients may result in inaccurate reporting by the subrecipients and ultimately by HHSC. Repeat Finding: 2023-011 Recommendation: We recommend management enhance existing controls around the review of all subaward agreements to ensure that all pass-through agreements include each of the required elements by 2 CFR §200.332. Views of responsible officials: HHSC concurs with the finding.
Subrecipient Monitoring Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Title: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) ALN: 93.558 93.667 Pass-Through Agency: N/A Pass-Through Number(s): N/A Award Number and Period: TANF 2301TXTANF, 2301TXTAN3, 2401TXTANF, 2401TXTAN3 October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023 and October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024 SSBG 2401TXSOSR October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2025 Statistically Valid Sample: No, and not intended to be a statistically valid sample Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Noncompliance Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR 200.303(a), Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) must establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that it 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 the “Internal Control Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). 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 certain information at the time of the subaward and if any of these data elements change, include the changes in the 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 the subrecipient’s unique entity identifier (UEI). Condition: Audit procedures included a review of subaward agreements for required information. We noted the following instances of noncompliance: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families – The UEI was not included in eight of the eight agreements selected for testing. The start and end dates for the agreements were September 1, 2020 – August 31, 2024. Social Services Block Grant –The UEI was not included in one of the 19 agreements selected for testing. The start and end dates for the agreement was January 1, 2021 – August 31, 2024. Questioned costs: None. Context: See “Condition.” Cause: The current contract review process to ensure all required elements are included per 2 CFR 200 §200.332 prior to execution is not at the correct precision level. Effect: Providing incomplete information to subrecipients may result in inaccurate reporting by the subrecipients and ultimately by HHSC. Repeat Finding: 2023-011 Recommendation: We recommend management enhance existing controls around the review of all subaward agreements to ensure that all pass-through agreements include each of the required elements by 2 CFR §200.332. Views of responsible officials: HHSC concurs with the finding.
Subrecipient Monitoring Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program Title: Home Investment Partnerships Program ALN: 14.239 Pass-Through Agency: N/A Pass-Through Number(s): N/A Award Number and Period: M18-SG480100, M19-SP480100, M20-SG480100 September 12, 2018 – September 1, 2026, and July 12, 2019 – September 1, 2027, August 13, 2020 – September 1, 2028 Statistically Valid Sample: No, and not intended to be a statistically valid sample Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Noncompliance Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) 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 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). Per 2 CFR sections 200.332 (c), TDHCA must evaluate each subrecipient's fraud risk and risk of noncompliance with a subaward to determine the appropriate subrecipient monitoring described in paragraph (f) of this section. When evaluating a subrecipient's risk, TDHCA should consider the following: (1) The subrecipient's prior experience with the same or similar subawards; (2) The results of previous audits. This includes considering whether or not the subrecipient receives a Single Audit in accordance with subpart F and the extent to which the same or similar subawards have been audited as a major program; (3) Whether the subrecipient has new personnel or new or substantially changed systems; and (4) The extent and results of any Federal agency monitoring (for example, if the subrecipient also receives Federal awards directly from the Federal agency). Condition: TDHCA maintains a Master Compliance Subrecipient Monitoring (CMSM) Planning Summary (MPS) to track all active subrecipient contracts that have expenditures in the planning phase to evaluate each subrecipient's fraud risk and risk of noncompliance with the subaward to determine the appropriate subrecipient monitoring to be performed. During our testing, we noted three subrecipient contracts with expenditures during the fiscal year were not included on the MPS for evaluation of fraud risk and risk of noncompliance. Accordingly, no determination was made for the appropriate subrecipient monitoring to be performed for these subrecipients. Questioned costs: None. Context: See “Condition.” Cause: The preparation of the MPS is a manual process wherein a senior analyst identifies the active contracts that have expenditures in the planning phase. The subrecipients were inadvertently omitted due to oversight. Effect: Failure to complete proper monitoring over subrecipients may lead to noncompliance with grant terms and conditions. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend TDHCA establish internal controls that require a review to be completed over the completeness and accuracy of the MPS by an individual other than the preparer. Views of responsible officials: Compliance Subrecipient Monitoring (CMSM) has historically utilized the Department’s Housing Contract system to populate its risk population. “Active” contracts with expenditures are selected for risk consideration while “Expired”, “Closed” or unexpended contracts are excluded to promote internal efficiency in the monitoring process. During interviews with the auditor and the Department’s HOME staff, it was identified that there are circumstances where “Expired” or “Closed” contracts may demonstrate expenditure activity and inadvertently exclude contracts that could be included for risk consideration. Of note, this system generated discrepancy has not contributed to a material variance in contracts considered for risk assessment.
Subrecipient Monitoring Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program Title: Home Investment Partnerships Program ALN: 14.239 Pass-Through Agency: N/A Pass-Through Number(s): N/A Award Number and Period: M18-SG480100, M19-SP480100, M20-SG480100 September 12, 2018 – September 1, 2026, and July 12, 2019 – September 1, 2027, August 13, 2020 – September 1, 2028 Statistically Valid Sample: No, and not intended to be a statistically valid sample Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Noncompliance Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) 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 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). Per 2 CFR sections 200.332 (c), TDHCA must evaluate each subrecipient's fraud risk and risk of noncompliance with a subaward to determine the appropriate subrecipient monitoring described in paragraph (f) of this section. When evaluating a subrecipient's risk, TDHCA should consider the following: (1) The subrecipient's prior experience with the same or similar subawards; (2) The results of previous audits. This includes considering whether or not the subrecipient receives a Single Audit in accordance with subpart F and the extent to which the same or similar subawards have been audited as a major program; (3) Whether the subrecipient has new personnel or new or substantially changed systems; and (4) The extent and results of any Federal agency monitoring (for example, if the subrecipient also receives Federal awards directly from the Federal agency). Condition: TDHCA maintains a Master Compliance Subrecipient Monitoring (CMSM) Planning Summary (MPS) to track all active subrecipient contracts that have expenditures in the planning phase to evaluate each subrecipient's fraud risk and risk of noncompliance with the subaward to determine the appropriate subrecipient monitoring to be performed. During our testing, we noted three subrecipient contracts with expenditures during the fiscal year were not included on the MPS for evaluation of fraud risk and risk of noncompliance. Accordingly, no determination was made for the appropriate subrecipient monitoring to be performed for these subrecipients. Questioned costs: None. Context: See “Condition.” Cause: The preparation of the MPS is a manual process wherein a senior analyst identifies the active contracts that have expenditures in the planning phase. The subrecipients were inadvertently omitted due to oversight. Effect: Failure to complete proper monitoring over subrecipients may lead to noncompliance with grant terms and conditions. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend TDHCA establish internal controls that require a review to be completed over the completeness and accuracy of the MPS by an individual other than the preparer. Views of responsible officials: Compliance Subrecipient Monitoring (CMSM) has historically utilized the Department’s Housing Contract system to populate its risk population. “Active” contracts with expenditures are selected for risk consideration while “Expired”, “Closed” or unexpended contracts are excluded to promote internal efficiency in the monitoring process. During interviews with the auditor and the Department’s HOME staff, it was identified that there are circumstances where “Expired” or “Closed” contracts may demonstrate expenditure activity and inadvertently exclude contracts that could be included for risk consideration. Of note, this system generated discrepancy has not contributed to a material variance in contracts considered for risk assessment.
Reporting – FFATA Subawards Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Labor Federal Program Title: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Cluster ALN: 17.258, 17.259, 17.278 Pass-Through Agency: N/A Pass-Through Number(s): N/A Award Number and Period: 23A55AY000040–01–00 April 1, 2023 – June 30, 2026 Statistically Valid Sample: No, and not intended to be a statistically valid sample Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Noncompliance Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), Texas Workforce (TWC) must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that TWC 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). Under the requirements of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) (Pub. L. No. 109- 282), as amended by Section 6202 of Public Law 110-252, recipients (i.e., 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) no later than the last day of the month following the month in which the subaward/subaward amendment obligation was made or the subcontract award/subcontract modification was made. Condition: As the prime recipient of grant funding, TWC is responsible for reporting first-tier subawards of $30,000 or more in FSRS. Audit procedures included testing 59 subawards made during the fiscal year for FFATA requirements, including subawards made by Texas Education Agency (TEA) using state pass through funds from TWC. TWC passed through $3,000,000 of federal grant funds to TEA who in turn made 33 subawards totaling $2,911,755. Based on Part 3 of the 2024 compliance supplement, transfers of federal awards to another component of the same auditee under 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F, do not constitute a subrecipient or contractor relationship. Accordingly, subawards made by TEA should be reported in FSRS by TWC as the prime recipient. The following compliance exceptions were identified: See chart or table in the Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs. Questioned costs: None Context: See “Condition.” Cause: TWC considered the funds passed through to TEA as a subaward and reported these amounts in FSRS. However, as TEA is an agency of the State of Texas, it does not meet the definition of a subrecipient. Effect: Failure to submit FFATA subawards timely may lead to noncompliance with federal requirements. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend that, as the prime recipient, TWC coordinate with state pass through entities to obtain the information needed for FFATA reporting in order to be compliant with FFATA requirements. Views of responsible officials: In this situation, TWC disagrees with the applicability of the following statement “Transfers of federal awards to another component of the same auditee under 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F, do not constitute a subrecipient or contractor relationship” from the Fiscal Year 2024 2 CFR Part 200, Appendix XI Compliance Supplement. According to 2 CFR Part 170, TWC is required to report first-tier subawards. In the case of TWC and TEA, there is an Interagency Agreement Contract (IAC) which designates TEA as a subrecipient of TWC making TEA a first_x0002_tier grantee of TWC. Neither TWC nor TEA considers this funding a “transfer.” The definition of a pass-through entity according to 2 CFR Part 200, means a recipient or subrecipient that provides a subaward to a subrecipient (including lower tier subrecipients) to carry out a federal program. In the case of TWC and TEA, there is an Interagency Agreement Contract (IAC) that establishes a relationship that would not be considered a transfer but a first tier subaward. The IAC establishes TWC as a pass-through entity and TEA as a subrecipient per the definitions of these terms in 2 CFR 200.1. Under the requirements for pass-through entities at 2 CFR 200.332, TWC is responsible for monitoring TEA performance under this subaward which may include enforcement under 2 CFR 200.339 and the recovery of costs associated with subrecipient noncompliance. This contractual consideration and possibility of repayment supports that this relationship is one of pass-through and subrecipient, and not a transfer of a federal award to another component of an auditee. As such, subawards made by TEA are in fact second tier subawards for TWC and TWC has no obligation to report them as established in Appendix A 2 CFR Part 170. The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA) was passed in the vein of openness and transparency to the public as it relates to Federal spending. Reporting on first-tier subawards took effect October 1, 2010. (See OMB Memorandum for Senior Accountable Officials, “Open Government Directive–Federal Spending Transparency and Subaward and Compensation Data Reporting,” August 27, 2010.) FFATA, § 2—Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, directed the Office of Management and Budget to “ensure the existence and operation of a single searchable website, accessible by the public at no cost to access, that includes for each Federal award—(A) the name of the entity receiving the award” and other specified information. (See Public Law 109-282, §2(b).) That website is USASpending.gov. On that website, a search by “recipient” does not have an option to search for “State of Texas.” Rather, the search options individually list the Texas Workforce Commission and other Texas state agencies as separate recipients. When TWC makes an interagency pass-through contract to another state agency, TWC has always treated that other state agency as first-tier subrecipient for FFATA reporting purposes. That decision was based on guidance and interpretation of information available when the FFATA subaward reporting requirements took effect in 2010. TWC has continued in that manner with no audit finding on that approach until now. If TWC adheres to the recommendation made by this finding, the public will no longer have access to the interagency contract amounts through USASpending.gov. The USASpending.gov data presented to the public will instead indicate that the subrecipients of another state agency received subawards directly from TWC, which is inaccurate, will make the USASpending.gov data of the other state agency incomplete, and will cause the USASpending.gov data to be inconsistent with both state agencies’ presentation of those subawards in their respective systems and financial statements. In effect, the USASpending.gov data will represent the subawards of the other state agency as TWC’s subrecipients, while TWC’s systems and financial statements will have no record of those subawards beyond FFATA reporting. Similarly, the other state agency’s systems and financial statements will reflect those subawards as its own, but with no related reflection of that relationship in USASpending.gov. If the public were to submit an open records request about the subawards, the State’s response would be delayed by one state agency collecting data from the other, and inconsistent with the public’s expectation as to which state agency issued and managed those subawards. Those effects seem inconsistent with FFATA’s openness and transparency goals.
Reporting – FFATA Subawards Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Labor Federal Program Title: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Cluster ALN: 17.258, 17.259, 17.278 Pass-Through Agency: N/A Pass-Through Number(s): N/A Award Number and Period: 23A55AY000040–01–00 April 1, 2023 – June 30, 2026 Statistically Valid Sample: No, and not intended to be a statistically valid sample Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Noncompliance Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), Texas Workforce (TWC) must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that TWC 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). Under the requirements of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) (Pub. L. No. 109- 282), as amended by Section 6202 of Public Law 110-252, recipients (i.e., 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) no later than the last day of the month following the month in which the subaward/subaward amendment obligation was made or the subcontract award/subcontract modification was made. Condition: As the prime recipient of grant funding, TWC is responsible for reporting first-tier subawards of $30,000 or more in FSRS. Audit procedures included testing 59 subawards made during the fiscal year for FFATA requirements, including subawards made by Texas Education Agency (TEA) using state pass through funds from TWC. TWC passed through $3,000,000 of federal grant funds to TEA who in turn made 33 subawards totaling $2,911,755. Based on Part 3 of the 2024 compliance supplement, transfers of federal awards to another component of the same auditee under 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F, do not constitute a subrecipient or contractor relationship. Accordingly, subawards made by TEA should be reported in FSRS by TWC as the prime recipient. The following compliance exceptions were identified: See chart or table in the Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs. Questioned costs: None Context: See “Condition.” Cause: TWC considered the funds passed through to TEA as a subaward and reported these amounts in FSRS. However, as TEA is an agency of the State of Texas, it does not meet the definition of a subrecipient. Effect: Failure to submit FFATA subawards timely may lead to noncompliance with federal requirements. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend that, as the prime recipient, TWC coordinate with state pass through entities to obtain the information needed for FFATA reporting in order to be compliant with FFATA requirements. Views of responsible officials: In this situation, TWC disagrees with the applicability of the following statement “Transfers of federal awards to another component of the same auditee under 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F, do not constitute a subrecipient or contractor relationship” from the Fiscal Year 2024 2 CFR Part 200, Appendix XI Compliance Supplement. According to 2 CFR Part 170, TWC is required to report first-tier subawards. In the case of TWC and TEA, there is an Interagency Agreement Contract (IAC) which designates TEA as a subrecipient of TWC making TEA a first_x0002_tier grantee of TWC. Neither TWC nor TEA considers this funding a “transfer.” The definition of a pass-through entity according to 2 CFR Part 200, means a recipient or subrecipient that provides a subaward to a subrecipient (including lower tier subrecipients) to carry out a federal program. In the case of TWC and TEA, there is an Interagency Agreement Contract (IAC) that establishes a relationship that would not be considered a transfer but a first tier subaward. The IAC establishes TWC as a pass-through entity and TEA as a subrecipient per the definitions of these terms in 2 CFR 200.1. Under the requirements for pass-through entities at 2 CFR 200.332, TWC is responsible for monitoring TEA performance under this subaward which may include enforcement under 2 CFR 200.339 and the recovery of costs associated with subrecipient noncompliance. This contractual consideration and possibility of repayment supports that this relationship is one of pass-through and subrecipient, and not a transfer of a federal award to another component of an auditee. As such, subawards made by TEA are in fact second tier subawards for TWC and TWC has no obligation to report them as established in Appendix A 2 CFR Part 170. The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA) was passed in the vein of openness and transparency to the public as it relates to Federal spending. Reporting on first-tier subawards took effect October 1, 2010. (See OMB Memorandum for Senior Accountable Officials, “Open Government Directive–Federal Spending Transparency and Subaward and Compensation Data Reporting,” August 27, 2010.) FFATA, § 2—Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, directed the Office of Management and Budget to “ensure the existence and operation of a single searchable website, accessible by the public at no cost to access, that includes for each Federal award—(A) the name of the entity receiving the award” and other specified information. (See Public Law 109-282, §2(b).) That website is USASpending.gov. On that website, a search by “recipient” does not have an option to search for “State of Texas.” Rather, the search options individually list the Texas Workforce Commission and other Texas state agencies as separate recipients. When TWC makes an interagency pass-through contract to another state agency, TWC has always treated that other state agency as first-tier subrecipient for FFATA reporting purposes. That decision was based on guidance and interpretation of information available when the FFATA subaward reporting requirements took effect in 2010. TWC has continued in that manner with no audit finding on that approach until now. If TWC adheres to the recommendation made by this finding, the public will no longer have access to the interagency contract amounts through USASpending.gov. The USASpending.gov data presented to the public will instead indicate that the subrecipients of another state agency received subawards directly from TWC, which is inaccurate, will make the USASpending.gov data of the other state agency incomplete, and will cause the USASpending.gov data to be inconsistent with both state agencies’ presentation of those subawards in their respective systems and financial statements. In effect, the USASpending.gov data will represent the subawards of the other state agency as TWC’s subrecipients, while TWC’s systems and financial statements will have no record of those subawards beyond FFATA reporting. Similarly, the other state agency’s systems and financial statements will reflect those subawards as its own, but with no related reflection of that relationship in USASpending.gov. If the public were to submit an open records request about the subawards, the State’s response would be delayed by one state agency collecting data from the other, and inconsistent with the public’s expectation as to which state agency issued and managed those subawards. Those effects seem inconsistent with FFATA’s openness and transparency goals.
Reporting – FFATA Subawards Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Labor Federal Program Title: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Cluster ALN: 17.258, 17.259, 17.278 Pass-Through Agency: N/A Pass-Through Number(s): N/A Award Number and Period: 23A55AY000040–01–00 April 1, 2023 – June 30, 2026 Statistically Valid Sample: No, and not intended to be a statistically valid sample Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Noncompliance Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), Texas Workforce (TWC) must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that TWC 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). Under the requirements of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) (Pub. L. No. 109- 282), as amended by Section 6202 of Public Law 110-252, recipients (i.e., 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) no later than the last day of the month following the month in which the subaward/subaward amendment obligation was made or the subcontract award/subcontract modification was made. Condition: As the prime recipient of grant funding, TWC is responsible for reporting first-tier subawards of $30,000 or more in FSRS. Audit procedures included testing 59 subawards made during the fiscal year for FFATA requirements, including subawards made by Texas Education Agency (TEA) using state pass through funds from TWC. TWC passed through $3,000,000 of federal grant funds to TEA who in turn made 33 subawards totaling $2,911,755. Based on Part 3 of the 2024 compliance supplement, transfers of federal awards to another component of the same auditee under 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F, do not constitute a subrecipient or contractor relationship. Accordingly, subawards made by TEA should be reported in FSRS by TWC as the prime recipient. The following compliance exceptions were identified: See chart or table in the Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs. Questioned costs: None Context: See “Condition.” Cause: TWC considered the funds passed through to TEA as a subaward and reported these amounts in FSRS. However, as TEA is an agency of the State of Texas, it does not meet the definition of a subrecipient. Effect: Failure to submit FFATA subawards timely may lead to noncompliance with federal requirements. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend that, as the prime recipient, TWC coordinate with state pass through entities to obtain the information needed for FFATA reporting in order to be compliant with FFATA requirements. Views of responsible officials: In this situation, TWC disagrees with the applicability of the following statement “Transfers of federal awards to another component of the same auditee under 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F, do not constitute a subrecipient or contractor relationship” from the Fiscal Year 2024 2 CFR Part 200, Appendix XI Compliance Supplement. According to 2 CFR Part 170, TWC is required to report first-tier subawards. In the case of TWC and TEA, there is an Interagency Agreement Contract (IAC) which designates TEA as a subrecipient of TWC making TEA a first_x0002_tier grantee of TWC. Neither TWC nor TEA considers this funding a “transfer.” The definition of a pass-through entity according to 2 CFR Part 200, means a recipient or subrecipient that provides a subaward to a subrecipient (including lower tier subrecipients) to carry out a federal program. In the case of TWC and TEA, there is an Interagency Agreement Contract (IAC) that establishes a relationship that would not be considered a transfer but a first tier subaward. The IAC establishes TWC as a pass-through entity and TEA as a subrecipient per the definitions of these terms in 2 CFR 200.1. Under the requirements for pass-through entities at 2 CFR 200.332, TWC is responsible for monitoring TEA performance under this subaward which may include enforcement under 2 CFR 200.339 and the recovery of costs associated with subrecipient noncompliance. This contractual consideration and possibility of repayment supports that this relationship is one of pass-through and subrecipient, and not a transfer of a federal award to another component of an auditee. As such, subawards made by TEA are in fact second tier subawards for TWC and TWC has no obligation to report them as established in Appendix A 2 CFR Part 170. The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA) was passed in the vein of openness and transparency to the public as it relates to Federal spending. Reporting on first-tier subawards took effect October 1, 2010. (See OMB Memorandum for Senior Accountable Officials, “Open Government Directive–Federal Spending Transparency and Subaward and Compensation Data Reporting,” August 27, 2010.) FFATA, § 2—Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, directed the Office of Management and Budget to “ensure the existence and operation of a single searchable website, accessible by the public at no cost to access, that includes for each Federal award—(A) the name of the entity receiving the award” and other specified information. (See Public Law 109-282, §2(b).) That website is USASpending.gov. On that website, a search by “recipient” does not have an option to search for “State of Texas.” Rather, the search options individually list the Texas Workforce Commission and other Texas state agencies as separate recipients. When TWC makes an interagency pass-through contract to another state agency, TWC has always treated that other state agency as first-tier subrecipient for FFATA reporting purposes. That decision was based on guidance and interpretation of information available when the FFATA subaward reporting requirements took effect in 2010. TWC has continued in that manner with no audit finding on that approach until now. If TWC adheres to the recommendation made by this finding, the public will no longer have access to the interagency contract amounts through USASpending.gov. The USASpending.gov data presented to the public will instead indicate that the subrecipients of another state agency received subawards directly from TWC, which is inaccurate, will make the USASpending.gov data of the other state agency incomplete, and will cause the USASpending.gov data to be inconsistent with both state agencies’ presentation of those subawards in their respective systems and financial statements. In effect, the USASpending.gov data will represent the subawards of the other state agency as TWC’s subrecipients, while TWC’s systems and financial statements will have no record of those subawards beyond FFATA reporting. Similarly, the other state agency’s systems and financial statements will reflect those subawards as its own, but with no related reflection of that relationship in USASpending.gov. If the public were to submit an open records request about the subawards, the State’s response would be delayed by one state agency collecting data from the other, and inconsistent with the public’s expectation as to which state agency issued and managed those subawards. Those effects seem inconsistent with FFATA’s openness and transparency goals.
Reporting – FFATA Subawards Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Labor Federal Program Title: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Cluster ALN: 17.258, 17.259, 17.278 Pass-Through Agency: N/A Pass-Through Number(s): N/A Award Number and Period: 23A55AY000040–01–00 April 1, 2023 – June 30, 2026 Statistically Valid Sample: No, and not intended to be a statistically valid sample Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Noncompliance Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), Texas Workforce (TWC) must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that TWC 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). Under the requirements of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) (Pub. L. No. 109- 282), as amended by Section 6202 of Public Law 110-252, recipients (i.e., 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) no later than the last day of the month following the month in which the subaward/subaward amendment obligation was made or the subcontract award/subcontract modification was made. Condition: As the prime recipient of grant funding, TWC is responsible for reporting first-tier subawards of $30,000 or more in FSRS. Audit procedures included testing 59 subawards made during the fiscal year for FFATA requirements, including subawards made by Texas Education Agency (TEA) using state pass through funds from TWC. TWC passed through $3,000,000 of federal grant funds to TEA who in turn made 33 subawards totaling $2,911,755. Based on Part 3 of the 2024 compliance supplement, transfers of federal awards to another component of the same auditee under 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F, do not constitute a subrecipient or contractor relationship. Accordingly, subawards made by TEA should be reported in FSRS by TWC as the prime recipient. The following compliance exceptions were identified: See chart or table in the Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs. Questioned costs: None Context: See “Condition.” Cause: TWC considered the funds passed through to TEA as a subaward and reported these amounts in FSRS. However, as TEA is an agency of the State of Texas, it does not meet the definition of a subrecipient. Effect: Failure to submit FFATA subawards timely may lead to noncompliance with federal requirements. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend that, as the prime recipient, TWC coordinate with state pass through entities to obtain the information needed for FFATA reporting in order to be compliant with FFATA requirements. Views of responsible officials: In this situation, TWC disagrees with the applicability of the following statement “Transfers of federal awards to another component of the same auditee under 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F, do not constitute a subrecipient or contractor relationship” from the Fiscal Year 2024 2 CFR Part 200, Appendix XI Compliance Supplement. According to 2 CFR Part 170, TWC is required to report first-tier subawards. In the case of TWC and TEA, there is an Interagency Agreement Contract (IAC) which designates TEA as a subrecipient of TWC making TEA a first_x0002_tier grantee of TWC. Neither TWC nor TEA considers this funding a “transfer.” The definition of a pass-through entity according to 2 CFR Part 200, means a recipient or subrecipient that provides a subaward to a subrecipient (including lower tier subrecipients) to carry out a federal program. In the case of TWC and TEA, there is an Interagency Agreement Contract (IAC) that establishes a relationship that would not be considered a transfer but a first tier subaward. The IAC establishes TWC as a pass-through entity and TEA as a subrecipient per the definitions of these terms in 2 CFR 200.1. Under the requirements for pass-through entities at 2 CFR 200.332, TWC is responsible for monitoring TEA performance under this subaward which may include enforcement under 2 CFR 200.339 and the recovery of costs associated with subrecipient noncompliance. This contractual consideration and possibility of repayment supports that this relationship is one of pass-through and subrecipient, and not a transfer of a federal award to another component of an auditee. As such, subawards made by TEA are in fact second tier subawards for TWC and TWC has no obligation to report them as established in Appendix A 2 CFR Part 170. The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA) was passed in the vein of openness and transparency to the public as it relates to Federal spending. Reporting on first-tier subawards took effect October 1, 2010. (See OMB Memorandum for Senior Accountable Officials, “Open Government Directive–Federal Spending Transparency and Subaward and Compensation Data Reporting,” August 27, 2010.) FFATA, § 2—Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, directed the Office of Management and Budget to “ensure the existence and operation of a single searchable website, accessible by the public at no cost to access, that includes for each Federal award—(A) the name of the entity receiving the award” and other specified information. (See Public Law 109-282, §2(b).) That website is USASpending.gov. On that website, a search by “recipient” does not have an option to search for “State of Texas.” Rather, the search options individually list the Texas Workforce Commission and other Texas state agencies as separate recipients. When TWC makes an interagency pass-through contract to another state agency, TWC has always treated that other state agency as first-tier subrecipient for FFATA reporting purposes. That decision was based on guidance and interpretation of information available when the FFATA subaward reporting requirements took effect in 2010. TWC has continued in that manner with no audit finding on that approach until now. If TWC adheres to the recommendation made by this finding, the public will no longer have access to the interagency contract amounts through USASpending.gov. The USASpending.gov data presented to the public will instead indicate that the subrecipients of another state agency received subawards directly from TWC, which is inaccurate, will make the USASpending.gov data of the other state agency incomplete, and will cause the USASpending.gov data to be inconsistent with both state agencies’ presentation of those subawards in their respective systems and financial statements. In effect, the USASpending.gov data will represent the subawards of the other state agency as TWC’s subrecipients, while TWC’s systems and financial statements will have no record of those subawards beyond FFATA reporting. Similarly, the other state agency’s systems and financial statements will reflect those subawards as its own, but with no related reflection of that relationship in USASpending.gov. If the public were to submit an open records request about the subawards, the State’s response would be delayed by one state agency collecting data from the other, and inconsistent with the public’s expectation as to which state agency issued and managed those subawards. Those effects seem inconsistent with FFATA’s openness and transparency goals.
Reporting – FFATA Subawards Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Labor Federal Program Title: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Cluster ALN: 17.258, 17.259, 17.278 Pass-Through Agency: N/A Pass-Through Number(s): N/A Award Number and Period: 23A55AY000040–01–00 April 1, 2023 – June 30, 2026 Statistically Valid Sample: No, and not intended to be a statistically valid sample Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Noncompliance Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), Texas Workforce (TWC) must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that TWC 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). Under the requirements of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) (Pub. L. No. 109- 282), as amended by Section 6202 of Public Law 110-252, recipients (i.e., 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) no later than the last day of the month following the month in which the subaward/subaward amendment obligation was made or the subcontract award/subcontract modification was made. Condition: As the prime recipient of grant funding, TWC is responsible for reporting first-tier subawards of $30,000 or more in FSRS. Audit procedures included testing 59 subawards made during the fiscal year for FFATA requirements, including subawards made by Texas Education Agency (TEA) using state pass through funds from TWC. TWC passed through $3,000,000 of federal grant funds to TEA who in turn made 33 subawards totaling $2,911,755. Based on Part 3 of the 2024 compliance supplement, transfers of federal awards to another component of the same auditee under 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F, do not constitute a subrecipient or contractor relationship. Accordingly, subawards made by TEA should be reported in FSRS by TWC as the prime recipient. The following compliance exceptions were identified: See chart or table in the Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs. Questioned costs: None Context: See “Condition.” Cause: TWC considered the funds passed through to TEA as a subaward and reported these amounts in FSRS. However, as TEA is an agency of the State of Texas, it does not meet the definition of a subrecipient. Effect: Failure to submit FFATA subawards timely may lead to noncompliance with federal requirements. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend that, as the prime recipient, TWC coordinate with state pass through entities to obtain the information needed for FFATA reporting in order to be compliant with FFATA requirements. Views of responsible officials: In this situation, TWC disagrees with the applicability of the following statement “Transfers of federal awards to another component of the same auditee under 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F, do not constitute a subrecipient or contractor relationship” from the Fiscal Year 2024 2 CFR Part 200, Appendix XI Compliance Supplement. According to 2 CFR Part 170, TWC is required to report first-tier subawards. In the case of TWC and TEA, there is an Interagency Agreement Contract (IAC) which designates TEA as a subrecipient of TWC making TEA a first_x0002_tier grantee of TWC. Neither TWC nor TEA considers this funding a “transfer.” The definition of a pass-through entity according to 2 CFR Part 200, means a recipient or subrecipient that provides a subaward to a subrecipient (including lower tier subrecipients) to carry out a federal program. In the case of TWC and TEA, there is an Interagency Agreement Contract (IAC) that establishes a relationship that would not be considered a transfer but a first tier subaward. The IAC establishes TWC as a pass-through entity and TEA as a subrecipient per the definitions of these terms in 2 CFR 200.1. Under the requirements for pass-through entities at 2 CFR 200.332, TWC is responsible for monitoring TEA performance under this subaward which may include enforcement under 2 CFR 200.339 and the recovery of costs associated with subrecipient noncompliance. This contractual consideration and possibility of repayment supports that this relationship is one of pass-through and subrecipient, and not a transfer of a federal award to another component of an auditee. As such, subawards made by TEA are in fact second tier subawards for TWC and TWC has no obligation to report them as established in Appendix A 2 CFR Part 170. The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA) was passed in the vein of openness and transparency to the public as it relates to Federal spending. Reporting on first-tier subawards took effect October 1, 2010. (See OMB Memorandum for Senior Accountable Officials, “Open Government Directive–Federal Spending Transparency and Subaward and Compensation Data Reporting,” August 27, 2010.) FFATA, § 2—Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, directed the Office of Management and Budget to “ensure the existence and operation of a single searchable website, accessible by the public at no cost to access, that includes for each Federal award—(A) the name of the entity receiving the award” and other specified information. (See Public Law 109-282, §2(b).) That website is USASpending.gov. On that website, a search by “recipient” does not have an option to search for “State of Texas.” Rather, the search options individually list the Texas Workforce Commission and other Texas state agencies as separate recipients. When TWC makes an interagency pass-through contract to another state agency, TWC has always treated that other state agency as first-tier subrecipient for FFATA reporting purposes. That decision was based on guidance and interpretation of information available when the FFATA subaward reporting requirements took effect in 2010. TWC has continued in that manner with no audit finding on that approach until now. If TWC adheres to the recommendation made by this finding, the public will no longer have access to the interagency contract amounts through USASpending.gov. The USASpending.gov data presented to the public will instead indicate that the subrecipients of another state agency received subawards directly from TWC, which is inaccurate, will make the USASpending.gov data of the other state agency incomplete, and will cause the USASpending.gov data to be inconsistent with both state agencies’ presentation of those subawards in their respective systems and financial statements. In effect, the USASpending.gov data will represent the subawards of the other state agency as TWC’s subrecipients, while TWC’s systems and financial statements will have no record of those subawards beyond FFATA reporting. Similarly, the other state agency’s systems and financial statements will reflect those subawards as its own, but with no related reflection of that relationship in USASpending.gov. If the public were to submit an open records request about the subawards, the State’s response would be delayed by one state agency collecting data from the other, and inconsistent with the public’s expectation as to which state agency issued and managed those subawards. Those effects seem inconsistent with FFATA’s openness and transparency goals.
Federal Program: COVID-19 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds - Assistance Listing #21.027 - Award # 5070101; Passed through the Texas Office of the Governor- Criminal Justice Division. Criteria: 2 CFR section 200.332 requires a pass-through entity to ensure that every subaward is clearly identified to the subrecipient as a subaward and include the information described in 2 CFR section 200.332 (b)(1). A pass-through entity must provide the best available information when some of the information is unavailable. A pass-through entity must provide the unavailable information when it is obtained. Condition /Context: Subrecipients did not receive notice or an updated subaward agreement when the grant funding source changed from state to federal funding. Therefore, not all required subaward information under the Uniform Guidance was provided, specifically: - Federal Award Identification Number (FAIN) - Federal award date of award to the recipient by the federal agency - Total amount of federal funds obligated to the subrecipient by the pass-through entity, including the current financial obligation - Name of the Federal agency, pass-through entity, and contact information for awarding official of the pass-through entity - Assistance listing number and title Questioned Costs: None Effect: Texas CASA, Inc. was not in compliance with the Uniform Guidance requirements as it relates to subrecipient award agreement elements. Cause: During the fiscal year, the granting agency awarded additional funds to Texas CASA, Inc., which changed the funding source from state to federal funds. Texas CASA, Inc. did not have a process in place to communicate the changes in funding sources to the subrecipients. Recommendations: Texas CASA, Inc. should prepare and implement procedures to timely communicate any necessary revisions or changes to subawards to the subrecipients. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: See Schedule of Corrective Action Plan
Reference Number 2024-004 Subaward Agreements Federal Awards: GEAR UP (ALN 84.334A) Criteria and Condition: A pass-through entity must clearly identify to the subrecipient; (1) the award as a subaward at the time of subaward (or subsequent subaward modification) by providing the information described in 2 CFR section 200.332(b)(1); (2) all requirements imposed by the pass-through entity on the subrecipient so that the federal award is used in accordance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the award; and (3) any additional requirements that the pass-through entity imposes on the subrecipient in order for the pass-through entity to meet its own responsibility for the federal award. We noted a formal subaward agreement outlining all the required information is not prepared and executed by the Center (pass-through entity) and its subrecipients. Amended guidance was communicated to the Center as 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129 was amended on August 29, 2024. Under this new guidance, an agreement that details the activities that each member of the group plans to perform, and binds each member of the group to every statement and assurance made by the application will be required on an ongoing basis. The Center intends to comply with this requirement on an ongoing basis. Cause and Effect: The Center provides separate documents to its subrecipients such as the District/Campus Commitment Form that outlines some of the applicable compliance requirements and a Program Budget Award Worksheet. A formal subaward agreement executed by both parties containing all the information required by 200.332(b)(1) is not in place. This results in noncompliance with subrecipient monitoring requirements. Repeat Finding from Prior Year(s): N/A Questioned Costs: $0 Recommendation: As 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129 was amended on August 29, 2024, we recommend management implement this guidance and maintain formal agreements between the Center and the subrecipients/partners in the program. Views of Responsible Officials: See management’s corrective action plan.
Reference Number 2024-004 Subaward Agreements Federal Awards: GEAR UP (ALN 84.334A) Criteria and Condition: A pass-through entity must clearly identify to the subrecipient; (1) the award as a subaward at the time of subaward (or subsequent subaward modification) by providing the information described in 2 CFR section 200.332(b)(1); (2) all requirements imposed by the pass-through entity on the subrecipient so that the federal award is used in accordance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the award; and (3) any additional requirements that the pass-through entity imposes on the subrecipient in order for the pass-through entity to meet its own responsibility for the federal award. We noted a formal subaward agreement outlining all the required information is not prepared and executed by the Center (pass-through entity) and its subrecipients. Amended guidance was communicated to the Center as 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129 was amended on August 29, 2024. Under this new guidance, an agreement that details the activities that each member of the group plans to perform, and binds each member of the group to every statement and assurance made by the application will be required on an ongoing basis. The Center intends to comply with this requirement on an ongoing basis. Cause and Effect: The Center provides separate documents to its subrecipients such as the District/Campus Commitment Form that outlines some of the applicable compliance requirements and a Program Budget Award Worksheet. A formal subaward agreement executed by both parties containing all the information required by 200.332(b)(1) is not in place. This results in noncompliance with subrecipient monitoring requirements. Repeat Finding from Prior Year(s): N/A Questioned Costs: $0 Recommendation: As 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129 was amended on August 29, 2024, we recommend management implement this guidance and maintain formal agreements between the Center and the subrecipients/partners in the program. Views of Responsible Officials: See management’s corrective action plan.
Reference Number 2024-004 Subaward Agreements Federal Awards: GEAR UP (ALN 84.334A) Criteria and Condition: A pass-through entity must clearly identify to the subrecipient; (1) the award as a subaward at the time of subaward (or subsequent subaward modification) by providing the information described in 2 CFR section 200.332(b)(1); (2) all requirements imposed by the pass-through entity on the subrecipient so that the federal award is used in accordance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the award; and (3) any additional requirements that the pass-through entity imposes on the subrecipient in order for the pass-through entity to meet its own responsibility for the federal award. We noted a formal subaward agreement outlining all the required information is not prepared and executed by the Center (pass-through entity) and its subrecipients. Amended guidance was communicated to the Center as 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129 was amended on August 29, 2024. Under this new guidance, an agreement that details the activities that each member of the group plans to perform, and binds each member of the group to every statement and assurance made by the application will be required on an ongoing basis. The Center intends to comply with this requirement on an ongoing basis. Cause and Effect: The Center provides separate documents to its subrecipients such as the District/Campus Commitment Form that outlines some of the applicable compliance requirements and a Program Budget Award Worksheet. A formal subaward agreement executed by both parties containing all the information required by 200.332(b)(1) is not in place. This results in noncompliance with subrecipient monitoring requirements. Repeat Finding from Prior Year(s): N/A Questioned Costs: $0 Recommendation: As 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129 was amended on August 29, 2024, we recommend management implement this guidance and maintain formal agreements between the Center and the subrecipients/partners in the program. Views of Responsible Officials: See management’s corrective action plan.
Subrecipient Monitoring Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Title: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) ALN: 93.558 93.667 Pass-Through Agency: N/A Pass-Through Number(s): N/A Award Number and Period: TANF 2301TXTANF, 2301TXTAN3, 2401TXTANF, 2401TXTAN3 October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023 and October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024 SSBG 2401TXSOSR October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2025 Statistically Valid Sample: No, and not intended to be a statistically valid sample Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Noncompliance Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR 200.303(a), Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) must establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that it 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 the “Internal Control Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). 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 certain information at the time of the subaward and if any of these data elements change, include the changes in the 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 the subrecipient’s unique entity identifier (UEI). Condition: Audit procedures included a review of subaward agreements for required information. We noted the following instances of noncompliance: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families – The UEI was not included in eight of the eight agreements selected for testing. The start and end dates for the agreements were September 1, 2020 – August 31, 2024. Social Services Block Grant –The UEI was not included in one of the 19 agreements selected for testing. The start and end dates for the agreement was January 1, 2021 – August 31, 2024. Questioned costs: None. Context: See “Condition.” Cause: The current contract review process to ensure all required elements are included per 2 CFR 200 §200.332 prior to execution is not at the correct precision level. Effect: Providing incomplete information to subrecipients may result in inaccurate reporting by the subrecipients and ultimately by HHSC. Repeat Finding: 2023-011 Recommendation: We recommend management enhance existing controls around the review of all subaward agreements to ensure that all pass-through agreements include each of the required elements by 2 CFR §200.332. Views of responsible officials: HHSC concurs with the finding.
Subrecipient Monitoring Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Title: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) ALN: 93.558 93.667 Pass-Through Agency: N/A Pass-Through Number(s): N/A Award Number and Period: TANF 2301TXTANF, 2301TXTAN3, 2401TXTANF, 2401TXTAN3 October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023 and October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024 SSBG 2401TXSOSR October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2025 Statistically Valid Sample: No, and not intended to be a statistically valid sample Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Noncompliance Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR 200.303(a), Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) must establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that it 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 the “Internal Control Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). 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 certain information at the time of the subaward and if any of these data elements change, include the changes in the 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 the subrecipient’s unique entity identifier (UEI). Condition: Audit procedures included a review of subaward agreements for required information. We noted the following instances of noncompliance: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families – The UEI was not included in eight of the eight agreements selected for testing. The start and end dates for the agreements were September 1, 2020 – August 31, 2024. Social Services Block Grant –The UEI was not included in one of the 19 agreements selected for testing. The start and end dates for the agreement was January 1, 2021 – August 31, 2024. Questioned costs: None. Context: See “Condition.” Cause: The current contract review process to ensure all required elements are included per 2 CFR 200 §200.332 prior to execution is not at the correct precision level. Effect: Providing incomplete information to subrecipients may result in inaccurate reporting by the subrecipients and ultimately by HHSC. Repeat Finding: 2023-011 Recommendation: We recommend management enhance existing controls around the review of all subaward agreements to ensure that all pass-through agreements include each of the required elements by 2 CFR §200.332. Views of responsible officials: HHSC concurs with the finding.
Subrecipient Monitoring Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Title: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) ALN: 93.558 93.667 Pass-Through Agency: N/A Pass-Through Number(s): N/A Award Number and Period: TANF 2301TXTANF, 2301TXTAN3, 2401TXTANF, 2401TXTAN3 October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023 and October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024 SSBG 2401TXSOSR October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2025 Statistically Valid Sample: No, and not intended to be a statistically valid sample Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Noncompliance Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR 200.303(a), Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) must establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that it 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 the “Internal Control Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). 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 certain information at the time of the subaward and if any of these data elements change, include the changes in the 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 the subrecipient’s unique entity identifier (UEI). Condition: Audit procedures included a review of subaward agreements for required information. We noted the following instances of noncompliance: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families – The UEI was not included in eight of the eight agreements selected for testing. The start and end dates for the agreements were September 1, 2020 – August 31, 2024. Social Services Block Grant –The UEI was not included in one of the 19 agreements selected for testing. The start and end dates for the agreement was January 1, 2021 – August 31, 2024. Questioned costs: None. Context: See “Condition.” Cause: The current contract review process to ensure all required elements are included per 2 CFR 200 §200.332 prior to execution is not at the correct precision level. Effect: Providing incomplete information to subrecipients may result in inaccurate reporting by the subrecipients and ultimately by HHSC. Repeat Finding: 2023-011 Recommendation: We recommend management enhance existing controls around the review of all subaward agreements to ensure that all pass-through agreements include each of the required elements by 2 CFR §200.332. Views of responsible officials: HHSC concurs with the finding.
Subrecipient Monitoring Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program Title: Home Investment Partnerships Program ALN: 14.239 Pass-Through Agency: N/A Pass-Through Number(s): N/A Award Number and Period: M18-SG480100, M19-SP480100, M20-SG480100 September 12, 2018 – September 1, 2026, and July 12, 2019 – September 1, 2027, August 13, 2020 – September 1, 2028 Statistically Valid Sample: No, and not intended to be a statistically valid sample Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Noncompliance Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) 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 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). Per 2 CFR sections 200.332 (c), TDHCA must evaluate each subrecipient's fraud risk and risk of noncompliance with a subaward to determine the appropriate subrecipient monitoring described in paragraph (f) of this section. When evaluating a subrecipient's risk, TDHCA should consider the following: (1) The subrecipient's prior experience with the same or similar subawards; (2) The results of previous audits. This includes considering whether or not the subrecipient receives a Single Audit in accordance with subpart F and the extent to which the same or similar subawards have been audited as a major program; (3) Whether the subrecipient has new personnel or new or substantially changed systems; and (4) The extent and results of any Federal agency monitoring (for example, if the subrecipient also receives Federal awards directly from the Federal agency). Condition: TDHCA maintains a Master Compliance Subrecipient Monitoring (CMSM) Planning Summary (MPS) to track all active subrecipient contracts that have expenditures in the planning phase to evaluate each subrecipient's fraud risk and risk of noncompliance with the subaward to determine the appropriate subrecipient monitoring to be performed. During our testing, we noted three subrecipient contracts with expenditures during the fiscal year were not included on the MPS for evaluation of fraud risk and risk of noncompliance. Accordingly, no determination was made for the appropriate subrecipient monitoring to be performed for these subrecipients. Questioned costs: None. Context: See “Condition.” Cause: The preparation of the MPS is a manual process wherein a senior analyst identifies the active contracts that have expenditures in the planning phase. The subrecipients were inadvertently omitted due to oversight. Effect: Failure to complete proper monitoring over subrecipients may lead to noncompliance with grant terms and conditions. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend TDHCA establish internal controls that require a review to be completed over the completeness and accuracy of the MPS by an individual other than the preparer. Views of responsible officials: Compliance Subrecipient Monitoring (CMSM) has historically utilized the Department’s Housing Contract system to populate its risk population. “Active” contracts with expenditures are selected for risk consideration while “Expired”, “Closed” or unexpended contracts are excluded to promote internal efficiency in the monitoring process. During interviews with the auditor and the Department’s HOME staff, it was identified that there are circumstances where “Expired” or “Closed” contracts may demonstrate expenditure activity and inadvertently exclude contracts that could be included for risk consideration. Of note, this system generated discrepancy has not contributed to a material variance in contracts considered for risk assessment.
Subrecipient Monitoring Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program Title: Home Investment Partnerships Program ALN: 14.239 Pass-Through Agency: N/A Pass-Through Number(s): N/A Award Number and Period: M18-SG480100, M19-SP480100, M20-SG480100 September 12, 2018 – September 1, 2026, and July 12, 2019 – September 1, 2027, August 13, 2020 – September 1, 2028 Statistically Valid Sample: No, and not intended to be a statistically valid sample Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Noncompliance Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) 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 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). Per 2 CFR sections 200.332 (c), TDHCA must evaluate each subrecipient's fraud risk and risk of noncompliance with a subaward to determine the appropriate subrecipient monitoring described in paragraph (f) of this section. When evaluating a subrecipient's risk, TDHCA should consider the following: (1) The subrecipient's prior experience with the same or similar subawards; (2) The results of previous audits. This includes considering whether or not the subrecipient receives a Single Audit in accordance with subpart F and the extent to which the same or similar subawards have been audited as a major program; (3) Whether the subrecipient has new personnel or new or substantially changed systems; and (4) The extent and results of any Federal agency monitoring (for example, if the subrecipient also receives Federal awards directly from the Federal agency). Condition: TDHCA maintains a Master Compliance Subrecipient Monitoring (CMSM) Planning Summary (MPS) to track all active subrecipient contracts that have expenditures in the planning phase to evaluate each subrecipient's fraud risk and risk of noncompliance with the subaward to determine the appropriate subrecipient monitoring to be performed. During our testing, we noted three subrecipient contracts with expenditures during the fiscal year were not included on the MPS for evaluation of fraud risk and risk of noncompliance. Accordingly, no determination was made for the appropriate subrecipient monitoring to be performed for these subrecipients. Questioned costs: None. Context: See “Condition.” Cause: The preparation of the MPS is a manual process wherein a senior analyst identifies the active contracts that have expenditures in the planning phase. The subrecipients were inadvertently omitted due to oversight. Effect: Failure to complete proper monitoring over subrecipients may lead to noncompliance with grant terms and conditions. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend TDHCA establish internal controls that require a review to be completed over the completeness and accuracy of the MPS by an individual other than the preparer. Views of responsible officials: Compliance Subrecipient Monitoring (CMSM) has historically utilized the Department’s Housing Contract system to populate its risk population. “Active” contracts with expenditures are selected for risk consideration while “Expired”, “Closed” or unexpended contracts are excluded to promote internal efficiency in the monitoring process. During interviews with the auditor and the Department’s HOME staff, it was identified that there are circumstances where “Expired” or “Closed” contracts may demonstrate expenditure activity and inadvertently exclude contracts that could be included for risk consideration. Of note, this system generated discrepancy has not contributed to a material variance in contracts considered for risk assessment.
Reporting – FFATA Subawards Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Labor Federal Program Title: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Cluster ALN: 17.258, 17.259, 17.278 Pass-Through Agency: N/A Pass-Through Number(s): N/A Award Number and Period: 23A55AY000040–01–00 April 1, 2023 – June 30, 2026 Statistically Valid Sample: No, and not intended to be a statistically valid sample Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Noncompliance Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), Texas Workforce (TWC) must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that TWC 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). Under the requirements of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) (Pub. L. No. 109- 282), as amended by Section 6202 of Public Law 110-252, recipients (i.e., 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) no later than the last day of the month following the month in which the subaward/subaward amendment obligation was made or the subcontract award/subcontract modification was made. Condition: As the prime recipient of grant funding, TWC is responsible for reporting first-tier subawards of $30,000 or more in FSRS. Audit procedures included testing 59 subawards made during the fiscal year for FFATA requirements, including subawards made by Texas Education Agency (TEA) using state pass through funds from TWC. TWC passed through $3,000,000 of federal grant funds to TEA who in turn made 33 subawards totaling $2,911,755. Based on Part 3 of the 2024 compliance supplement, transfers of federal awards to another component of the same auditee under 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F, do not constitute a subrecipient or contractor relationship. Accordingly, subawards made by TEA should be reported in FSRS by TWC as the prime recipient. The following compliance exceptions were identified: See chart or table in the Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs. Questioned costs: None Context: See “Condition.” Cause: TWC considered the funds passed through to TEA as a subaward and reported these amounts in FSRS. However, as TEA is an agency of the State of Texas, it does not meet the definition of a subrecipient. Effect: Failure to submit FFATA subawards timely may lead to noncompliance with federal requirements. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend that, as the prime recipient, TWC coordinate with state pass through entities to obtain the information needed for FFATA reporting in order to be compliant with FFATA requirements. Views of responsible officials: In this situation, TWC disagrees with the applicability of the following statement “Transfers of federal awards to another component of the same auditee under 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F, do not constitute a subrecipient or contractor relationship” from the Fiscal Year 2024 2 CFR Part 200, Appendix XI Compliance Supplement. According to 2 CFR Part 170, TWC is required to report first-tier subawards. In the case of TWC and TEA, there is an Interagency Agreement Contract (IAC) which designates TEA as a subrecipient of TWC making TEA a first_x0002_tier grantee of TWC. Neither TWC nor TEA considers this funding a “transfer.” The definition of a pass-through entity according to 2 CFR Part 200, means a recipient or subrecipient that provides a subaward to a subrecipient (including lower tier subrecipients) to carry out a federal program. In the case of TWC and TEA, there is an Interagency Agreement Contract (IAC) that establishes a relationship that would not be considered a transfer but a first tier subaward. The IAC establishes TWC as a pass-through entity and TEA as a subrecipient per the definitions of these terms in 2 CFR 200.1. Under the requirements for pass-through entities at 2 CFR 200.332, TWC is responsible for monitoring TEA performance under this subaward which may include enforcement under 2 CFR 200.339 and the recovery of costs associated with subrecipient noncompliance. This contractual consideration and possibility of repayment supports that this relationship is one of pass-through and subrecipient, and not a transfer of a federal award to another component of an auditee. As such, subawards made by TEA are in fact second tier subawards for TWC and TWC has no obligation to report them as established in Appendix A 2 CFR Part 170. The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA) was passed in the vein of openness and transparency to the public as it relates to Federal spending. Reporting on first-tier subawards took effect October 1, 2010. (See OMB Memorandum for Senior Accountable Officials, “Open Government Directive–Federal Spending Transparency and Subaward and Compensation Data Reporting,” August 27, 2010.) FFATA, § 2—Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, directed the Office of Management and Budget to “ensure the existence and operation of a single searchable website, accessible by the public at no cost to access, that includes for each Federal award—(A) the name of the entity receiving the award” and other specified information. (See Public Law 109-282, §2(b).) That website is USASpending.gov. On that website, a search by “recipient” does not have an option to search for “State of Texas.” Rather, the search options individually list the Texas Workforce Commission and other Texas state agencies as separate recipients. When TWC makes an interagency pass-through contract to another state agency, TWC has always treated that other state agency as first-tier subrecipient for FFATA reporting purposes. That decision was based on guidance and interpretation of information available when the FFATA subaward reporting requirements took effect in 2010. TWC has continued in that manner with no audit finding on that approach until now. If TWC adheres to the recommendation made by this finding, the public will no longer have access to the interagency contract amounts through USASpending.gov. The USASpending.gov data presented to the public will instead indicate that the subrecipients of another state agency received subawards directly from TWC, which is inaccurate, will make the USASpending.gov data of the other state agency incomplete, and will cause the USASpending.gov data to be inconsistent with both state agencies’ presentation of those subawards in their respective systems and financial statements. In effect, the USASpending.gov data will represent the subawards of the other state agency as TWC’s subrecipients, while TWC’s systems and financial statements will have no record of those subawards beyond FFATA reporting. Similarly, the other state agency’s systems and financial statements will reflect those subawards as its own, but with no related reflection of that relationship in USASpending.gov. If the public were to submit an open records request about the subawards, the State’s response would be delayed by one state agency collecting data from the other, and inconsistent with the public’s expectation as to which state agency issued and managed those subawards. Those effects seem inconsistent with FFATA’s openness and transparency goals.
Reporting – FFATA Subawards Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Labor Federal Program Title: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Cluster ALN: 17.258, 17.259, 17.278 Pass-Through Agency: N/A Pass-Through Number(s): N/A Award Number and Period: 23A55AY000040–01–00 April 1, 2023 – June 30, 2026 Statistically Valid Sample: No, and not intended to be a statistically valid sample Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Noncompliance Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), Texas Workforce (TWC) must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that TWC 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). Under the requirements of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) (Pub. L. No. 109- 282), as amended by Section 6202 of Public Law 110-252, recipients (i.e., 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) no later than the last day of the month following the month in which the subaward/subaward amendment obligation was made or the subcontract award/subcontract modification was made. Condition: As the prime recipient of grant funding, TWC is responsible for reporting first-tier subawards of $30,000 or more in FSRS. Audit procedures included testing 59 subawards made during the fiscal year for FFATA requirements, including subawards made by Texas Education Agency (TEA) using state pass through funds from TWC. TWC passed through $3,000,000 of federal grant funds to TEA who in turn made 33 subawards totaling $2,911,755. Based on Part 3 of the 2024 compliance supplement, transfers of federal awards to another component of the same auditee under 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F, do not constitute a subrecipient or contractor relationship. Accordingly, subawards made by TEA should be reported in FSRS by TWC as the prime recipient. The following compliance exceptions were identified: See chart or table in the Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs. Questioned costs: None Context: See “Condition.” Cause: TWC considered the funds passed through to TEA as a subaward and reported these amounts in FSRS. However, as TEA is an agency of the State of Texas, it does not meet the definition of a subrecipient. Effect: Failure to submit FFATA subawards timely may lead to noncompliance with federal requirements. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend that, as the prime recipient, TWC coordinate with state pass through entities to obtain the information needed for FFATA reporting in order to be compliant with FFATA requirements. Views of responsible officials: In this situation, TWC disagrees with the applicability of the following statement “Transfers of federal awards to another component of the same auditee under 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F, do not constitute a subrecipient or contractor relationship” from the Fiscal Year 2024 2 CFR Part 200, Appendix XI Compliance Supplement. According to 2 CFR Part 170, TWC is required to report first-tier subawards. In the case of TWC and TEA, there is an Interagency Agreement Contract (IAC) which designates TEA as a subrecipient of TWC making TEA a first_x0002_tier grantee of TWC. Neither TWC nor TEA considers this funding a “transfer.” The definition of a pass-through entity according to 2 CFR Part 200, means a recipient or subrecipient that provides a subaward to a subrecipient (including lower tier subrecipients) to carry out a federal program. In the case of TWC and TEA, there is an Interagency Agreement Contract (IAC) that establishes a relationship that would not be considered a transfer but a first tier subaward. The IAC establishes TWC as a pass-through entity and TEA as a subrecipient per the definitions of these terms in 2 CFR 200.1. Under the requirements for pass-through entities at 2 CFR 200.332, TWC is responsible for monitoring TEA performance under this subaward which may include enforcement under 2 CFR 200.339 and the recovery of costs associated with subrecipient noncompliance. This contractual consideration and possibility of repayment supports that this relationship is one of pass-through and subrecipient, and not a transfer of a federal award to another component of an auditee. As such, subawards made by TEA are in fact second tier subawards for TWC and TWC has no obligation to report them as established in Appendix A 2 CFR Part 170. The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA) was passed in the vein of openness and transparency to the public as it relates to Federal spending. Reporting on first-tier subawards took effect October 1, 2010. (See OMB Memorandum for Senior Accountable Officials, “Open Government Directive–Federal Spending Transparency and Subaward and Compensation Data Reporting,” August 27, 2010.) FFATA, § 2—Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, directed the Office of Management and Budget to “ensure the existence and operation of a single searchable website, accessible by the public at no cost to access, that includes for each Federal award—(A) the name of the entity receiving the award” and other specified information. (See Public Law 109-282, §2(b).) That website is USASpending.gov. On that website, a search by “recipient” does not have an option to search for “State of Texas.” Rather, the search options individually list the Texas Workforce Commission and other Texas state agencies as separate recipients. When TWC makes an interagency pass-through contract to another state agency, TWC has always treated that other state agency as first-tier subrecipient for FFATA reporting purposes. That decision was based on guidance and interpretation of information available when the FFATA subaward reporting requirements took effect in 2010. TWC has continued in that manner with no audit finding on that approach until now. If TWC adheres to the recommendation made by this finding, the public will no longer have access to the interagency contract amounts through USASpending.gov. The USASpending.gov data presented to the public will instead indicate that the subrecipients of another state agency received subawards directly from TWC, which is inaccurate, will make the USASpending.gov data of the other state agency incomplete, and will cause the USASpending.gov data to be inconsistent with both state agencies’ presentation of those subawards in their respective systems and financial statements. In effect, the USASpending.gov data will represent the subawards of the other state agency as TWC’s subrecipients, while TWC’s systems and financial statements will have no record of those subawards beyond FFATA reporting. Similarly, the other state agency’s systems and financial statements will reflect those subawards as its own, but with no related reflection of that relationship in USASpending.gov. If the public were to submit an open records request about the subawards, the State’s response would be delayed by one state agency collecting data from the other, and inconsistent with the public’s expectation as to which state agency issued and managed those subawards. Those effects seem inconsistent with FFATA’s openness and transparency goals.
Reporting – FFATA Subawards Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Labor Federal Program Title: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Cluster ALN: 17.258, 17.259, 17.278 Pass-Through Agency: N/A Pass-Through Number(s): N/A Award Number and Period: 23A55AY000040–01–00 April 1, 2023 – June 30, 2026 Statistically Valid Sample: No, and not intended to be a statistically valid sample Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Noncompliance Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), Texas Workforce (TWC) must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that TWC 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). Under the requirements of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) (Pub. L. No. 109- 282), as amended by Section 6202 of Public Law 110-252, recipients (i.e., 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) no later than the last day of the month following the month in which the subaward/subaward amendment obligation was made or the subcontract award/subcontract modification was made. Condition: As the prime recipient of grant funding, TWC is responsible for reporting first-tier subawards of $30,000 or more in FSRS. Audit procedures included testing 59 subawards made during the fiscal year for FFATA requirements, including subawards made by Texas Education Agency (TEA) using state pass through funds from TWC. TWC passed through $3,000,000 of federal grant funds to TEA who in turn made 33 subawards totaling $2,911,755. Based on Part 3 of the 2024 compliance supplement, transfers of federal awards to another component of the same auditee under 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F, do not constitute a subrecipient or contractor relationship. Accordingly, subawards made by TEA should be reported in FSRS by TWC as the prime recipient. The following compliance exceptions were identified: See chart or table in the Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs. Questioned costs: None Context: See “Condition.” Cause: TWC considered the funds passed through to TEA as a subaward and reported these amounts in FSRS. However, as TEA is an agency of the State of Texas, it does not meet the definition of a subrecipient. Effect: Failure to submit FFATA subawards timely may lead to noncompliance with federal requirements. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend that, as the prime recipient, TWC coordinate with state pass through entities to obtain the information needed for FFATA reporting in order to be compliant with FFATA requirements. Views of responsible officials: In this situation, TWC disagrees with the applicability of the following statement “Transfers of federal awards to another component of the same auditee under 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F, do not constitute a subrecipient or contractor relationship” from the Fiscal Year 2024 2 CFR Part 200, Appendix XI Compliance Supplement. According to 2 CFR Part 170, TWC is required to report first-tier subawards. In the case of TWC and TEA, there is an Interagency Agreement Contract (IAC) which designates TEA as a subrecipient of TWC making TEA a first_x0002_tier grantee of TWC. Neither TWC nor TEA considers this funding a “transfer.” The definition of a pass-through entity according to 2 CFR Part 200, means a recipient or subrecipient that provides a subaward to a subrecipient (including lower tier subrecipients) to carry out a federal program. In the case of TWC and TEA, there is an Interagency Agreement Contract (IAC) that establishes a relationship that would not be considered a transfer but a first tier subaward. The IAC establishes TWC as a pass-through entity and TEA as a subrecipient per the definitions of these terms in 2 CFR 200.1. Under the requirements for pass-through entities at 2 CFR 200.332, TWC is responsible for monitoring TEA performance under this subaward which may include enforcement under 2 CFR 200.339 and the recovery of costs associated with subrecipient noncompliance. This contractual consideration and possibility of repayment supports that this relationship is one of pass-through and subrecipient, and not a transfer of a federal award to another component of an auditee. As such, subawards made by TEA are in fact second tier subawards for TWC and TWC has no obligation to report them as established in Appendix A 2 CFR Part 170. The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA) was passed in the vein of openness and transparency to the public as it relates to Federal spending. Reporting on first-tier subawards took effect October 1, 2010. (See OMB Memorandum for Senior Accountable Officials, “Open Government Directive–Federal Spending Transparency and Subaward and Compensation Data Reporting,” August 27, 2010.) FFATA, § 2—Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, directed the Office of Management and Budget to “ensure the existence and operation of a single searchable website, accessible by the public at no cost to access, that includes for each Federal award—(A) the name of the entity receiving the award” and other specified information. (See Public Law 109-282, §2(b).) That website is USASpending.gov. On that website, a search by “recipient” does not have an option to search for “State of Texas.” Rather, the search options individually list the Texas Workforce Commission and other Texas state agencies as separate recipients. When TWC makes an interagency pass-through contract to another state agency, TWC has always treated that other state agency as first-tier subrecipient for FFATA reporting purposes. That decision was based on guidance and interpretation of information available when the FFATA subaward reporting requirements took effect in 2010. TWC has continued in that manner with no audit finding on that approach until now. If TWC adheres to the recommendation made by this finding, the public will no longer have access to the interagency contract amounts through USASpending.gov. The USASpending.gov data presented to the public will instead indicate that the subrecipients of another state agency received subawards directly from TWC, which is inaccurate, will make the USASpending.gov data of the other state agency incomplete, and will cause the USASpending.gov data to be inconsistent with both state agencies’ presentation of those subawards in their respective systems and financial statements. In effect, the USASpending.gov data will represent the subawards of the other state agency as TWC’s subrecipients, while TWC’s systems and financial statements will have no record of those subawards beyond FFATA reporting. Similarly, the other state agency’s systems and financial statements will reflect those subawards as its own, but with no related reflection of that relationship in USASpending.gov. If the public were to submit an open records request about the subawards, the State’s response would be delayed by one state agency collecting data from the other, and inconsistent with the public’s expectation as to which state agency issued and managed those subawards. Those effects seem inconsistent with FFATA’s openness and transparency goals.
Reporting – FFATA Subawards Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Labor Federal Program Title: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Cluster ALN: 17.258, 17.259, 17.278 Pass-Through Agency: N/A Pass-Through Number(s): N/A Award Number and Period: 23A55AY000040–01–00 April 1, 2023 – June 30, 2026 Statistically Valid Sample: No, and not intended to be a statistically valid sample Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Noncompliance Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), Texas Workforce (TWC) must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that TWC 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). Under the requirements of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) (Pub. L. No. 109- 282), as amended by Section 6202 of Public Law 110-252, recipients (i.e., 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) no later than the last day of the month following the month in which the subaward/subaward amendment obligation was made or the subcontract award/subcontract modification was made. Condition: As the prime recipient of grant funding, TWC is responsible for reporting first-tier subawards of $30,000 or more in FSRS. Audit procedures included testing 59 subawards made during the fiscal year for FFATA requirements, including subawards made by Texas Education Agency (TEA) using state pass through funds from TWC. TWC passed through $3,000,000 of federal grant funds to TEA who in turn made 33 subawards totaling $2,911,755. Based on Part 3 of the 2024 compliance supplement, transfers of federal awards to another component of the same auditee under 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F, do not constitute a subrecipient or contractor relationship. Accordingly, subawards made by TEA should be reported in FSRS by TWC as the prime recipient. The following compliance exceptions were identified: See chart or table in the Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs. Questioned costs: None Context: See “Condition.” Cause: TWC considered the funds passed through to TEA as a subaward and reported these amounts in FSRS. However, as TEA is an agency of the State of Texas, it does not meet the definition of a subrecipient. Effect: Failure to submit FFATA subawards timely may lead to noncompliance with federal requirements. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend that, as the prime recipient, TWC coordinate with state pass through entities to obtain the information needed for FFATA reporting in order to be compliant with FFATA requirements. Views of responsible officials: In this situation, TWC disagrees with the applicability of the following statement “Transfers of federal awards to another component of the same auditee under 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F, do not constitute a subrecipient or contractor relationship” from the Fiscal Year 2024 2 CFR Part 200, Appendix XI Compliance Supplement. According to 2 CFR Part 170, TWC is required to report first-tier subawards. In the case of TWC and TEA, there is an Interagency Agreement Contract (IAC) which designates TEA as a subrecipient of TWC making TEA a first_x0002_tier grantee of TWC. Neither TWC nor TEA considers this funding a “transfer.” The definition of a pass-through entity according to 2 CFR Part 200, means a recipient or subrecipient that provides a subaward to a subrecipient (including lower tier subrecipients) to carry out a federal program. In the case of TWC and TEA, there is an Interagency Agreement Contract (IAC) that establishes a relationship that would not be considered a transfer but a first tier subaward. The IAC establishes TWC as a pass-through entity and TEA as a subrecipient per the definitions of these terms in 2 CFR 200.1. Under the requirements for pass-through entities at 2 CFR 200.332, TWC is responsible for monitoring TEA performance under this subaward which may include enforcement under 2 CFR 200.339 and the recovery of costs associated with subrecipient noncompliance. This contractual consideration and possibility of repayment supports that this relationship is one of pass-through and subrecipient, and not a transfer of a federal award to another component of an auditee. As such, subawards made by TEA are in fact second tier subawards for TWC and TWC has no obligation to report them as established in Appendix A 2 CFR Part 170. The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA) was passed in the vein of openness and transparency to the public as it relates to Federal spending. Reporting on first-tier subawards took effect October 1, 2010. (See OMB Memorandum for Senior Accountable Officials, “Open Government Directive–Federal Spending Transparency and Subaward and Compensation Data Reporting,” August 27, 2010.) FFATA, § 2—Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, directed the Office of Management and Budget to “ensure the existence and operation of a single searchable website, accessible by the public at no cost to access, that includes for each Federal award—(A) the name of the entity receiving the award” and other specified information. (See Public Law 109-282, §2(b).) That website is USASpending.gov. On that website, a search by “recipient” does not have an option to search for “State of Texas.” Rather, the search options individually list the Texas Workforce Commission and other Texas state agencies as separate recipients. When TWC makes an interagency pass-through contract to another state agency, TWC has always treated that other state agency as first-tier subrecipient for FFATA reporting purposes. That decision was based on guidance and interpretation of information available when the FFATA subaward reporting requirements took effect in 2010. TWC has continued in that manner with no audit finding on that approach until now. If TWC adheres to the recommendation made by this finding, the public will no longer have access to the interagency contract amounts through USASpending.gov. The USASpending.gov data presented to the public will instead indicate that the subrecipients of another state agency received subawards directly from TWC, which is inaccurate, will make the USASpending.gov data of the other state agency incomplete, and will cause the USASpending.gov data to be inconsistent with both state agencies’ presentation of those subawards in their respective systems and financial statements. In effect, the USASpending.gov data will represent the subawards of the other state agency as TWC’s subrecipients, while TWC’s systems and financial statements will have no record of those subawards beyond FFATA reporting. Similarly, the other state agency’s systems and financial statements will reflect those subawards as its own, but with no related reflection of that relationship in USASpending.gov. If the public were to submit an open records request about the subawards, the State’s response would be delayed by one state agency collecting data from the other, and inconsistent with the public’s expectation as to which state agency issued and managed those subawards. Those effects seem inconsistent with FFATA’s openness and transparency goals.
Reporting – FFATA Subawards Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Labor Federal Program Title: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Cluster ALN: 17.258, 17.259, 17.278 Pass-Through Agency: N/A Pass-Through Number(s): N/A Award Number and Period: 23A55AY000040–01–00 April 1, 2023 – June 30, 2026 Statistically Valid Sample: No, and not intended to be a statistically valid sample Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Noncompliance Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), Texas Workforce (TWC) must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that TWC 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). Under the requirements of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) (Pub. L. No. 109- 282), as amended by Section 6202 of Public Law 110-252, recipients (i.e., 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) no later than the last day of the month following the month in which the subaward/subaward amendment obligation was made or the subcontract award/subcontract modification was made. Condition: As the prime recipient of grant funding, TWC is responsible for reporting first-tier subawards of $30,000 or more in FSRS. Audit procedures included testing 59 subawards made during the fiscal year for FFATA requirements, including subawards made by Texas Education Agency (TEA) using state pass through funds from TWC. TWC passed through $3,000,000 of federal grant funds to TEA who in turn made 33 subawards totaling $2,911,755. Based on Part 3 of the 2024 compliance supplement, transfers of federal awards to another component of the same auditee under 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F, do not constitute a subrecipient or contractor relationship. Accordingly, subawards made by TEA should be reported in FSRS by TWC as the prime recipient. The following compliance exceptions were identified: See chart or table in the Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs. Questioned costs: None Context: See “Condition.” Cause: TWC considered the funds passed through to TEA as a subaward and reported these amounts in FSRS. However, as TEA is an agency of the State of Texas, it does not meet the definition of a subrecipient. Effect: Failure to submit FFATA subawards timely may lead to noncompliance with federal requirements. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend that, as the prime recipient, TWC coordinate with state pass through entities to obtain the information needed for FFATA reporting in order to be compliant with FFATA requirements. Views of responsible officials: In this situation, TWC disagrees with the applicability of the following statement “Transfers of federal awards to another component of the same auditee under 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F, do not constitute a subrecipient or contractor relationship” from the Fiscal Year 2024 2 CFR Part 200, Appendix XI Compliance Supplement. According to 2 CFR Part 170, TWC is required to report first-tier subawards. In the case of TWC and TEA, there is an Interagency Agreement Contract (IAC) which designates TEA as a subrecipient of TWC making TEA a first_x0002_tier grantee of TWC. Neither TWC nor TEA considers this funding a “transfer.” The definition of a pass-through entity according to 2 CFR Part 200, means a recipient or subrecipient that provides a subaward to a subrecipient (including lower tier subrecipients) to carry out a federal program. In the case of TWC and TEA, there is an Interagency Agreement Contract (IAC) that establishes a relationship that would not be considered a transfer but a first tier subaward. The IAC establishes TWC as a pass-through entity and TEA as a subrecipient per the definitions of these terms in 2 CFR 200.1. Under the requirements for pass-through entities at 2 CFR 200.332, TWC is responsible for monitoring TEA performance under this subaward which may include enforcement under 2 CFR 200.339 and the recovery of costs associated with subrecipient noncompliance. This contractual consideration and possibility of repayment supports that this relationship is one of pass-through and subrecipient, and not a transfer of a federal award to another component of an auditee. As such, subawards made by TEA are in fact second tier subawards for TWC and TWC has no obligation to report them as established in Appendix A 2 CFR Part 170. The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA) was passed in the vein of openness and transparency to the public as it relates to Federal spending. Reporting on first-tier subawards took effect October 1, 2010. (See OMB Memorandum for Senior Accountable Officials, “Open Government Directive–Federal Spending Transparency and Subaward and Compensation Data Reporting,” August 27, 2010.) FFATA, § 2—Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, directed the Office of Management and Budget to “ensure the existence and operation of a single searchable website, accessible by the public at no cost to access, that includes for each Federal award—(A) the name of the entity receiving the award” and other specified information. (See Public Law 109-282, §2(b).) That website is USASpending.gov. On that website, a search by “recipient” does not have an option to search for “State of Texas.” Rather, the search options individually list the Texas Workforce Commission and other Texas state agencies as separate recipients. When TWC makes an interagency pass-through contract to another state agency, TWC has always treated that other state agency as first-tier subrecipient for FFATA reporting purposes. That decision was based on guidance and interpretation of information available when the FFATA subaward reporting requirements took effect in 2010. TWC has continued in that manner with no audit finding on that approach until now. If TWC adheres to the recommendation made by this finding, the public will no longer have access to the interagency contract amounts through USASpending.gov. The USASpending.gov data presented to the public will instead indicate that the subrecipients of another state agency received subawards directly from TWC, which is inaccurate, will make the USASpending.gov data of the other state agency incomplete, and will cause the USASpending.gov data to be inconsistent with both state agencies’ presentation of those subawards in their respective systems and financial statements. In effect, the USASpending.gov data will represent the subawards of the other state agency as TWC’s subrecipients, while TWC’s systems and financial statements will have no record of those subawards beyond FFATA reporting. Similarly, the other state agency’s systems and financial statements will reflect those subawards as its own, but with no related reflection of that relationship in USASpending.gov. If the public were to submit an open records request about the subawards, the State’s response would be delayed by one state agency collecting data from the other, and inconsistent with the public’s expectation as to which state agency issued and managed those subawards. Those effects seem inconsistent with FFATA’s openness and transparency goals.
Program: Assistance Listing Number 59.059 – Congressional Earmarks Initiative Awarding Agency – U.S. Small Business Association Grant Number – SBAHQ23I0008 Federal Award Year – 2024 Questioned Cost: None. Criteria: Per 2 CFR 200.332, Central Michigan University Research Corporation is required to perform risk assessment and monitoring procedures for subrecipients of federal grants. This includes procedures such as evaluating the subrecipient’s risk of noncompliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the subaward, review of financial and performance reports, and follow up of the subrecipient’s correction of previous Single Audit findings. Condition: The Organization lacked documentation that sufficient subrecipient risk assessment and monitoring procedures were performed as required by Uniform Guidance. An assumption was made that because the subrecipient was to receive funding as part of a federal mandate that the Organization’s only responsibility was to pass through the funding. Cause / Effect: Management does not have the proper policies and procedures in place to ensure that the required subrecipient procedures are being performed, causing noncompliance. Recommendation: We recommend that management reviews the required procedures for pass-through entities as listed in 2 CFR 200.332 and implements the procedures accordingly. This should include documented risk assessment and monitoring procedures for all subrecipient of federal awards. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. Corrective Action Plan: See attached corrective action plan from management.
2024 – 002: Subrecipient Monitoring Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Name: Public Health Emergency Response: Cooperative Agreement for Emergency Response: Public Health Crisis response Assistance Listing Number: 93.354 Federal Award Identification Number: NU90TP922168, NU90TP921992 Pass-Through Agency: South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Pass-Through Numbers: PH-2-533, CY-19-018 Award Period: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: Internal 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 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). Compliance - Per 2 CFR section 200.332(a), the subaward is to clearly identify to the subrecipient required information, including identification of whether the award is R&D. Condition: The University incorrectly documented the subaward as a Research and Development grant to the subrecipient. Questioned costs: None Context: This condition occurred for 5 out of 5 subawards selected for testing. Cause: Attachment 2 of the Federal Awards Terms and Conditions template of the FDP Cost Reimbursement Subaward includes a field that is pre-selected and defaults to the R&D selection, requiring the field to be unchecked for the subawards that are not classified as R&D. Effect: The subrecipient may not be aware of certain award information in order to comply with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the award and properly classify its schedule of expenditures of federal awards. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend the University strengthen its internal controls to ensure that subawards report the correct information. Views of responsible officials: Management acknowledges the finding.
2024 – 002: Subrecipient Monitoring Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Name: Public Health Emergency Response: Cooperative Agreement for Emergency Response: Public Health Crisis response Assistance Listing Number: 93.354 Federal Award Identification Number: NU90TP922168, NU90TP921992 Pass-Through Agency: South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Pass-Through Numbers: PH-2-533, CY-19-018 Award Period: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: Internal 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 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). Compliance - Per 2 CFR section 200.332(a), the subaward is to clearly identify to the subrecipient required information, including identification of whether the award is R&D. Condition: The University incorrectly documented the subaward as a Research and Development grant to the subrecipient. Questioned costs: None Context: This condition occurred for 5 out of 5 subawards selected for testing. Cause: Attachment 2 of the Federal Awards Terms and Conditions template of the FDP Cost Reimbursement Subaward includes a field that is pre-selected and defaults to the R&D selection, requiring the field to be unchecked for the subawards that are not classified as R&D. Effect: The subrecipient may not be aware of certain award information in order to comply with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the award and properly classify its schedule of expenditures of federal awards. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend the University strengthen its internal controls to ensure that subawards report the correct information. Views of responsible officials: Management acknowledges the finding.
2024-003 Subrecipient Monitoring Program: 21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Criteria: Per 2 CFR sections 200.332(d) through (f), a pass-through entity must monitor the activities of the subrecipient as necessary to ensure that the subaward is used for authorized purposes, complies with the terms and conditions of the subaward, and achieves the performance goals. Per 2 CFR section 200.502(a), the determination of when a Federal award is expended must be based on when the activity related to the Federal award occurs which is generally expenditure/expense transactions associated with awards. Condition: Subrecipients were not monitored timely enough to perform the necessary evaluation on subrecipient activities or to report expenditures on the schedule of expenditures of federal awards in the appropriate fiscal year. Cause: UAS did not receive invoices for certain subrecipients until after year-end close and for amounts covering an entire fiscal year and no amounts were accrued. Effect: Activities of the subrecipient could not be reviewed timely to ensure authorized use or for allowability with grant terms and conditions. Subrecipient expenditures on the schedule of expenditures of federal awards were understated by $344,948. Questioned Costs: The conditions did not result in questioned costs greater than $25,000. Context: Although subrecipient invoices were submitted after year-end close, UAS grant personnel reviewed expenses submitted for allowability and did not identify any disallowed costs. Repeat Finding: No. Recommendation: Establish a timeline for subrecipients to provide required reports to UAS in order to receive information during the fiscal year for monitoring during the post-award process. Review grant and subrecipient activity at year-end to evaluate whether all activity has been submitted and recorded. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding and a response is included in the corrective action plan.
2024-003 Subrecipient Monitoring Program: 21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Criteria: Per 2 CFR sections 200.332(d) through (f), a pass-through entity must monitor the activities of the subrecipient as necessary to ensure that the subaward is used for authorized purposes, complies with the terms and conditions of the subaward, and achieves the performance goals. Per 2 CFR section 200.502(a), the determination of when a Federal award is expended must be based on when the activity related to the Federal award occurs which is generally expenditure/expense transactions associated with awards. Condition: Subrecipients were not monitored timely enough to perform the necessary evaluation on subrecipient activities or to report expenditures on the schedule of expenditures of federal awards in the appropriate fiscal year. Cause: UAS did not receive invoices for certain subrecipients until after year-end close and for amounts covering an entire fiscal year and no amounts were accrued. Effect: Activities of the subrecipient could not be reviewed timely to ensure authorized use or for allowability with grant terms and conditions. Subrecipient expenditures on the schedule of expenditures of federal awards were understated by $344,948. Questioned Costs: The conditions did not result in questioned costs greater than $25,000. Context: Although subrecipient invoices were submitted after year-end close, UAS grant personnel reviewed expenses submitted for allowability and did not identify any disallowed costs. Repeat Finding: No. Recommendation: Establish a timeline for subrecipients to provide required reports to UAS in order to receive information during the fiscal year for monitoring during the post-award process. Review grant and subrecipient activity at year-end to evaluate whether all activity has been submitted and recorded. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding and a response is included in the corrective action plan.
2024-003 Subrecipient Monitoring Program: 21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Criteria: Per 2 CFR sections 200.332(d) through (f), a pass-through entity must monitor the activities of the subrecipient as necessary to ensure that the subaward is used for authorized purposes, complies with the terms and conditions of the subaward, and achieves the performance goals. Per 2 CFR section 200.502(a), the determination of when a Federal award is expended must be based on when the activity related to the Federal award occurs which is generally expenditure/expense transactions associated with awards. Condition: Subrecipients were not monitored timely enough to perform the necessary evaluation on subrecipient activities or to report expenditures on the schedule of expenditures of federal awards in the appropriate fiscal year. Cause: UAS did not receive invoices for certain subrecipients until after year-end close and for amounts covering an entire fiscal year and no amounts were accrued. Effect: Activities of the subrecipient could not be reviewed timely to ensure authorized use or for allowability with grant terms and conditions. Subrecipient expenditures on the schedule of expenditures of federal awards were understated by $344,948. Questioned Costs: The conditions did not result in questioned costs greater than $25,000. Context: Although subrecipient invoices were submitted after year-end close, UAS grant personnel reviewed expenses submitted for allowability and did not identify any disallowed costs. Repeat Finding: No. Recommendation: Establish a timeline for subrecipients to provide required reports to UAS in order to receive information during the fiscal year for monitoring during the post-award process. Review grant and subrecipient activity at year-end to evaluate whether all activity has been submitted and recorded. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding and a response is included in the corrective action plan.
2024-003 Subrecipient Monitoring Program: 21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Criteria: Per 2 CFR sections 200.332(d) through (f), a pass-through entity must monitor the activities of the subrecipient as necessary to ensure that the subaward is used for authorized purposes, complies with the terms and conditions of the subaward, and achieves the performance goals. Per 2 CFR section 200.502(a), the determination of when a Federal award is expended must be based on when the activity related to the Federal award occurs which is generally expenditure/expense transactions associated with awards. Condition: Subrecipients were not monitored timely enough to perform the necessary evaluation on subrecipient activities or to report expenditures on the schedule of expenditures of federal awards in the appropriate fiscal year. Cause: UAS did not receive invoices for certain subrecipients until after year-end close and for amounts covering an entire fiscal year and no amounts were accrued. Effect: Activities of the subrecipient could not be reviewed timely to ensure authorized use or for allowability with grant terms and conditions. Subrecipient expenditures on the schedule of expenditures of federal awards were understated by $344,948. Questioned Costs: The conditions did not result in questioned costs greater than $25,000. Context: Although subrecipient invoices were submitted after year-end close, UAS grant personnel reviewed expenses submitted for allowability and did not identify any disallowed costs. Repeat Finding: No. Recommendation: Establish a timeline for subrecipients to provide required reports to UAS in order to receive information during the fiscal year for monitoring during the post-award process. Review grant and subrecipient activity at year-end to evaluate whether all activity has been submitted and recorded. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding and a response is included in the corrective action plan.
Criteria: According to grant terms & conditions and 2 CFR Section 200.332, all awardees of applicable grants and cooperative agreements are required to report to the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) on all subawards over $30,000. Condition: The Commission did not provide timely FFATA reporting for ALN #11.469 and #11.472 subawards subject to the FFATA reporting requirements. Context: This is a condition identified based on review of grant terms and conditions and 2 CFR Section 200.332. Cause: The Commission was not aware of this reporting requirement. Effect: The Commission is not in compliance with FFATA reporting requirements for fiscal year 2024. Identification of a Repeat Finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We suggest that management review all awards for subrecipients and ensure that FFATA reporting is completed in a timely manner for subawards subject to the requirements. Views of Responsible Officials: The Commission agrees with the finding. Planned Corrective Action: The Commission will review all subawards for subrecipients and ensure that FFATA reporting is completed in a timely manner for subawards subject to the requirements. The Commission will add a clause in our Sub-awards stating this requirement. Responsible Official: Laura Leach, Director of Finance and Administration Anticipated Completion Date: December 31, 2024
Criteria: According to grant terms & conditions and 2 CFR Section 200.332, all awardees of applicable grants and cooperative agreements are required to report to the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) on all subawards over $30,000. Condition: The Commission did not provide timely FFATA reporting for ALN #11.469 and #11.472 subawards subject to the FFATA reporting requirements. Context: This is a condition identified based on review of grant terms and conditions and 2 CFR Section 200.332. Cause: The Commission was not aware of this reporting requirement. Effect: The Commission is not in compliance with FFATA reporting requirements for fiscal year 2024. Identification of a Repeat Finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We suggest that management review all awards for subrecipients and ensure that FFATA reporting is completed in a timely manner for subawards subject to the requirements. Views of Responsible Officials: The Commission agrees with the finding. Planned Corrective Action: The Commission will review all subawards for subrecipients and ensure that FFATA reporting is completed in a timely manner for subawards subject to the requirements. The Commission will add a clause in our Sub-awards stating this requirement. Responsible Official: Laura Leach, Director of Finance and Administration Anticipated Completion Date: December 31, 2024
U.S. Departments and Pass-Through Programs with various assistance listings as listed in the Schedule of Expenditures for the Research and Development Cluster Cash Management Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance Grant Award Number: Potentially affects all direct grant awards included under assistance listing 93.866 as part of the Research and Development Cluster for UNR on the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards. Criteria: Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) section 200.305(b)(1) provides that pass-through entities must monitor cash drawdowns by their subrecipients to ensure that the time elapsing between the transfer of federal funds to the subrecipient and their disbursement for program purposes is minimized. Condition: An advance payment was made to a subrecipient in excess of immediate cash needs. Cause: The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) did not have adequate internal controls to ensure advance payments to subrecipients would be disbursed for program purposes timely. Effect: Unspent funds were retained by the subrecipient for a period beyond the subaward’s period of performance and liquidation period. Questioned Costs: Undetermined as a final reconciliation of unspent funds to be returned has not been finalized with the subrecipient. Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 60 pass-through payments out of a population of 636 across the Nevada System of Higher Education was selected for testing. UNR had 25 pass-through payments selected of the 60 in the sample. We noted procedures were not performed to minimize the time elapsing between the transfer of federal funds and disbursement for program purposes for one pass- through payment. The total originally advanced to the subrecipient was $40,000. Repeat Finding from Prior Year: No Recommendation: We recommend UNR enhance internal controls to ensure advance payments to subrecipients are disbursed for program purposes timely. Views of Responsible Officials: The University of Nevada, Reno agrees with this finding. Views of Responsible Officials: The University of Nevada, Reno agrees with this finding. U.S. Departments and Pass-Through Programs with various assistance listings as listed in the Schedule of Expenditures for the Research and Development Cluster Cash Management Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance Grant Award Number: Potentially affects all direct grant awards included under assistance listing 93.866 as part of the Research and Development Cluster for UNR on the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards. Criteria: Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) section 200.305(b)(1) provides that pass-through entities must monitor cash drawdowns by their subrecipients to ensure that the time elapsing between the transfer of federal funds to the subrecipient and their disbursement for program purposes is minimized. Condition: An advance payment was made to a subrecipient in excess of immediate cash needs. Cause: The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) did not have adequate internal controls to ensure advance payments to subrecipients would be disbursed for program purposes timely. Effect: Unspent funds were retained by the subrecipient for a period beyond the subaward’s period of performance and liquidation period. Questioned Costs: Undetermined as a final reconciliation of unspent funds to be returned has not been finalized with the subrecipient. Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 60 pass-through payments out of a population of 636 across the Nevada System of Higher Education was selected for testing. UNR had 25 pass-through payments selected of the 60 in the sample. We noted procedures were not performed to minimize the time elapsing between the transfer of federal funds and disbursement for program purposes for one pass- through payment. The total originally advanced to the subrecipient was $40,000. Repeat Finding from Prior Year: No Recommendation: We recommend UNR enhance internal controls to ensure advance payments to subrecipients are disbursed for program purposes timely. Views of Responsible Officials: The University of Nevada, Reno agrees with this finding. Nevada System of Higher Education Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs Year Ended June 30, 2024 2024-009: U.S. Departments and Pass-Through Programs with various assistance listings as listed in the Schedule of Expenditures for the Research and Development Cluster Subrecipient Monitoring Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material Noncompliance Grant Award Number: Potentially affects all grant awards with pass-through payments included under the Research and Development Cluster for DRI, NSU, UNLV, and UNR on the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards. Criteria: Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) section 200.332 requires that: o Pass-through entities establish policies for subrecipient monitoring that have a risk-based approach to determine the appropriate monitoring. o Pass-through entities evaluate the risk of noncompliance with a subaward to determine the appropriate monitoring. o Pass-through entities ensure that every subaward includes certain information at the time of the subaward. o Pass-through entities monitor the activities of a subrecipient as necessary to ensure that the subaward is used for authorized purposes, complies with the terms and conditions of the subaward, and achieves performance goals. o Pass-through entities verify every subrecipient is audited as required by Uniform Guidance, issue management decisions for audit findings, as applicable, and ensure the subrecipient take timely corrective action on all audit findings, as applicable. Condition: Subrecipient monitoring policies are not documented, risk assessment was not performed, subawards were missing required information, monitoring of activities was not performed, and subrecipient audit reports were not monitored or reviewed. Cause: Adequate internal controls were not in place to ensure compliance with subrecipient monitoring requirements for the following institutions: o Desert Research Institute (DRI) o Nevada State University (NSU) o University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) o University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) Effect: Noncompliance may occur at a subrecipient and not be detected. Questioned Costs: None Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 61 subrecipients out of a population greater than 250 across the Nevada System of Higher Education was selected for testing. Nevada System of Higher Education Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs Year Ended June 30, 2024 2024-009: U.S. Departments and Pass-Through Programs with various assistance listings as listed in the Schedule of Expenditures for the Research and Development Cluster Subrecipient Monitoring Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material Noncompliance Grant Award Number: Potentially affects all grant awards with pass-through payments included under the Research and Development Cluster for DRI, NSU, UNLV, and UNR on the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards. Criteria: Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) section 200.332 requires that: o Pass-through entities establish policies for subrecipient monitoring that have a risk-based approach to determine the appropriate monitoring. o Pass-through entities evaluate the risk of noncompliance with a subaward to determine the appropriate monitoring. o Pass-through entities ensure that every subaward includes certain information at the time of the subaward. o Pass-through entities monitor the activities of a subrecipient as necessary to ensure that the subaward is used for authorized purposes, complies with the terms and conditions of the subaward, and achieves performance goals. o Pass-through entities verify every subrecipient is audited as required by Uniform Guidance, issue management decisions for audit findings, as applicable, and ensure the subrecipient take timely corrective action on all audit findings, as applicable. Condition: Subrecipient monitoring policies are not documented, risk assessment was not performed, subawards were missing required information, monitoring of activities was not performed, and subrecipient audit reports were not monitored or reviewed. Cause: Adequate internal controls were not in place to ensure compliance with subrecipient monitoring requirements for the following institutions: o Desert Research Institute (DRI) o Nevada State University (NSU) o University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) o University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) Effect: Noncompliance may occur at a subrecipient and not be detected. Questioned Costs: None Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 61 subrecipients out of a population greater than 250 across the Nevada System of Higher Education was selected for testing.
U.S. Departments and Pass-Through Programs with various assistance listings as listed in the Schedule of Expenditures for the Research and Development Cluster Cash Management Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance Grant Award Number: Potentially affects all direct grant awards included under assistance listing 93.866 as part of the Research and Development Cluster for UNR on the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards. Criteria: Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) section 200.305(b)(1) provides that pass-through entities must monitor cash drawdowns by their subrecipients to ensure that the time elapsing between the transfer of federal funds to the subrecipient and their disbursement for program purposes is minimized. Condition: An advance payment was made to a subrecipient in excess of immediate cash needs. Cause: The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) did not have adequate internal controls to ensure advance payments to subrecipients would be disbursed for program purposes timely. Effect: Unspent funds were retained by the subrecipient for a period beyond the subaward’s period of performance and liquidation period. Questioned Costs: Undetermined as a final reconciliation of unspent funds to be returned has not been finalized with the subrecipient. Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 60 pass-through payments out of a population of 636 across the Nevada System of Higher Education was selected for testing. UNR had 25 pass-through payments selected of the 60 in the sample. We noted procedures were not performed to minimize the time elapsing between the transfer of federal funds and disbursement for program purposes for one pass- through payment. The total originally advanced to the subrecipient was $40,000. Repeat Finding from Prior Year: No Recommendation: We recommend UNR enhance internal controls to ensure advance payments to subrecipients are disbursed for program purposes timely. Views of Responsible Officials: The University of Nevada, Reno agrees with this finding. Views of Responsible Officials: The University of Nevada, Reno agrees with this finding. U.S. Departments and Pass-Through Programs with various assistance listings as listed in the Schedule of Expenditures for the Research and Development Cluster Cash Management Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance Grant Award Number: Potentially affects all direct grant awards included under assistance listing 93.866 as part of the Research and Development Cluster for UNR on the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards. Criteria: Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) section 200.305(b)(1) provides that pass-through entities must monitor cash drawdowns by their subrecipients to ensure that the time elapsing between the transfer of federal funds to the subrecipient and their disbursement for program purposes is minimized. Condition: An advance payment was made to a subrecipient in excess of immediate cash needs. Cause: The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) did not have adequate internal controls to ensure advance payments to subrecipients would be disbursed for program purposes timely. Effect: Unspent funds were retained by the subrecipient for a period beyond the subaward’s period of performance and liquidation period. Questioned Costs: Undetermined as a final reconciliation of unspent funds to be returned has not been finalized with the subrecipient. Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 60 pass-through payments out of a population of 636 across the Nevada System of Higher Education was selected for testing. UNR had 25 pass-through payments selected of the 60 in the sample. We noted procedures were not performed to minimize the time elapsing between the transfer of federal funds and disbursement for program purposes for one pass- through payment. The total originally advanced to the subrecipient was $40,000. Repeat Finding from Prior Year: No Recommendation: We recommend UNR enhance internal controls to ensure advance payments to subrecipients are disbursed for program purposes timely. Views of Responsible Officials: The University of Nevada, Reno agrees with this finding. Nevada System of Higher Education Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs Year Ended June 30, 2024 2024-009: U.S. Departments and Pass-Through Programs with various assistance listings as listed in the Schedule of Expenditures for the Research and Development Cluster Subrecipient Monitoring Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material Noncompliance Grant Award Number: Potentially affects all grant awards with pass-through payments included under the Research and Development Cluster for DRI, NSU, UNLV, and UNR on the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards. Criteria: Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) section 200.332 requires that: o Pass-through entities establish policies for subrecipient monitoring that have a risk-based approach to determine the appropriate monitoring. o Pass-through entities evaluate the risk of noncompliance with a subaward to determine the appropriate monitoring. o Pass-through entities ensure that every subaward includes certain information at the time of the subaward. o Pass-through entities monitor the activities of a subrecipient as necessary to ensure that the subaward is used for authorized purposes, complies with the terms and conditions of the subaward, and achieves performance goals. o Pass-through entities verify every subrecipient is audited as required by Uniform Guidance, issue management decisions for audit findings, as applicable, and ensure the subrecipient take timely corrective action on all audit findings, as applicable. Condition: Subrecipient monitoring policies are not documented, risk assessment was not performed, subawards were missing required information, monitoring of activities was not performed, and subrecipient audit reports were not monitored or reviewed. Cause: Adequate internal controls were not in place to ensure compliance with subrecipient monitoring requirements for the following institutions: o Desert Research Institute (DRI) o Nevada State University (NSU) o University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) o University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) Effect: Noncompliance may occur at a subrecipient and not be detected. Questioned Costs: None Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 61 subrecipients out of a population greater than 250 across the Nevada System of Higher Education was selected for testing. Nevada System of Higher Education Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs Year Ended June 30, 2024 2024-009: U.S. Departments and Pass-Through Programs with various assistance listings as listed in the Schedule of Expenditures for the Research and Development Cluster Subrecipient Monitoring Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material Noncompliance Grant Award Number: Potentially affects all grant awards with pass-through payments included under the Research and Development Cluster for DRI, NSU, UNLV, and UNR on the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards. Criteria: Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) section 200.332 requires that: o Pass-through entities establish policies for subrecipient monitoring that have a risk-based approach to determine the appropriate monitoring. o Pass-through entities evaluate the risk of noncompliance with a subaward to determine the appropriate monitoring. o Pass-through entities ensure that every subaward includes certain information at the time of the subaward. o Pass-through entities monitor the activities of a subrecipient as necessary to ensure that the subaward is used for authorized purposes, complies with the terms and conditions of the subaward, and achieves performance goals. o Pass-through entities verify every subrecipient is audited as required by Uniform Guidance, issue management decisions for audit findings, as applicable, and ensure the subrecipient take timely corrective action on all audit findings, as applicable. Condition: Subrecipient monitoring policies are not documented, risk assessment was not performed, subawards were missing required information, monitoring of activities was not performed, and subrecipient audit reports were not monitored or reviewed. Cause: Adequate internal controls were not in place to ensure compliance with subrecipient monitoring requirements for the following institutions: o Desert Research Institute (DRI) o Nevada State University (NSU) o University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) o University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) Effect: Noncompliance may occur at a subrecipient and not be detected. Questioned Costs: None Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 61 subrecipients out of a population greater than 250 across the Nevada System of Higher Education was selected for testing.