FINDING 2022-004 Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Earmarking Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.173 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 20611-042-PN01, 21611-042-PN01, 21619-042-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking Audit Findings: Material Weakness; Modified Opinion INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 19 DEKALB COUNTY CENTRAL UNITED SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Condition and Context The School Corporation is a member of the Northeast Indiana Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal year 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the earmarking requirements. The Cooperative did not have adequate procedures in place to ensure that the required level of expenditures for non-public students with disabilities was met for each member school. The Cooperative did not have effective internal controls to ensure non-public school expenditures were appropriately identified and reported. The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for 20611-042-PN01, 21611-042-PN01, and 21619-042-PN01 grant awards could not be verified for the individual schools to verify the minimum amount per the grant awards was expended and properly reported to the IDOE as required. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the 20611-042-PN01, 21611-042-PN01, and 21619-042-PN01 grant awards. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: . . . (g) Be adequately documented . . ." 2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ." 511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states: "The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities, who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total number of students with disabilities of the same age range." INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 20 DEKALB COUNTY CENTRAL UNITED SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Cause The School Corporation's management had not developed an effective system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the earmarking requirements of the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system, as well as adequately document costs of federal awards, prevented the determination of the School Corporation's compliance with the earmarking requirements of the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a system of internal controls, as well as appropriately document and identify federal award expenditures to ensure compliance with the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report. Auditor's Response Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the School Corporation's compliance. The School Corporation is a member of the Northeast Indiana Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative, which would include the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement.
FINDING 2022-004 Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Earmarking Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.173 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 20611-042-PN01, 21611-042-PN01, 21619-042-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking Audit Findings: Material Weakness; Modified Opinion INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 19 DEKALB COUNTY CENTRAL UNITED SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Condition and Context The School Corporation is a member of the Northeast Indiana Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal year 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the earmarking requirements. The Cooperative did not have adequate procedures in place to ensure that the required level of expenditures for non-public students with disabilities was met for each member school. The Cooperative did not have effective internal controls to ensure non-public school expenditures were appropriately identified and reported. The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for 20611-042-PN01, 21611-042-PN01, and 21619-042-PN01 grant awards could not be verified for the individual schools to verify the minimum amount per the grant awards was expended and properly reported to the IDOE as required. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the 20611-042-PN01, 21611-042-PN01, and 21619-042-PN01 grant awards. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: . . . (g) Be adequately documented . . ." 2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ." 511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states: "The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities, who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total number of students with disabilities of the same age range." INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 20 DEKALB COUNTY CENTRAL UNITED SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Cause The School Corporation's management had not developed an effective system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the earmarking requirements of the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system, as well as adequately document costs of federal awards, prevented the determination of the School Corporation's compliance with the earmarking requirements of the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a system of internal controls, as well as appropriately document and identify federal award expenditures to ensure compliance with the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report. Auditor's Response Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the School Corporation's compliance. The School Corporation is a member of the Northeast Indiana Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative, which would include the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement.
(2022-022) Title: Internal control over P-EBT Food Benefits needs improvement Prior Year Findings: None State Department: Health and Human Services State Bureau: Office for Family Independence Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture Assistance Listing Title: Pandemic EBT Food Benefits (P-EBT) (COVID-19) Assistance Listing Number: 10.542 Federal Award Identification Number: P-EBT Benefits, Maine Compliance Area: Activities allowed or unallowed Allowable costs/cost principles Eligibility Type of Finding: Material weakness Material noncompliance Questioned costs Known Questioned Costs: $61,507,558 Likely Questioned Costs: $61,507,558. The full amount of P-EBT Food Benefits issued during fiscal year 2022 are reported as known questioned costs. Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303; 2 CFR 200.403; 7 CFR 274.5; Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) (Public Law 116-127), Section 1101; State Plan for Pandemic EBT: Children in School, School Year 2020-2021; State Plan for Pandemic EBT: Children in School and Child Care, Summer 2021; State Plan for Pandemic EBT: Children in School/Child Care 2021-2022 The Department must establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal awards that provides reasonable assurance that the Department is managing awards in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of awards. Costs must be adequately documented. The State?s financial management systems, including records documenting compliance with the terms and conditions of the Federal award, must be sufficient to determine that such funds have been used in accordance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. The State is required to maintain Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) issuance, inventory, reconciliation, and other accountability records for a period of three years. The State agency shall control all issuance documents which establish household eligibility while the documents are transferred and processed within the State. The State agency shall use numbers, batching, inventory control logs, or similar controls from the point of initial receipt through the issuance and reconciliation process. The Department must carry out the Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program, authorized by the FFCRA, in accordance with their State agency plan approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The State was required to submit plans to the USDA as a precondition for participation in the P-EBT Food Benefits program. The plans outline the proposed framework for operating the program including details on how benefits will be issued, estimates for the total amount of P-EBT benefits and the number of children participating, tentative issuance schedules, and how the State will identify eligible school children and children in child care. Three separate plans were approved by the USDA for P-EBT benefit issuances during fiscal year 2022: School Year 2020- 2021, Summer 2021, and School Year 2021-2022. Condition: The FFCRA authorized the establishment of the P-EBT Food Benefits program in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The P-EBT program is administered by the Office for Family Independence (OFI) and provides nutrition assistance for school-age children who would have received free or reduced-price school meals under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, and children in child care whose child-care facility was closed or had reduced attendance/hours due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. As outlined in the State?s USDA-approved plans, OFI established an agreement with the Maine Department of Education (MDOE) to provide information required for issuance of P-EBT benefits to eligible children. MDOE provided data on children participating in the Free and Reduced School Lunch Program as the starting point for eligibility determinations under the P-EBT program. OFI utilized this information to apply additional eligibility criteria and build issuance files for P-EBT benefit processing. The agreement between OFI and MDOE established OFI as the responsible party for the maintenance of data used for determining client eligibility and distributing benefits. Federal guidance over the P-EBT program outlines that audit procedures provide assurance that the Department has established and implemented processes to properly determine program eligibility and benefit levels. This includes testing a sample of clients who were issued P-EBT benefits during the fiscal year to verify consistency with the State?s USDA-approved plans and compliance with Federal program requirements. The Office of the State Auditor (OSA) requested original data files containing client and benefit issuance information utilized by OFI during the fiscal year for all P-EBT issuances that occurred. OFI could not provide OSA with these files. Without a population of the original client and benefit information transmitted for P-EBT issuance, OSA is unable to verify compliance with Federal program eligibility and allowability requirements. As a result, all P-EBT benefits issued during fiscal year 2022 totaling $61,507,558 are considered questioned costs. Context: In fiscal year 2022, the State provided approximately 115,000 P-EBT clients with $61.5 million in Federal benefits. Cause: ? Lack of supervisory oversight ? Lack of adequate procedures Effect: ? Known questioned costs ? Potential future questioned costs and disallowances ? Noncompliance with Federal regulations Recommendation: We recommend that the Department establish procedures to ensure that documentation in support of P-EBT eligibility determinations and allowability of resulting benefit issuances can be provided to corroborate Federal award program expenditures and demonstrate compliance with Federal regulations. Corrective Action Plan: See F-11 Management?s Response: The Department disagrees with this finding. The Department provided the Office of the State Auditor (OSA) with all material used to determine P-EBT benefits. While we acknowledge that due to restrictions imposed on us through a Memorandum of Understanding we have with Maine?s Department of Education (MDOE), which called for the destruction of MDOE's original records, we did provide OSA with the modified records used to determine eligibility benefits. This modification (such as removal of duplicates and address correction) was necessary for ingestion of these records into our Automated Client Eligibility System (ACES), the files were based on an exact replica of MDOE's original data files. These files, the output (client payments) and supporting information necessary for OSA to conduct testing and verify compliance with federal program requirements has been and continues to be available. We believe that the costs are allowable and supported by adequate documentation as required by the Uniform Guidance. Without performing audit testing on the population of payments in question, there is no basis for questioning compliance with eligibility requirements for this population and no basis for questioned costs. It should not be assumed that the entire population is considered ineligible without actually performing audit testing. Contact: Anthony Pelotte, Director, Office for Family Independence, DHHS, 207-624-4104 Auditor?s Concluding Remarks: The Department has not provided OSA with all requested documentation used to determine P-EBT benefits as outlined below: 1. Files received from MDOE were not provided: The files containing raw student data provided to OFI from MDOE were destroyed after transfer. OFI contends that this was done in accordance with the MOU in place between OFI and MDOE; however, the MOU further states that OFI should maintain the data used for determining client eligibility and distribution of benefits. In addition, while MDOE could recreate the student data, the files would not be adequate because benefit allotments and client identification information applied by OFI prior to P-EBT benefit issuance would not be included. Auditor's Concluding Remarks are continued on the following page. 2. Modified files based on MDOE data were provided: As noted in Management?s Response, modifications were made to MDOE raw student data files so that the files could be imported into OFI?s database. These modified files were used by OFI to generate benefit issuance files; however, the files contained student data from MDOE but did not provide client identification information or benefit allotment applied to each client. While OFI asserts that the files are based on an exact replica of MDOE?s original data files, OSA is unable to verify that the data presented in the modified files is an exact replica, that the data is accurate, or that all P-EBT eligible clients are included in the modified files. 3. Benefit Issuance files were not provided: OFI could not provide these files to OSA as they were not maintained in accordance with Federal regulations. Issuance files represent the information provided for the establishment and processing of benefits and contain the P- EBT benefit amounts allotted and related eligibility criteria used to issue Federal benefits to each child/client during the fiscal year. These benefit issuance files would have provided OSA an accurate population in order to test Federal compliance requirements for P-EBT eligibility and resulting benefit payment allowability. 4. Paid Benefit files were provided: OFI provided OSA with files containing information on paid benefit issuances during fiscal year 2022, referenced as the output (client payments) files in Management?s Response. While the data fields may be similar to the benefit issuance files used to process eligible clients and related benefit allotments, OSA does not have assurance that the output (client payments) file is accurate, complete, and aligns with the intended P-EBT recipients as established by the benefit issuance files. OFI did not provide OSA with all material used to determine P-EBT benefits. As outlined above, OFI provided modified records rather than original records because OFI did not maintain original issuance files utilized to provide client P-EBT benefits. Federal requirement 7 CFR 274.5 requires that States maintain issuance records for a period of three years. OFI failed to do so, resulting in noncompliance with Federal regulations. Because of OFI?s failure to provide issuance files, OSA was unable to test compliance with P-EBT eligibility and allowability. In accordance with 2 CFR 200.403, costs must be adequately documented. OFI could not provide documentation to support compliance with the terms and conditions of the Federal award to determine that such funds have been used in accordance with Federal program regulations. Therefore, OSA questions all costs for the program. The finding remains as stated. (State Number: 22-1108-05)
(2022-027) Title: Internal control over EBT reconciliation procedures needs improvement Prior Year Findings: See Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs for chart/table State Department: Health and Human Services State Bureau: Office for Family Independence Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture Assistance Listing Title: SNAP Cluster (COVID-19) Pandemic EBT Food Benefits (P-EBT) (COVID-19) Assistance Listing Number: 10.551, 10.561; 10.542 Federal Award Identification Number: SNAP Benefits, Maine; P-EBT Benefits, Maine Compliance Area: Allowable costs/cost principles Special tests and provisions Type of Finding: Significant deficiency Questioned costs Known Questioned Costs: $80,555 under ALN 10.542, P-EBT Food Benefits Likely Questioned Costs: $80,555 under ALN 10.542, P-EBT Food Benefits Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303; 2 CFR 200.403; 7 CFR 274.4 The Department must establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal awards that provides reasonable assurance that the Department is managing awards in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of awards. To be allowable under Federal awards, costs must be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be adequately documented. The Department shall account for all Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) issuances through a reconciliation of total funds entered into, exiting from, and remaining in the EBT system each day. Condition: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides monthly benefits to eligible households to purchase nutritious foods. The Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) Food Benefits program provides temporary emergency nutrition benefits to eligible school children. Both programs utilize EBT cards as the mechanism to provide benefits. Benefit information is transmitted by the Department to the Electronic Payment Processing and Information Control (EPPIC) system for processing. As EBT purchases are made by SNAP and P-EBT clients, EPPIC automatically draws Federal funds using the Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) system in order to pay retailers. The Department is required by Federal program regulations to reconcile EBT activity between the systems every day. The Department did not perform daily reconciliations from July 2021 through April 2022. The Department retrospectively performed these daily reconciliations in April 2022. This retrospective reconciliation process identified an error in July 2021 SNAP benefit issuances. Benefits totaling $80,555 were incorrectly issued out of the Federal P-EBT Food Benefits program instead of the Federal/State SNAP program due to an EPPIC processing error. The error has not been corrected as of February 2023. Context: In fiscal year 2022, the State provided approximately: ? 119,000 SNAP clients with $466 million in Federal benefits, and ? 115,000 P-EBT clients with $61.5 million in Federal benefits. Cause: ? Lack of adequate policies and procedures ? Lack of supervisory oversight to ensure required reconciliations are completed ? The staff member responsible for performing this Federal requirement did not have access to the ASAP system for nine months of the fiscal year, which is needed to perform the daily reconciliation. Access to the ASAP system was granted in April 2022. Effect: ? SNAP program expenditures are understated and P-EBT Food Benefits program expenditures are overstated by $80,555 as reported to the Federal government. ? Known questioned costs ? Potential future questioned costs and disallowances ? Noncompliance with Federal regulations Recommendation: We recommend that the Department maintain policies and procedures to ensure compliance with Federal program regulations and that require: ? completion of EBT reconciliations on a daily basis, and ? timely correction of issuance errors. Corrective Action Plan: See F-13 Management?s Response: The Department partially agrees with this finding. The Department agrees that reconciliations were not completed as required until April of 2022, but that they were done retrospectively. The Department disagrees that there are questioned costs in the amount of $80,555. This debt was not caused by a failure to perform reconciliations. Rather, it was discovered by the retroactive reconciliations performed by the Department. Contact: Anthony Pelotte, Director, Office for Family Independence, DHHS, 207-624-4104 Auditor?s Concluding Remarks: In accordance with 7 CFR 274.4, the Department is required to perform daily reconciliations of the EBT system. The Department?s failure to perform these daily reconciliations resulted in noncompliance with Federal regulations. Furthermore, if the daily reconciliations had been performed as required, the issuance error would have been detected and corrected in a timely manner, preventing reoccurrence throughout the month of July 2021. In accordance with 2 CFR 200.403, for a cost to be allowable under a Federal award, the costs must be reasonable and necessary for the performance of the Federal award. Issuing benefits out of the wrong Federal program is not a necessary cost for the performance of the Federal award; therefore, the Office of the State Auditor questions the allowability of these costs. The finding remains as stated. (State Number: 22-1108-03)
FINDING 2022-003 Subject: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies - Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies Assistance Listings Number: 84.010 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S010A190014, S010A200014 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context An effective internal control system was not designed, or implemented, at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. Of 25 employees tested, 2 did not have supporting documentation or personnel reports, such as time and effort logs, to support the time charged to the grant. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: . . . (g) Be adequately documented. . . ." 2 CFR 200.430(i) states in part: "Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses (1) Charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. These records must: (i) Be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated; (ii) Be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity; INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 18 CONCORD COMMUNITY SCHOOLS SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) (iii) Reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the non-Federal entity, not exceeding 100% of compensated activities (for IHE, this per the IHE's definition of IBS); . . . (vii) Support the distribution of the employee's salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award; a Federal award and non-Federal award; an indirect cost activity and a direct cost activity; two or more indirect activities which are allocated using different allocation bases; or an unallowable activity and a direct or indirect cost activity. . . ." Cause Management had not established a system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system enabled material noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a system of internal controls to ensure compliance and comply with the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2022-003 Subject: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies - Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies Assistance Listings Number: 84.010 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S010A190014, S010A200014 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context An effective internal control system was not designed, or implemented, at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. Of 25 employees tested, 2 did not have supporting documentation or personnel reports, such as time and effort logs, to support the time charged to the grant. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: . . . (g) Be adequately documented. . . ." 2 CFR 200.430(i) states in part: "Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses (1) Charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. These records must: (i) Be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated; (ii) Be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity; INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 18 CONCORD COMMUNITY SCHOOLS SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) (iii) Reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the non-Federal entity, not exceeding 100% of compensated activities (for IHE, this per the IHE's definition of IBS); . . . (vii) Support the distribution of the employee's salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award; a Federal award and non-Federal award; an indirect cost activity and a direct cost activity; two or more indirect activities which are allocated using different allocation bases; or an unallowable activity and a direct or indirect cost activity. . . ." Cause Management had not established a system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system enabled material noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a system of internal controls to ensure compliance and comply with the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
2022-024 Improve Controls over Period of Performance Compliance Requirement: Period of Performance Internal Control Impact: Significant Deficiency Compliance Impact: Nonmaterial Noncompliance Federal Awarding Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Pass-Through Entity: None AL Numbers and Titles: 93.667 ? Social Services Block Grant 93.958 ? Block Grants for Community Mental Health Federal Award Number: 2201GASOSR (Year: 2022), B09SM082594 (Year: 2020) Questioned Costs: $167,480.00 Description: The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities should improve internal controls to ensure that program costs are obligated within the period of performance and liquidated within the allowed time period. Background Information: The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) is a flexible funding source that allows states and territories to tailor social service programming to their population?s needs. Through the SSBG, states provide essential social services that help achieve a myriad of goals to reduce dependency and promote self-sufficiency; protect children and adults from neglect, abuse, and exploitation; and help individuals who are unable to take care of themselves to stay in their homes or to find the best institutional arrangements. The Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG) program was created to provide funds to states and territories to enable them to carry out their respective plans for providing comprehensive community-based mental health services for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances. MHBG program funds are allocated to individual states based upon a formula. This funding may be distributed to cities, counties, or service providers within each state to carry out activities associated with the state plan. Funds associated with the SSBG and MHBG programs are administered by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD). The DBHDD is responsible for becoming familiar with the performance period during which recipients must obligate and liquidate costs for each of these programs. These periods typically align with the federal fiscal year of October 1 through September 30, and payments for costs incurred before a grant award?s beginning date or after the liquidation period are not allowed without the grantor?s prior approval. Criteria: As a recipient of federal awards, the DBHDD is required to establish and maintain effective internal control over federal awards that provides reasonable assurance of managing the federal awards in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal awards pursuant to 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 200.303 ? Internal Controls. Provisions included in the Uniform Guidance, Section 200.403 ? Factors Affecting Allowability of Costs state that ?costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles, (b) Conform to any limitations or exclusions set forth in these principles or in the Federal award as to types or amount of cost items, (c) Be consistent with policies and procedures that apply uniformly to both federally-financed and other activities of the non-Federal entity? (g) Be adequately documented, (h) Cost must be incurred during the approved budget period?? Additionally, provisions included in the Uniform Guidance, Section 200.77 state, ?Period of performance means the time during which the non-Federal entity may incur new obligations to carry out the work authorized under the Federal award.? Further, the DBHDD?s policies 17-202 ? Federal Fund Source and Parent Project Code Assignments and 17-203 ? Federal Financial Report Preparation, Reconciliation, and Submission prescribe actions that must be taken by staff to ensure that costs are obligated, incurred, and liquidated within the appropriate period as specified in each grant award?s terms and conditions. Condition: Our audit of the SSBG program included a review of expenditures with performance period beginning dates during the audit period to ensure that costs were not incurred before the allowable time period. A sample of two expenditures was randomly selected for testing using a non-statistical sampling approach. Additionally, three individually significant expenditure transactions were selected for testing. Upon performing this testing, it was noted that the three individually significant expenditures reviewed were incurred before the period of performance. In addition, our audit of the MHBG program included a review of expenditures with performance period ending dates during the audit period to ensure that the amounts were obligated and liquidated within the appropriate time period. A sample of four expenditures was randomly selected for testing using a non-statistical sampling approach. Additionally, seven individually significant expenditure transactions were selected for testing. It was noted that five of these individually significant expenditures were not liquidated within 90 days of the end of the period of performance as required. Additionally, these expenditures were not identified by the DBHDD and reclassified to an appropriate, subsequent award number as is reflected within the DBHDD?s internal policy. Questioned Costs: Known questioned costs of $61,630 related to the SSGB program were identified for expenditures that were incurred before the period of performance and $105,850 related to the MHBG program were identified for expenditures that were paid outside of the allowable liquidation period. These known questioned costs related to expenditures that were not tested as part of a sample, and therefore, should not be projected to a population to determine likely questioned costs. Cause: While the DBHDD had established procedures in place to comply with the period of performance requirements for federal awards, human error and a lack of appropriate oversight contributed to the errors identify by auditors. Also, the DBHDD policy governing period of performance does not address the correction of errors in a timely manner as the policy only recommends that corrections be completed during the close-out process for the grant award. Effect: The deficiencies noted in the period of performance process resulted in noncompliance with federal regulations. Without effective controls in place to ensure compliance with federal period of performance requirements, the DBHDD is at a higher risk of making improper payments and performing inaccurate financial reporting. Recommendation: We recommend that the DBHDD: ? Update policy, processes, and procedures associated with period of performance requirements to recommend corrections be made in a timely manner; ? Follow currently established grant close-out processes and procedures associated with period of performance requirements; and ? Incorporate additional oversight, training, and/or staff to aid in the identification of the period of performance to ensure costs are associated with the correct fund source. Views of Responsible Officials: The Department concurs with the audit finding.
2022-024 Improve Controls over Period of Performance Compliance Requirement: Period of Performance Internal Control Impact: Significant Deficiency Compliance Impact: Nonmaterial Noncompliance Federal Awarding Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Pass-Through Entity: None AL Numbers and Titles: 93.667 ? Social Services Block Grant 93.958 ? Block Grants for Community Mental Health Federal Award Number: 2201GASOSR (Year: 2022), B09SM082594 (Year: 2020) Questioned Costs: $167,480.00 Description: The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities should improve internal controls to ensure that program costs are obligated within the period of performance and liquidated within the allowed time period. Background Information: The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) is a flexible funding source that allows states and territories to tailor social service programming to their population?s needs. Through the SSBG, states provide essential social services that help achieve a myriad of goals to reduce dependency and promote self-sufficiency; protect children and adults from neglect, abuse, and exploitation; and help individuals who are unable to take care of themselves to stay in their homes or to find the best institutional arrangements. The Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG) program was created to provide funds to states and territories to enable them to carry out their respective plans for providing comprehensive community-based mental health services for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances. MHBG program funds are allocated to individual states based upon a formula. This funding may be distributed to cities, counties, or service providers within each state to carry out activities associated with the state plan. Funds associated with the SSBG and MHBG programs are administered by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD). The DBHDD is responsible for becoming familiar with the performance period during which recipients must obligate and liquidate costs for each of these programs. These periods typically align with the federal fiscal year of October 1 through September 30, and payments for costs incurred before a grant award?s beginning date or after the liquidation period are not allowed without the grantor?s prior approval. Criteria: As a recipient of federal awards, the DBHDD is required to establish and maintain effective internal control over federal awards that provides reasonable assurance of managing the federal awards in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal awards pursuant to 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 200.303 ? Internal Controls. Provisions included in the Uniform Guidance, Section 200.403 ? Factors Affecting Allowability of Costs state that ?costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles, (b) Conform to any limitations or exclusions set forth in these principles or in the Federal award as to types or amount of cost items, (c) Be consistent with policies and procedures that apply uniformly to both federally-financed and other activities of the non-Federal entity? (g) Be adequately documented, (h) Cost must be incurred during the approved budget period?? Additionally, provisions included in the Uniform Guidance, Section 200.77 state, ?Period of performance means the time during which the non-Federal entity may incur new obligations to carry out the work authorized under the Federal award.? Further, the DBHDD?s policies 17-202 ? Federal Fund Source and Parent Project Code Assignments and 17-203 ? Federal Financial Report Preparation, Reconciliation, and Submission prescribe actions that must be taken by staff to ensure that costs are obligated, incurred, and liquidated within the appropriate period as specified in each grant award?s terms and conditions. Condition: Our audit of the SSBG program included a review of expenditures with performance period beginning dates during the audit period to ensure that costs were not incurred before the allowable time period. A sample of two expenditures was randomly selected for testing using a non-statistical sampling approach. Additionally, three individually significant expenditure transactions were selected for testing. Upon performing this testing, it was noted that the three individually significant expenditures reviewed were incurred before the period of performance. In addition, our audit of the MHBG program included a review of expenditures with performance period ending dates during the audit period to ensure that the amounts were obligated and liquidated within the appropriate time period. A sample of four expenditures was randomly selected for testing using a non-statistical sampling approach. Additionally, seven individually significant expenditure transactions were selected for testing. It was noted that five of these individually significant expenditures were not liquidated within 90 days of the end of the period of performance as required. Additionally, these expenditures were not identified by the DBHDD and reclassified to an appropriate, subsequent award number as is reflected within the DBHDD?s internal policy. Questioned Costs: Known questioned costs of $61,630 related to the SSGB program were identified for expenditures that were incurred before the period of performance and $105,850 related to the MHBG program were identified for expenditures that were paid outside of the allowable liquidation period. These known questioned costs related to expenditures that were not tested as part of a sample, and therefore, should not be projected to a population to determine likely questioned costs. Cause: While the DBHDD had established procedures in place to comply with the period of performance requirements for federal awards, human error and a lack of appropriate oversight contributed to the errors identify by auditors. Also, the DBHDD policy governing period of performance does not address the correction of errors in a timely manner as the policy only recommends that corrections be completed during the close-out process for the grant award. Effect: The deficiencies noted in the period of performance process resulted in noncompliance with federal regulations. Without effective controls in place to ensure compliance with federal period of performance requirements, the DBHDD is at a higher risk of making improper payments and performing inaccurate financial reporting. Recommendation: We recommend that the DBHDD: ? Update policy, processes, and procedures associated with period of performance requirements to recommend corrections be made in a timely manner; ? Follow currently established grant close-out processes and procedures associated with period of performance requirements; and ? Incorporate additional oversight, training, and/or staff to aid in the identification of the period of performance to ensure costs are associated with the correct fund source. Views of Responsible Officials: The Department concurs with the audit finding.
2022-002: Internal Control Over Compliance and Compliance with Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Program: U.S. Department of State AL Number: 19.016 AL Name: Iraq Assistance Program Grant Award Numbers Under the Uniform Guidance Requirements: Direct Award Number Award Period SLMAQM19GR2288 September 29, 2019 through June 30,2022 Program: U.S. Department of State AL Number: 19.518 AL Name: Overseas Refugee Assistance Program for Western Hemisphere Grant Award Numbers Under the Uniform Guidance Requirements: Direct Award Number Award Period SPRMCO20CA0209 September 20, 2020 through September 29, 2021 N/A September 20, 2021 through September 29, 2022 Criteria ? Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) ?200.303, Internal Controls, Section (a) states the Organization must establish and maintain effective internal control over federal awards that provides reasonable assurance that the Organization is managing the federal awards in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and terms and conditions of the federal award. Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining a system of internal control that should include controls over its activities allowed or unallowed, allowable cost/cost principle process. CFR 200.403(g) states that for costs to be allowed under federal awards, they must be adequately documented. Condition ? During our testing of period of performance, we noted exceptions in the ability of management to support expenditures incurred and charged to federal programs. Cause ? Policies and procedures were not appropriately adhered to in certain instances to ensure that supporting documentation was maintained to evidence that costs were allowable and that an appropriate level of review and approval was completed prior to charging costs to a federal program. Questioned Costs ? $28,787 Context: Assistance Listing Number: 19.016 During our testing of the period of performance compliance requirement for grant award periods that ended during the fiscal year, we sampled 12 expenditures, totaling $292,901, for the Iraq Assistance Program and noted one item amounting to $28,766 did not have adequate supporting documentation for the subrecipient expenditures charged to the program. Assistance Listing Number: 19.518 During our testing of the period of performance compliance requirement for grant award periods that started and ended during the fiscal year, we sampled 80 expenditures, totaling $15,252, for the Overseas Refugee Assistance Program for Western Hemisphere and noted two items, totaling $21, did not have adequate supporting documentation for the subrecipient expenditures charged to the program. Effect ? An ineffective control system related to review of transactions to ensure that only allowable costs are charged to federal programs can lead to noncompliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the provisions of grant agreements that could ultimately lead to disallowed costs for the major programs. Repeat Finding ? This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation - We recommend that the Organization ensure its policies and procedures ensure that documentation of expenditure payment is maintained and that these policies and procedures are followed on a consistent basis. Views of Responsible Officials ? Management agrees with the finding and takes responsibility to comply with allowed and allowable requirements. Management through the local offices has already developed a policy to ensure that the period of performance is adhered to.
2022-003: Internal Control Over Compliance and Compliance with Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Program: U.S. Department of State AL Number: 19.016 AL Name: Iraq Assistance Program Grant Award Numbers Under the Uniform Guidance Requirements: Direct Award Number Award Period SLMAQM19GR2288 September 29, 2019 through June 30,2022 Program: U.S. Department of State AL Number: 19.518 AL Name: Overseas Refugee Assistance Program for Western Hemisphere Grant Award Numbers Under the Uniform Guidance Requirements: Direct Award Number Award Period SPRMCO20CA0209 September 20, 2020 through September 29, 2021 N/A September 20, 2021 through September 29, 2022 Criteria ? CFR ?200.303, Internal Controls, Section (a) states the Organization must establish and maintain effective internal control over federal awards that provides reasonable assurance that the Organization is managing the federal awards in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and terms and conditions of the federal award. Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining a system of internal control that should include controls over its activities allowed or unallowed, allowable cost/cost principle process. CFR 200.403(g) states that for costs to be allowed under federal awards, they must be adequately documented. Condition ? During our testing of allowable costs and testing of period of performance for expenditures incurred throughout the year, we noted exceptions in the ability of management to support allocations of payroll and nonpayroll expenditures incurred in federal programs. Cause ? Policies and procedures were not appropriately adhered to in certain instances to ensure that supporting documentation was maintained to evidence that costs allocated to the program were allowable and that an appropriate level of review and approval was completed prior to charging costs to a federal program. Effect ? An ineffective control system related to review of transactions to ensure that only allowable costs are allocated to federal programs can lead to noncompliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the provisions of grant agreements that could ultimately lead to disallowed costs for the major programs. Questioned Costs ? $1,201 Context AL Number: 19.016 We sampled 25 payroll expenditures, totaling $9,560, for Iraq Assistance Programs and noted that two items, totaling $461, did not have proper documentation for allocation basis for the payroll expenditure charged to the program. Additionally, during our testing of the period of performance compliance requirement for grant costs incurred throughout the year, we sampled 40 expenditures, totaling $11,811, for Iraq Assistance Programs and noted that an additional two items, totaling $211, did not have proper documentation for allocation basis for payroll expenditures charged to the program. AL Number: 19.518 We sampled 25 payroll expenditures, totaling $9,068, for the Overseas Refugee Assistance Program for Western Hemisphere and noted that one item, amounting to $529, did not have proper documentation for allocation basis for the payroll expenditure charged to the program. Repeat Finding ? This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation - We recommend that the Organization ensure its policies and procedures ensure that documentation of expenditure payment and allocation is maintained and that these policies and procedures are followed on a consistent basis. Views of Responsible Officials - Management agrees with the finding and takes responsibility to comply with allowed and allowable requirements requirements. Management has developed a policy in the Iraq local office to aid in time and effort allocation.
2022-005: Internal Control Over Compliance and Compliance with Period of Performance Program: U.S. Department of State AL Number: 19.016 AL Name: Iraq Assistance Program Grant Award Numbers Under the Uniform Guidance Requirements: Direct Award Number Award Period SLMAQM19GR2288 September 29, 2019 through June 30,2022 Program: U.S. Department of State AL Number: 19.518 AL Name: Overseas Refugee Assistance Program for Western Hemisphere Grant Award Numbers Under the Uniform Guidance Requirements: Direct Award Number Award Period SPRMCO20CA0209 September 20, 2020 through September 29, 2021 N/A September 20, 2021 through September 29, 2022 Criteria - CFR ?200.303, Internal Controls, Section (a) states the Organization must establish and maintain effective internal control over federal awards that provides reasonable assurance that the Organization is managing the federal awards in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and terms and conditions of the federal award. Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining a system of internal control that should include controls over its grants? period of performance process. In accordance with CFR Section 200.403(h), cost must be incurred during the approved budget period. The federal awarding agency is authorized at its discretion to waive prior written approvals to carry forward unobligated balances to subsequent budget period pursuant to ?200.308(e)(3). In accordance with CFR Section 200.458, pre-award costs are those incurred prior to the effective date of the federal award or subaward directly pursuant to the negotiation and in anticipation of the federal award where such costs are necessary for efficient and timely performance of the scope of the work. Such costs are allowable only to the extent they would have been allowable if incurred after the date of the federal award and only with the written approval of the federal awarding agency. In accordance with CFR Section 200.344, the federal awarding agency or pass-through entity will close out the federal award when it determines that all applicable administrative actions and all required work of the federal award have been completed by the nonfederal entity. Per CFR Section 200.344(b), unless the federal awarding agency or pass-through entity authorizes an extension, a non-federal entity must liquidate all obligations incurred under the federal award not later than 120 calendar days after the end date of the period of performance. Condition ? During our testing of period of performance, we noted exceptions in the ability of management to support expenditures were incurred and charged to federal programs within the period of performance. Cause ? Policies and procedures were not appropriately adhered to in certain instances to ensure that supporting documentation was maintained to evidence that costs were incurred during the period of performance and that an appropriate level of review and approval was completed prior to charging costs to a federal program. Effect - The lack of adherence to the established internal control procedures around the period of performance of the award can lead to noncompliance with laws, regulations, and the provisions of grant agreements, which could ultimately lead to expenditures not being charged to the major programs in the correct period. Questioned Costs ? $29,459 Context: Assistance Listing Number: 19.016 During our testing of the period of performance compliance requirement for grant award periods that ended during the fiscal year, we sampled 12 expenditures, totaling $292,901, for the Iraq Assistance Program and noted one item amounting to $28,766 did not have adequate supporting documentation for the subrecipient expenditures charged to the program. Additionally, during our testing of the period of performance compliance requirement for grant costs incurred throughout the year, we sampled 40 expenditures, totaling $11,811, for the Iraq Assistance Programs and noted that four items, totaling $672, did not have proper documentation for the allocation of the expenditure. Assistance Listing Number: 19.518 During our testing of the period of performance compliance requirement for grant award periods that started and ended during the fiscal year, we sampled 81 expenditures, totaling $15,252, for the Overseas Refugee Assistance Program for Western Hemisphere and noted two items, totaling $21, did not have adequate supporting documentation for the subrecipient expenditures charged to the program. Repeat Finding - This finding is not a repeat finding. Recommendation - We recommend that the Organization ensure its policies and procedures ensure that documentation of when the expenditure was incurred and liquidated is maintained and that these policies and procedures are followed on a consistent basis. Views of Responsible Officials - Management agrees with the finding and takes responsibility to comply with the period of performance compliance requirements. Management through the local offices has already developed a policy to ensure that the period of performance is adhered to.
2022-006: Internal Control Over Compliance and Compliance with Period of Performance Program: U.S. Department of State AL Number: 19.518 AL Name: Overseas Refugee Assistance Program for Western Hemisphere Grant Award Numbers Under the Uniform Guidance Requirements: Direct Award Number Award Period SPRMCO20CA0209 September 20, 2020 through September 29, 2021 N/A September 20, 2021 through September 29, 2022 Criteria ? CFR ?200.303, Internal Controls, Section (a) states the Organization must establish and maintain effective internal control over federal awards that provides reasonable assurance that the Organization is managing the federal awards in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and terms and conditions of the federal award. Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining a system of internal control that should include controls over its grants? period of performance process. In accordance with CFR Section 200.403(h), cost must be incurred during the approved budget period. The federal awarding agency is authorized at its discretion to waive prior written approvals to carry forward unobligated balances to subsequent budget period pursuant to ?200.308(e)(3). In accordance with CFR Section 200.458, pre-award costs are those incurred prior to the effective date of the federal award or subaward directly pursuant to the negotiation and in anticipation of the federal award where such costs are necessary for efficient and timely performance of the scope of the work. Such costs are allowable only to the extent they would have been allowable if incurred after the date of the federal award and only with the written approval of the federal awarding agency. In accordance with CFR Section 200.344, the federal awarding agency or pass-through entity will close out the federal award when it determines that all applicable administrative actions and all required work of the federal award have been completed by the nonfederal entity. Per CFR Section 200.344(b), unless the federal awarding agency or pass-through entity authorizes an extension, a non-federal entity must liquidate all obligations incurred under the federal award not later than 120 calendar days after the end date of the period of performance. Condition ? During our testing of period of performance, we noted exceptions where expenditures were incurred outside of the grant?s performance period. Cause ? Policies and procedures were not appropriately adhered to in certain instances to ensure that supporting documentation was maintained to evidence that costs were incurred during the period of performance and that an appropriate level of review and approval was completed prior to charging costs to a federal program. Effect - The lack of adherence to the established internal control procedures around the period of performance of the award can lead to noncompliance with law and regulations and possible loss of funding for the related program. Questioned Costs ? $125 Context: During our testing of the allowable costs/cost principles compliance requirements, we sampled 25 nonpayroll expenditures, totaling $6,365, for the Overseas Refugee Assistance Program for Western Hemisphere and noted that four items, totaling $125, were incurred and paid outside of the grant award period. Repeat Finding - This finding is a repeat finding from prior year. This finding was reported as finding 2021-001 in the 2021 reporting package. Recommendation - We recommend management revisits and considers revising its internal procedures around detecting expenditures incurred outside of the period of performance of the awards. Views of Responsible Officials - Management agrees with the finding and takes responsibility to comply with the period of performance compliance requirements. Management is emphasizing prompt period closing to ensure that no items are recorded in the wrong period.
Reference Number: 2022-016 Prior Year Finding: No Federal Agency: Department of Labor State Agency: Vermont Department of Labor (Department) Federal Program: Unemployment Insurance, COVID-19 ? Unemployment Insurance Assistance Listing Number: 17.225 Award Number and Year: UI340892055A50 (10/1/2019 ? 12/31/2022) UI356792155A50 (10/1/2020 ? 12/31/2023) UI372542255A50 (10/1/2021 ? 12/31/2024) Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Type of Finding Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance Criteria or specific requirement: Compliance: 2 CFR section 200.403 states, in part, except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles. (b) Conform to any limitations or exclusions set forth in these principles or in the Federal award as to types or amount of cost items. (c) Be consistent with policies and procedures that apply uniformly to both federally-financed and other activities of the non-Federal entity. (d) Be accorded consistent treatment. A cost may not be assigned to a Federal award as a direct cost if any other cost incurred for the same purpose in like circumstances has been allocated to the Federal award as an indirect cost. (e) Be determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), except, for state and local governments and Indian tribes only, as otherwise provided for in this part. (f) Not be included as a cost or used to meet cost sharing or matching requirements of any other federally-financed program in either the current or a prior period. (g) Be adequately documented. Control: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a non-Federal entity must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should comply with guidance in ?Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government? issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the ?Internal Control Integrated Framework?, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Condition: The Department of Labor (Department) charged costs to the program that were issued without documentation of supervisory review and approval. Questioned costs: None noted. The costs were determined to be allowable. Context: For five of forty general disbursement transactions selected for testing, the Department was unable to provide documentation of supervisory review and approval prior to issuance of payment to the vendor. Cause: The Department?s procedures were not sufficient to ensure that payments were reviewed and approved prior to issuance of payment. Internal controls did not prevent or detect the errors. Effect: Unallowable costs could be charged to the program if disbursements are not reviewed by a supervisor who is knowledgeable of program regulations regarding allowable costs. Recommendation: We recommend the Department reviews and enhances its procedures and controls regarding payment processing to ensure that, prior to charging costs to the program, they are reviewed by a supervisor who is knowledgeable of the regulations regarding allowable program costs and that documentation of the review is maintained. Views of responsible officials: Management agrees with the finding.
Reference Number: 2022-017 Prior Year Finding: No Federal Agency: Department of Labor State Agency: Vermont Department of Labor (Department) Federal Program: Unemployment Insurance, COVID-19 ? Unemployment Insurance Assistance Listing Number: 17.225 Award Number and Year: UI372542255A50 (10/1/2021 ? 12/31/2024) Compliance Requirement: Period of Performance Type of Finding Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: Compliance: A non-federal entity may charge only allowable costs incurred during the approved budget period of a federal award?s period of performance and any costs incurred before the federal awarding agency or pass-through entity made the federal award that were authorized by the federal awarding agency or pass-through entity (2 CFR sections 200.308 200.309 and 200.403(h)). A period of performance may contain one or more budget periods. Control: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a non-Federal entity must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should comply with guidance in ?Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government? issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the ?Internal Control Integrated Framework?, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Condition: Costs were incurred and charged to the federal grant prior to the allowable start of the period of performance. Questioned costs: Below the reportable limit. Context: One of forty transactions was charged to the award before the allowable period of performance. The grant award start date was 10/1/2021 but a transaction dated 8/31/2021 in the amount of $7,421 was charged to the award. Cause: The Department of Labor?s (Department?s) procedures were not sufficient to ensure that expenditures charged to the program were incurred within the award?s period of performance. Internal controls did not prevent or detect the error. Effect: Costs could be deemed unallowable by the awarding agency if funds are expended outside of the allowable period of performance. Recommendation: The Department should review and enhance its procedures and internal controls to ensure that it charges expenditures to the program that are incurred within an award?s allowable period of performance. Views of responsible officials: Management agrees with the finding.
Reference Number: 2022-016 Prior Year Finding: No Federal Agency: Department of Labor State Agency: Vermont Department of Labor (Department) Federal Program: Unemployment Insurance, COVID-19 ? Unemployment Insurance Assistance Listing Number: 17.225 Award Number and Year: UI340892055A50 (10/1/2019 ? 12/31/2022) UI356792155A50 (10/1/2020 ? 12/31/2023) UI372542255A50 (10/1/2021 ? 12/31/2024) Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Type of Finding Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance Criteria or specific requirement: Compliance: 2 CFR section 200.403 states, in part, except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles. (b) Conform to any limitations or exclusions set forth in these principles or in the Federal award as to types or amount of cost items. (c) Be consistent with policies and procedures that apply uniformly to both federally-financed and other activities of the non-Federal entity. (d) Be accorded consistent treatment. A cost may not be assigned to a Federal award as a direct cost if any other cost incurred for the same purpose in like circumstances has been allocated to the Federal award as an indirect cost. (e) Be determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), except, for state and local governments and Indian tribes only, as otherwise provided for in this part. (f) Not be included as a cost or used to meet cost sharing or matching requirements of any other federally-financed program in either the current or a prior period. (g) Be adequately documented. Control: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a non-Federal entity must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should comply with guidance in ?Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government? issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the ?Internal Control Integrated Framework?, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Condition: The Department of Labor (Department) charged costs to the program that were issued without documentation of supervisory review and approval. Questioned costs: None noted. The costs were determined to be allowable. Context: For five of forty general disbursement transactions selected for testing, the Department was unable to provide documentation of supervisory review and approval prior to issuance of payment to the vendor. Cause: The Department?s procedures were not sufficient to ensure that payments were reviewed and approved prior to issuance of payment. Internal controls did not prevent or detect the errors. Effect: Unallowable costs could be charged to the program if disbursements are not reviewed by a supervisor who is knowledgeable of program regulations regarding allowable costs. Recommendation: We recommend the Department reviews and enhances its procedures and controls regarding payment processing to ensure that, prior to charging costs to the program, they are reviewed by a supervisor who is knowledgeable of the regulations regarding allowable program costs and that documentation of the review is maintained. Views of responsible officials: Management agrees with the finding.
Reference Number: 2022-017 Prior Year Finding: No Federal Agency: Department of Labor State Agency: Vermont Department of Labor (Department) Federal Program: Unemployment Insurance, COVID-19 ? Unemployment Insurance Assistance Listing Number: 17.225 Award Number and Year: UI372542255A50 (10/1/2021 ? 12/31/2024) Compliance Requirement: Period of Performance Type of Finding Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: Compliance: A non-federal entity may charge only allowable costs incurred during the approved budget period of a federal award?s period of performance and any costs incurred before the federal awarding agency or pass-through entity made the federal award that were authorized by the federal awarding agency or pass-through entity (2 CFR sections 200.308 200.309 and 200.403(h)). A period of performance may contain one or more budget periods. Control: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a non-Federal entity must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should comply with guidance in ?Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government? issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the ?Internal Control Integrated Framework?, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Condition: Costs were incurred and charged to the federal grant prior to the allowable start of the period of performance. Questioned costs: Below the reportable limit. Context: One of forty transactions was charged to the award before the allowable period of performance. The grant award start date was 10/1/2021 but a transaction dated 8/31/2021 in the amount of $7,421 was charged to the award. Cause: The Department of Labor?s (Department?s) procedures were not sufficient to ensure that expenditures charged to the program were incurred within the award?s period of performance. Internal controls did not prevent or detect the error. Effect: Costs could be deemed unallowable by the awarding agency if funds are expended outside of the allowable period of performance. Recommendation: The Department should review and enhance its procedures and internal controls to ensure that it charges expenditures to the program that are incurred within an award?s allowable period of performance. Views of responsible officials: Management agrees with the finding.
Reference Number: 2022-030 Prior Year Finding: No Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services State Agency: Agency of Human Services (Agency) Federal Program: Immunization Cooperative Agreements, COVID-19 - Immunization Cooperative Agreements Assistance Listing Number: 93.268 Award Number and Year: 19NH23IP922615 (7/1/2020 ? 6/30/2024) Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs Type of Finding Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: Compliance: Per 2 CFR section 200.403(a), except where otherwise authorized by statute, in order for a cost to be allowable under Federal awards it must be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles. Per 2 CFR section 200.405, a cost is allocable to a particular Federal award or other cost objective if the goods or services involved are chargeable or assignable to that Federal award or cost objective in accordance with relative benefits received. This standard is met if the cost: (1) Is incurred specifically for the Federal award; (2) Benefits both the Federal award and other work of the non-Federal entity and can be distributed in proportions that may be approximated using reasonable methods; and (3) Is necessary to the overall operation of the non-Federal entity and is assignable in part to the Federal award in accordance with the principles in this subpart. Control: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a non-Federal entity must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should comply with guidance in ?Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government? issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the ?Internal Control Integrated Framework?, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Condition: The Agency included an unallowable cost in an administrative cost pool which was allocated to the program. Context: The Agency?s Department of Health (Department) charged a settlement payment of $3,891.30 related to a Superfund site lawsuit to an administrative cost pool, and a portion of this payment was allocated to the program. The allocated cost was not necessary or reasonable for the performance of the Federal award nor was it assignable in part to the Federal award as a cost necessary to the overall operation of the Department. Cause: The Agency?s internal controls were not operating sufficiently to ensure that costs charged to an administrative cost pool were allowable and allocable per the requirements of 2 CFR sections 200.403 and 200.405. Effect: Unallowable costs were allocated to the program. Questioned costs: Undetermined, due to the distribution of costs through the Department?s approved cost allocation plan. Recommendation: We recommend the Agency review and enhance internal controls and procedures to ensure that costs charged to administrative cost pools are allowable and allocable per 2 CFR sections 200.403 and 200.405. Views of responsible officials: Management agrees with the finding.
Reference Number: 2022-030 Prior Year Finding: No Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services State Agency: Agency of Human Services (Agency) Federal Program: Immunization Cooperative Agreements, COVID-19 - Immunization Cooperative Agreements Assistance Listing Number: 93.268 Award Number and Year: 19NH23IP922615 (7/1/2020 ? 6/30/2024) Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs Type of Finding Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: Compliance: Per 2 CFR section 200.403(a), except where otherwise authorized by statute, in order for a cost to be allowable under Federal awards it must be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles. Per 2 CFR section 200.405, a cost is allocable to a particular Federal award or other cost objective if the goods or services involved are chargeable or assignable to that Federal award or cost objective in accordance with relative benefits received. This standard is met if the cost: (1) Is incurred specifically for the Federal award; (2) Benefits both the Federal award and other work of the non-Federal entity and can be distributed in proportions that may be approximated using reasonable methods; and (3) Is necessary to the overall operation of the non-Federal entity and is assignable in part to the Federal award in accordance with the principles in this subpart. Control: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a non-Federal entity must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should comply with guidance in ?Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government? issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the ?Internal Control Integrated Framework?, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Condition: The Agency included an unallowable cost in an administrative cost pool which was allocated to the program. Context: The Agency?s Department of Health (Department) charged a settlement payment of $3,891.30 related to a Superfund site lawsuit to an administrative cost pool, and a portion of this payment was allocated to the program. The allocated cost was not necessary or reasonable for the performance of the Federal award nor was it assignable in part to the Federal award as a cost necessary to the overall operation of the Department. Cause: The Agency?s internal controls were not operating sufficiently to ensure that costs charged to an administrative cost pool were allowable and allocable per the requirements of 2 CFR sections 200.403 and 200.405. Effect: Unallowable costs were allocated to the program. Questioned costs: Undetermined, due to the distribution of costs through the Department?s approved cost allocation plan. Recommendation: We recommend the Agency review and enhance internal controls and procedures to ensure that costs charged to administrative cost pools are allowable and allocable per 2 CFR sections 200.403 and 200.405. Views of responsible officials: Management agrees with the finding.
REFERENCE: 2022-101 CFDA NUMBER 84.425D ? COVID 19 ? EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND CFDA NUMBER 84.425U ? COVID 19 ? EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ? 2021 PASSED THROUGH ARIZONA STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GRANT NUMBER: S425D210038 & S425U210038 QUESTIONED COSTS N/A CONDITION The following errors were noted during testing of allowable costs, activities and procurement: ? For 1 of 3 vendors tested for procurement, only 1 quote was available for review. ? Vendors were not evaluated for suspension or debarment prior to purchases being made. ? For 3 of 12 disbursements tested, although the purchases are allowable under the grants, the purchases were not included in the grant budgets submitted to the Arizona Department of Education. Amended budgets were submitted on August 31, 2022. CRITERIA In accordance with 2 CFR 200.320 Methods of Procurement to be Followed, The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent with the standards of this section and ?? 200.317, 200.318, and 200.319 for any of the following methods of procurement used for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or sub-award. (a) Informal procurement methods. When the value of the procurement for property or services under a Federal award does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), as defined in ? 200.1, or a lower threshold established by a non-Federal entity, formal procurement methods are not required. The non-Federal entity may use informal procurement methods to expedite the completion of its transactions and minimize the associated administrative burden and cost. The informal methods used for procurement of property or services at or below the SAT include: (2) Small purchases - (i) Small purchase procedures. The acquisition of property or services, the aggregate dollar amount of which is higher than the micro-purchase threshold but does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. If small purchase procedures are used, price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources as determined appropriate by the non-Federal entity. In accordance with 2 CFR 200.214 Suspension and debarment, Non-federal entities are subject to the non-procurement debarment and suspension regulations implementing Executive Orders 12549 and 12689, 2 CFR part 180. The regulations in 2 CFR part 180 restrict awards, subawards, and contracts with certain parties that are debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded from or ineligible for participation in Federal assistance programs or activities. In accordance with 2CFR 200.403 Factors Affecting Allowability of Costs, except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: a. Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles. b. Conform to any limitations or exclusions set forth in these principles or in the Federal award as to types or amount of cost items. c. Be consistent with policies and procedures that apply uniformly to both federally-financed and other activities of the non-Federal entity. d. Be accorded consistent treatment. A cost may not be assigned to a Federal award as a direct cost if any other cost incurred for the same purpose in like circumstances has been allocated to the Federal award as an indirect cost. e. Be determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), except, for state and local governments and Indian tribes only, as otherwise provided for in this part. f. Not be included as a cost or used to meet cost sharing or matching requirements of any other federally-financed program in either the current or a prior period. See also ? 200.306(b). g. Be adequately documented. See also ?? 200.300 through 200.309 of this part. h. Cost must be incurred during the approved budget period. The Federal awarding agency is authorized, at its discretion, to waive prior written approvals to carry forward unobligated balances to subsequent budget periods pursuant to ? 200.308(e)(3). In accordance with OMB Compliance Supplement, Part 6 ? Internal Control, non-Federal entities receiving Federal awards establish and maintain internal control over the Federal awards that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal awards. EFFECT Program requirements were not complied with. The School may not have received the best pricing for goods or services. CAUSE Procurement procedures were not established to ensure compliance with federal regulations, including retention of quotes from an adequate number of vendors and suspension and debarment requirements. Additionally, internal controls were not designed appropriately to ensure that expenditures charged to the grant were periodically compared to the grant budgets to determine if budget amendments should be submitted. RECOMMENDATION AND BENEFIT A control system should be developed and implemented to monitor when federal expenditures require procurement, that all documentation is obtained and retained and vendors are reviewed for suspension and debarment. Additionally, internal controls should be modified to periodically compare actual expenditures under the grant with submitted budgets. This will help ensure that program requirements are complied with, the School only uses vendors that have not been suspended or debarred and budget amendments are submitted timely. VIEWS OF RESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS See Corrective Action Plan.
REFERENCE: 2022-101 CFDA NUMBER 84.425D ? COVID 19 ? EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND CFDA NUMBER 84.425U ? COVID 19 ? EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ? 2021 PASSED THROUGH ARIZONA STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GRANT NUMBER: S425D210038 & S425U210038 QUESTIONED COSTS N/A CONDITION The following errors were noted during testing of allowable costs, activities and procurement: ? For 1 of 3 vendors tested for procurement, only 1 quote was available for review. ? Vendors were not evaluated for suspension or debarment prior to purchases being made. ? For 3 of 12 disbursements tested, although the purchases are allowable under the grants, the purchases were not included in the grant budgets submitted to the Arizona Department of Education. Amended budgets were submitted on August 31, 2022. CRITERIA In accordance with 2 CFR 200.320 Methods of Procurement to be Followed, The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent with the standards of this section and ?? 200.317, 200.318, and 200.319 for any of the following methods of procurement used for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or sub-award. (a) Informal procurement methods. When the value of the procurement for property or services under a Federal award does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), as defined in ? 200.1, or a lower threshold established by a non-Federal entity, formal procurement methods are not required. The non-Federal entity may use informal procurement methods to expedite the completion of its transactions and minimize the associated administrative burden and cost. The informal methods used for procurement of property or services at or below the SAT include: (2) Small purchases - (i) Small purchase procedures. The acquisition of property or services, the aggregate dollar amount of which is higher than the micro-purchase threshold but does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. If small purchase procedures are used, price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources as determined appropriate by the non-Federal entity. In accordance with 2 CFR 200.214 Suspension and debarment, Non-federal entities are subject to the non-procurement debarment and suspension regulations implementing Executive Orders 12549 and 12689, 2 CFR part 180. The regulations in 2 CFR part 180 restrict awards, subawards, and contracts with certain parties that are debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded from or ineligible for participation in Federal assistance programs or activities. In accordance with 2CFR 200.403 Factors Affecting Allowability of Costs, except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: a. Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles. b. Conform to any limitations or exclusions set forth in these principles or in the Federal award as to types or amount of cost items. c. Be consistent with policies and procedures that apply uniformly to both federally-financed and other activities of the non-Federal entity. d. Be accorded consistent treatment. A cost may not be assigned to a Federal award as a direct cost if any other cost incurred for the same purpose in like circumstances has been allocated to the Federal award as an indirect cost. e. Be determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), except, for state and local governments and Indian tribes only, as otherwise provided for in this part. f. Not be included as a cost or used to meet cost sharing or matching requirements of any other federally-financed program in either the current or a prior period. See also ? 200.306(b). g. Be adequately documented. See also ?? 200.300 through 200.309 of this part. h. Cost must be incurred during the approved budget period. The Federal awarding agency is authorized, at its discretion, to waive prior written approvals to carry forward unobligated balances to subsequent budget periods pursuant to ? 200.308(e)(3). In accordance with OMB Compliance Supplement, Part 6 ? Internal Control, non-Federal entities receiving Federal awards establish and maintain internal control over the Federal awards that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal awards. EFFECT Program requirements were not complied with. The School may not have received the best pricing for goods or services. CAUSE Procurement procedures were not established to ensure compliance with federal regulations, including retention of quotes from an adequate number of vendors and suspension and debarment requirements. Additionally, internal controls were not designed appropriately to ensure that expenditures charged to the grant were periodically compared to the grant budgets to determine if budget amendments should be submitted. RECOMMENDATION AND BENEFIT A control system should be developed and implemented to monitor when federal expenditures require procurement, that all documentation is obtained and retained and vendors are reviewed for suspension and debarment. Additionally, internal controls should be modified to periodically compare actual expenditures under the grant with submitted budgets. This will help ensure that program requirements are complied with, the School only uses vendors that have not been suspended or debarred and budget amendments are submitted timely. VIEWS OF RESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS See Corrective Action Plan.
2022-002 Finding ? Federal Awards Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Treasury Federal Program: Coronavirus State and Local Recovery Funds AL Number: 21.027 Statement of Condition: Noncompliance and Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance related to Allowable Costs. Criteria: Two expenses charged to the program were not properly supported in accordance with regulations. According to section 2 CFR 200.403, charges to Federal awards must be adequately documented. The Organization should have internal controls in place to comply with requirements of the award and federal requirements to ensure amounts charged to Federal awards are allowable, accurate and properly allocated. Context and Cause: The Organization was unable to locate two receipts of 25 expenditures tested under AL #21.027. Effect of Condition: The two expenditures tested were not adequately documented. Known Questioned Costs: $334 ? resulted in likely questioned costs greater than $25,000. Recommendation: The Organization should follow the Uniform Grant Guidance for Allowable Costs and their internal policy for retaining documentation related to federal expenditures. View of responsible officials: We concur with the finding and are implementing corrective action.
2022-002 Finding ? Federal Awards Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Treasury Federal Program: Coronavirus State and Local Recovery Funds AL Number: 21.027 Statement of Condition: Noncompliance and Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance related to Allowable Costs. Criteria: Two expenses charged to the program were not properly supported in accordance with regulations. According to section 2 CFR 200.403, charges to Federal awards must be adequately documented. The Organization should have internal controls in place to comply with requirements of the award and federal requirements to ensure amounts charged to Federal awards are allowable, accurate and properly allocated. Context and Cause: The Organization was unable to locate two receipts of 25 expenditures tested under AL #21.027. Effect of Condition: The two expenditures tested were not adequately documented. Known Questioned Costs: $334 ? resulted in likely questioned costs greater than $25,000. Recommendation: The Organization should follow the Uniform Grant Guidance for Allowable Costs and their internal policy for retaining documentation related to federal expenditures. View of responsible officials: We concur with the finding and are implementing corrective action.
2022-002 Finding ? Federal Awards Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Treasury Federal Program: Coronavirus State and Local Recovery Funds AL Number: 21.027 Statement of Condition: Noncompliance and Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance related to Allowable Costs. Criteria: Two expenses charged to the program were not properly supported in accordance with regulations. According to section 2 CFR 200.403, charges to Federal awards must be adequately documented. The Organization should have internal controls in place to comply with requirements of the award and federal requirements to ensure amounts charged to Federal awards are allowable, accurate and properly allocated. Context and Cause: The Organization was unable to locate two receipts of 25 expenditures tested under AL #21.027. Effect of Condition: The two expenditures tested were not adequately documented. Known Questioned Costs: $334 ? resulted in likely questioned costs greater than $25,000. Recommendation: The Organization should follow the Uniform Grant Guidance for Allowable Costs and their internal policy for retaining documentation related to federal expenditures. View of responsible officials: We concur with the finding and are implementing corrective action.
2022-002 Finding ? Federal Awards Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Treasury Federal Program: Coronavirus State and Local Recovery Funds AL Number: 21.027 Statement of Condition: Noncompliance and Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance related to Allowable Costs. Criteria: Two expenses charged to the program were not properly supported in accordance with regulations. According to section 2 CFR 200.403, charges to Federal awards must be adequately documented. The Organization should have internal controls in place to comply with requirements of the award and federal requirements to ensure amounts charged to Federal awards are allowable, accurate and properly allocated. Context and Cause: The Organization was unable to locate two receipts of 25 expenditures tested under AL #21.027. Effect of Condition: The two expenditures tested were not adequately documented. Known Questioned Costs: $334 ? resulted in likely questioned costs greater than $25,000. Recommendation: The Organization should follow the Uniform Grant Guidance for Allowable Costs and their internal policy for retaining documentation related to federal expenditures. View of responsible officials: We concur with the finding and are implementing corrective action.
2022-006 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass Thru Entity: Oklahoma State Department of Education Program: School Improvement Grant (SIG) Assistance Listing: 84.377A Grant Period: Year ending June 30, 2022 Condition: Expenditures were paid without supporting invoices. Criteria: 2 CFR ?200.403 (g) Costs that meet general criteria in order to be allowable under federal awards must be adequately documented. Cause: Procedures in place did not detect keying error. Context: Sample of 18 expenditures from a population of 142. One expenditure did not have proper support for amount paid. No material questioned costs for fiscal year. Effect: Overclaimed funds Recommendation: Expenditures should not be paid without the proper supporting invoices. The District needs to ensure procedures are updated to ensure claims to be submitted are supported by proper invoices. Repeat Finding from Prior Year: No Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: Federal Programs Director will review claim to invoice and coding prior to submitting to the State Department.
2022-003 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass Thru Entity: Oklahoma State Department of Education Program: COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listing: COVID-19- 84.425D & 84.425U Grant Period: Year ending June 30, 2022 Condition: Payroll related expenditures were not supported by terms of the employment contract. Criteria: 2 CFR ?200.403 (g) Costs that meet general criteria in order to be allowable under federal awards must be adequately documented. Cause: Employment contracts were not prepared based on actual contract days. Context: A sample of 40 expenditures totaling $1,546,887 was selected for audit from a population of $3,350,305. The test found 10 items that were not in compliance with questioned costs totaling $311,952. Effect: The expenditures may be disallowed. Recommendation: Payroll-related expenditures need to be supported by the term of the employment contract. Employment contracts need to include actual contract days and the total amount of pay for those days. Repeat Finding from Prior Year: No Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: Due to lack of training and guidance the prior human resource director, did not complete contracts accurately and consistently. New human resource director has completed training. In addition, District has reviewed a portion of contracts from FY21 and all contracts for FY22 and implemented procedures to ensure amounts paid agree with contract terms. FY23 new procedures were in place at time contracts were written.
2022-003 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass Thru Entity: Oklahoma State Department of Education Program: COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listing: COVID-19- 84.425D & 84.425U Grant Period: Year ending June 30, 2022 Condition: Payroll related expenditures were not supported by terms of the employment contract. Criteria: 2 CFR ?200.403 (g) Costs that meet general criteria in order to be allowable under federal awards must be adequately documented. Cause: Employment contracts were not prepared based on actual contract days. Context: A sample of 40 expenditures totaling $1,546,887 was selected for audit from a population of $3,350,305. The test found 10 items that were not in compliance with questioned costs totaling $311,952. Effect: The expenditures may be disallowed. Recommendation: Payroll-related expenditures need to be supported by the term of the employment contract. Employment contracts need to include actual contract days and the total amount of pay for those days. Repeat Finding from Prior Year: No Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: Due to lack of training and guidance the prior human resource director, did not complete contracts accurately and consistently. New human resource director has completed training. In addition, District has reviewed a portion of contracts from FY21 and all contracts for FY22 and implemented procedures to ensure amounts paid agree with contract terms. FY23 new procedures were in place at time contracts were written.
2022-003 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass Thru Entity: Oklahoma State Department of Education Program: COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listing: COVID-19- 84.425D & 84.425U Grant Period: Year ending June 30, 2022 Condition: Payroll related expenditures were not supported by terms of the employment contract. Criteria: 2 CFR ?200.403 (g) Costs that meet general criteria in order to be allowable under federal awards must be adequately documented. Cause: Employment contracts were not prepared based on actual contract days. Context: A sample of 40 expenditures totaling $1,546,887 was selected for audit from a population of $3,350,305. The test found 10 items that were not in compliance with questioned costs totaling $311,952. Effect: The expenditures may be disallowed. Recommendation: Payroll-related expenditures need to be supported by the term of the employment contract. Employment contracts need to include actual contract days and the total amount of pay for those days. Repeat Finding from Prior Year: No Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: Due to lack of training and guidance the prior human resource director, did not complete contracts accurately and consistently. New human resource director has completed training. In addition, District has reviewed a portion of contracts from FY21 and all contracts for FY22 and implemented procedures to ensure amounts paid agree with contract terms. FY23 new procedures were in place at time contracts were written.
FINDING 2022-003 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster - Earmarking Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants ALN: 84.027, 84.173 Federal Award Numbers and Years: 19611-045-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirements: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking Audit Findings: Material Weakness Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must:(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO)...." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards:? (g) Be adequately documented.... " 2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ." 511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states: "The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities, who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total number of students with disabilities of the same age range." Cause: The School Corporation's management had not developed an effective system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the earmarking requirements of the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Effect: The failure to establish an effective internal control system, as well as adequately document costs of federal awards, prevented the determination of the School Corporation?s compliance with the earmarking requirements of the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Northwest Indiana Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the earmarking requirements. The Cooperative did not have adequate procedures in place to ensure that the required level of expenditures for non-public school students with disabilities was met for each member school. The Cooperative did not have effective internal controls to ensure non-public school expenditures were appropriately identified and reported. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance was isolated to the 19611-045-PN01 and 20611-045-PN01 grant awards.The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 19611-045-PN01 grant award could not be verified for the individual member schools. The non-public school share funds for all member schools were comingled and the aggregate amount of expenditures was then allocated to the member schools on a percentage basis. These allocations were the amounts reported to IDOE. As such, we were unable to identify which expenditures were for each school in order to verify the minimum amount per the grant award was expended and properly reported to IDOE as required. The School Corporation?s minimum earmarking requirement for the 19611-045-PN01 grant award was $6,228. The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 20611-045-PN01 and 21611-045-PN01 grant awards could not be verified for the individual member schools. The non-public school share funds for all member schools were comingled and the aggregate amount of expenditures was then allocated to the member schools on a percentage basis. These allocations were the amounts reported to IDOE. As such, we were unable to identify which expenditures were for each school in order to verify the minimum amount per the grant award was expended and properly reported to IDOE as required. Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable: No. Recommendation: We recommended that the School Corporation?s management establish an effective system of internal controls, as well as appropriately document and identify federal award expenditures to ensure compliance with the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2022-003 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster - Earmarking Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants ALN: 84.027, 84.173 Federal Award Numbers and Years: 19611-045-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirements: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking Audit Findings: Material Weakness Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must:(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO)...." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards:? (g) Be adequately documented.... " 2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ." 511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states: "The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities, who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total number of students with disabilities of the same age range." Cause: The School Corporation's management had not developed an effective system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the earmarking requirements of the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Effect: The failure to establish an effective internal control system, as well as adequately document costs of federal awards, prevented the determination of the School Corporation?s compliance with the earmarking requirements of the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Northwest Indiana Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the earmarking requirements. The Cooperative did not have adequate procedures in place to ensure that the required level of expenditures for non-public school students with disabilities was met for each member school. The Cooperative did not have effective internal controls to ensure non-public school expenditures were appropriately identified and reported. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance was isolated to the 19611-045-PN01 and 20611-045-PN01 grant awards.The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 19611-045-PN01 grant award could not be verified for the individual member schools. The non-public school share funds for all member schools were comingled and the aggregate amount of expenditures was then allocated to the member schools on a percentage basis. These allocations were the amounts reported to IDOE. As such, we were unable to identify which expenditures were for each school in order to verify the minimum amount per the grant award was expended and properly reported to IDOE as required. The School Corporation?s minimum earmarking requirement for the 19611-045-PN01 grant award was $6,228. The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 20611-045-PN01 and 21611-045-PN01 grant awards could not be verified for the individual member schools. The non-public school share funds for all member schools were comingled and the aggregate amount of expenditures was then allocated to the member schools on a percentage basis. These allocations were the amounts reported to IDOE. As such, we were unable to identify which expenditures were for each school in order to verify the minimum amount per the grant award was expended and properly reported to IDOE as required. Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable: No. Recommendation: We recommended that the School Corporation?s management establish an effective system of internal controls, as well as appropriately document and identify federal award expenditures to ensure compliance with the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2022-003 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster - Earmarking Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants ALN: 84.027, 84.173 Federal Award Numbers and Years: 19611-045-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirements: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking Audit Findings: Material Weakness Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must:(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO)...." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards:? (g) Be adequately documented.... " 2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ." 511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states: "The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities, who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total number of students with disabilities of the same age range." Cause: The School Corporation's management had not developed an effective system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the earmarking requirements of the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Effect: The failure to establish an effective internal control system, as well as adequately document costs of federal awards, prevented the determination of the School Corporation?s compliance with the earmarking requirements of the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Northwest Indiana Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the earmarking requirements. The Cooperative did not have adequate procedures in place to ensure that the required level of expenditures for non-public school students with disabilities was met for each member school. The Cooperative did not have effective internal controls to ensure non-public school expenditures were appropriately identified and reported. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance was isolated to the 19611-045-PN01 and 20611-045-PN01 grant awards.The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 19611-045-PN01 grant award could not be verified for the individual member schools. The non-public school share funds for all member schools were comingled and the aggregate amount of expenditures was then allocated to the member schools on a percentage basis. These allocations were the amounts reported to IDOE. As such, we were unable to identify which expenditures were for each school in order to verify the minimum amount per the grant award was expended and properly reported to IDOE as required. The School Corporation?s minimum earmarking requirement for the 19611-045-PN01 grant award was $6,228. The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 20611-045-PN01 and 21611-045-PN01 grant awards could not be verified for the individual member schools. The non-public school share funds for all member schools were comingled and the aggregate amount of expenditures was then allocated to the member schools on a percentage basis. These allocations were the amounts reported to IDOE. As such, we were unable to identify which expenditures were for each school in order to verify the minimum amount per the grant award was expended and properly reported to IDOE as required. Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable: No. Recommendation: We recommended that the School Corporation?s management establish an effective system of internal controls, as well as appropriately document and identify federal award expenditures to ensure compliance with the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2022-003 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster - Earmarking Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants ALN: 84.027, 84.173 Federal Award Numbers and Years: 19611-045-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirements: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking Audit Findings: Material Weakness Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must:(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO)...." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards:? (g) Be adequately documented.... " 2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ." 511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states: "The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities, who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total number of students with disabilities of the same age range." Cause: The School Corporation's management had not developed an effective system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the earmarking requirements of the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Effect: The failure to establish an effective internal control system, as well as adequately document costs of federal awards, prevented the determination of the School Corporation?s compliance with the earmarking requirements of the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Northwest Indiana Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the earmarking requirements. The Cooperative did not have adequate procedures in place to ensure that the required level of expenditures for non-public school students with disabilities was met for each member school. The Cooperative did not have effective internal controls to ensure non-public school expenditures were appropriately identified and reported. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance was isolated to the 19611-045-PN01 and 20611-045-PN01 grant awards.The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 19611-045-PN01 grant award could not be verified for the individual member schools. The non-public school share funds for all member schools were comingled and the aggregate amount of expenditures was then allocated to the member schools on a percentage basis. These allocations were the amounts reported to IDOE. As such, we were unable to identify which expenditures were for each school in order to verify the minimum amount per the grant award was expended and properly reported to IDOE as required. The School Corporation?s minimum earmarking requirement for the 19611-045-PN01 grant award was $6,228. The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 20611-045-PN01 and 21611-045-PN01 grant awards could not be verified for the individual member schools. The non-public school share funds for all member schools were comingled and the aggregate amount of expenditures was then allocated to the member schools on a percentage basis. These allocations were the amounts reported to IDOE. As such, we were unable to identify which expenditures were for each school in order to verify the minimum amount per the grant award was expended and properly reported to IDOE as required. Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable: No. Recommendation: We recommended that the School Corporation?s management establish an effective system of internal controls, as well as appropriately document and identify federal award expenditures to ensure compliance with the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2022-003 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster - Earmarking Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants ALN: 84.027, 84.173 Federal Award Numbers and Years: 19611-045-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirements: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking Audit Findings: Material Weakness Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must:(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO)...." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards:? (g) Be adequately documented.... " 2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ." 511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states: "The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities, who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total number of students with disabilities of the same age range." Cause: The School Corporation's management had not developed an effective system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the earmarking requirements of the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Effect: The failure to establish an effective internal control system, as well as adequately document costs of federal awards, prevented the determination of the School Corporation?s compliance with the earmarking requirements of the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Northwest Indiana Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the earmarking requirements. The Cooperative did not have adequate procedures in place to ensure that the required level of expenditures for non-public school students with disabilities was met for each member school. The Cooperative did not have effective internal controls to ensure non-public school expenditures were appropriately identified and reported. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance was isolated to the 19611-045-PN01 and 20611-045-PN01 grant awards.The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 19611-045-PN01 grant award could not be verified for the individual member schools. The non-public school share funds for all member schools were comingled and the aggregate amount of expenditures was then allocated to the member schools on a percentage basis. These allocations were the amounts reported to IDOE. As such, we were unable to identify which expenditures were for each school in order to verify the minimum amount per the grant award was expended and properly reported to IDOE as required. The School Corporation?s minimum earmarking requirement for the 19611-045-PN01 grant award was $6,228. The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 20611-045-PN01 and 21611-045-PN01 grant awards could not be verified for the individual member schools. The non-public school share funds for all member schools were comingled and the aggregate amount of expenditures was then allocated to the member schools on a percentage basis. These allocations were the amounts reported to IDOE. As such, we were unable to identify which expenditures were for each school in order to verify the minimum amount per the grant award was expended and properly reported to IDOE as required. Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable: No. Recommendation: We recommended that the School Corporation?s management establish an effective system of internal controls, as well as appropriately document and identify federal award expenditures to ensure compliance with the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2022-003 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster - Earmarking Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants ALN: 84.027, 84.173 Federal Award Numbers and Years: 19611-045-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirements: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking Audit Findings: Material Weakness Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must:(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO)...." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards:? (g) Be adequately documented.... " 2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ." 511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states: "The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities, who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total number of students with disabilities of the same age range." Cause: The School Corporation's management had not developed an effective system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the earmarking requirements of the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Effect: The failure to establish an effective internal control system, as well as adequately document costs of federal awards, prevented the determination of the School Corporation?s compliance with the earmarking requirements of the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Northwest Indiana Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the earmarking requirements. The Cooperative did not have adequate procedures in place to ensure that the required level of expenditures for non-public school students with disabilities was met for each member school. The Cooperative did not have effective internal controls to ensure non-public school expenditures were appropriately identified and reported. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance was isolated to the 19611-045-PN01 and 20611-045-PN01 grant awards.The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 19611-045-PN01 grant award could not be verified for the individual member schools. The non-public school share funds for all member schools were comingled and the aggregate amount of expenditures was then allocated to the member schools on a percentage basis. These allocations were the amounts reported to IDOE. As such, we were unable to identify which expenditures were for each school in order to verify the minimum amount per the grant award was expended and properly reported to IDOE as required. The School Corporation?s minimum earmarking requirement for the 19611-045-PN01 grant award was $6,228. The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 20611-045-PN01 and 21611-045-PN01 grant awards could not be verified for the individual member schools. The non-public school share funds for all member schools were comingled and the aggregate amount of expenditures was then allocated to the member schools on a percentage basis. These allocations were the amounts reported to IDOE. As such, we were unable to identify which expenditures were for each school in order to verify the minimum amount per the grant award was expended and properly reported to IDOE as required. Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable: No. Recommendation: We recommended that the School Corporation?s management establish an effective system of internal controls, as well as appropriately document and identify federal award expenditures to ensure compliance with the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2022-003 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster - Earmarking Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants ALN: 84.027, 84.173 Federal Award Numbers and Years: 19611-045-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirements: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking Audit Findings: Material Weakness Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must:(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO)...." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards:? (g) Be adequately documented.... " 2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ." 511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states: "The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities, who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total number of students with disabilities of the same age range." Cause: The School Corporation's management had not developed an effective system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the earmarking requirements of the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Effect: The failure to establish an effective internal control system, as well as adequately document costs of federal awards, prevented the determination of the School Corporation?s compliance with the earmarking requirements of the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Northwest Indiana Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the earmarking requirements. The Cooperative did not have adequate procedures in place to ensure that the required level of expenditures for non-public school students with disabilities was met for each member school. The Cooperative did not have effective internal controls to ensure non-public school expenditures were appropriately identified and reported. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance was isolated to the 19611-045-PN01 and 20611-045-PN01 grant awards.The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 19611-045-PN01 grant award could not be verified for the individual member schools. The non-public school share funds for all member schools were comingled and the aggregate amount of expenditures was then allocated to the member schools on a percentage basis. These allocations were the amounts reported to IDOE. As such, we were unable to identify which expenditures were for each school in order to verify the minimum amount per the grant award was expended and properly reported to IDOE as required. The School Corporation?s minimum earmarking requirement for the 19611-045-PN01 grant award was $6,228. The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 20611-045-PN01 and 21611-045-PN01 grant awards could not be verified for the individual member schools. The non-public school share funds for all member schools were comingled and the aggregate amount of expenditures was then allocated to the member schools on a percentage basis. These allocations were the amounts reported to IDOE. As such, we were unable to identify which expenditures were for each school in order to verify the minimum amount per the grant award was expended and properly reported to IDOE as required. Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable: No. Recommendation: We recommended that the School Corporation?s management establish an effective system of internal controls, as well as appropriately document and identify federal award expenditures to ensure compliance with the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2022-003 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster - Earmarking Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants ALN: 84.027, 84.173 Federal Award Numbers and Years: 19611-045-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirements: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking Audit Findings: Material Weakness Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must:(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO)...." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards:? (g) Be adequately documented.... " 2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ." 511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states: "The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities, who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total number of students with disabilities of the same age range." Cause: The School Corporation's management had not developed an effective system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the earmarking requirements of the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Effect: The failure to establish an effective internal control system, as well as adequately document costs of federal awards, prevented the determination of the School Corporation?s compliance with the earmarking requirements of the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Northwest Indiana Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the earmarking requirements. The Cooperative did not have adequate procedures in place to ensure that the required level of expenditures for non-public school students with disabilities was met for each member school. The Cooperative did not have effective internal controls to ensure non-public school expenditures were appropriately identified and reported. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance was isolated to the 19611-045-PN01 and 20611-045-PN01 grant awards.The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 19611-045-PN01 grant award could not be verified for the individual member schools. The non-public school share funds for all member schools were comingled and the aggregate amount of expenditures was then allocated to the member schools on a percentage basis. These allocations were the amounts reported to IDOE. As such, we were unable to identify which expenditures were for each school in order to verify the minimum amount per the grant award was expended and properly reported to IDOE as required. The School Corporation?s minimum earmarking requirement for the 19611-045-PN01 grant award was $6,228. The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 20611-045-PN01 and 21611-045-PN01 grant awards could not be verified for the individual member schools. The non-public school share funds for all member schools were comingled and the aggregate amount of expenditures was then allocated to the member schools on a percentage basis. These allocations were the amounts reported to IDOE. As such, we were unable to identify which expenditures were for each school in order to verify the minimum amount per the grant award was expended and properly reported to IDOE as required. Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable: No. Recommendation: We recommended that the School Corporation?s management establish an effective system of internal controls, as well as appropriately document and identify federal award expenditures to ensure compliance with the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2022-003 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster - Earmarking Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants ALN: 84.027, 84.173 Federal Award Numbers and Years: 19611-045-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirements: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking Audit Findings: Material Weakness Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must:(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO)...." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards:? (g) Be adequately documented.... " 2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ." 511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states: "The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities, who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total number of students with disabilities of the same age range." Cause: The School Corporation's management had not developed an effective system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the earmarking requirements of the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Effect: The failure to establish an effective internal control system, as well as adequately document costs of federal awards, prevented the determination of the School Corporation?s compliance with the earmarking requirements of the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Northwest Indiana Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the earmarking requirements. The Cooperative did not have adequate procedures in place to ensure that the required level of expenditures for non-public school students with disabilities was met for each member school. The Cooperative did not have effective internal controls to ensure non-public school expenditures were appropriately identified and reported. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance was isolated to the 19611-045-PN01 and 20611-045-PN01 grant awards.The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 19611-045-PN01 grant award could not be verified for the individual member schools. The non-public school share funds for all member schools were comingled and the aggregate amount of expenditures was then allocated to the member schools on a percentage basis. These allocations were the amounts reported to IDOE. As such, we were unable to identify which expenditures were for each school in order to verify the minimum amount per the grant award was expended and properly reported to IDOE as required. The School Corporation?s minimum earmarking requirement for the 19611-045-PN01 grant award was $6,228. The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 20611-045-PN01 and 21611-045-PN01 grant awards could not be verified for the individual member schools. The non-public school share funds for all member schools were comingled and the aggregate amount of expenditures was then allocated to the member schools on a percentage basis. These allocations were the amounts reported to IDOE. As such, we were unable to identify which expenditures were for each school in order to verify the minimum amount per the grant award was expended and properly reported to IDOE as required. Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable: No. Recommendation: We recommended that the School Corporation?s management establish an effective system of internal controls, as well as appropriately document and identify federal award expenditures to ensure compliance with the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
Finding #2022-002 ? Grant Program: Department of Transportation Airport Improvement Program ? Assistance Listing #20.106 Criteria: In accordance with 2 CFR 200.403(f), a cost is not allowable under a federal program if it is included as a cost or used to meet cost sharing or matching requirements of any other federally-financed program in either the current or a prior period. Condition & Context: As a result of our audit procedures, we noted amounts previously reimbursed for February through May 2020 payroll under AIP 69 (CARES Act) in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020 were also reimbursed under AIP 73 (ARPA) during the year ended June 30, 2022. Cause: Lack of procedures related to monitoring and review of reimbursement requests. Effect: $414,761 of expenditures were removed from the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards. Additionally, an audit adjustment was proposed to adjust the previously reported grant revenue to deferred revenue as of June 30, 2022. Recommendation: We recommend management develop a system of reviewing and monitoring reimbursement requests to ensure that expenditures previously reimbursed under federal funding with similar allowable activities are not included in future requests. Management Response: See Corrective Action Plan.
United States Department of the Treasury Reference Number: 2022-006 Program: 21.023 COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Federal Award Number: ERA-2101123208 and ERAE0280 Type of Finding: Noncompliance; Significant Deficiency in Internal Controls over Compliance Compliance Requirement: Eligibility Condition: Audit testing of a statistical sample of 40 cases processed during the period from September XX1, 2021 through June 30, 2022, revealed the following: ? Three cases revealed that three applicants received assistance in excess of the allowable maximum assistance resulting in overpayments of $11,225. Additionally, audit testing noted one of these applicants received an additional overpayment of $3,250 during the year ending June 30, 2023. The overpayments resulted from errors in applying statutorily established limits for rental assistance, duplicating assistance payments for the same months for one applicant, and the payment of a security deposit assistance in excess of one month?s rent. ? Three cases that received the correct amount of assistance were not processed in accordance with the program requirements. Specific supporting documentation required by the program guidelines was not obtained to support assistance payments. Criteria: The following summarizes the applicable portions of the ERA program requirements: ? United States Department of the Treasury Program FAQs updated July 6, 2022: ERA1 allows an eligible household to receive up to 12 months of assistance (plus an additional three (3) months if necessary to ensure housing stability for the household, subject to the availability of funds). ERA2 allows an eligible household to receive up to 15 months of assistance (plus an additional three (3) months if necessary to ensure housing stability for the household, subject to the availability of funds). The amount of a security deposit should not exceed one month?s rent, except in cases where a higher amount is reasonable and customary in the local housing market. DSHA?s ERA program design and guidelines limits security deposit assistance to one month?s rent. Grantees must establish policies and procedures to govern the implementation of their ERA programs consistent with the statutes and the ERA program requirements. ? 501(k)(3)(B) of Division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, and 2 CFR 200.403 requires a grantee to confirm that the ERA1 assistance does not duplicate any other assistance, including federal, state, or local assistance provided for the same costs. Questioned Costs: Audit testing of 40 cases totaling $243,254 of assistance identified $11,295 of overpayments. Context: During the period of September 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022, DSHA approved and disbursed assistance for 9,986 cases totaling $64,082,208. Effect: Federal program expenditures of rental assistance were overpaid. Cause: Internal controls over compliance were not appropriately designed, implemented, or operated to appropriately address the risk of noncompliance with the federal program requirements. Recommendation: We recommend DSHA enhance its policies and procedures for processing rental assistance applications to ensure compliance with the federal program?s requirements.
Finding 2022-003 ? Material Weakness: Allowable Costs & Activities ? Compliance and Control Finding ALN 84.042 ? Student Support Services, 84.044 ? Talent Search and 84.047 ? Upward Bound ? TRIO Cluster Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass-Through Entity: None ALN 47.076 ? Research and Development Cluster: National Science Foundation ?Missouri Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation, Research Initiation Grant, and Entrepreneurship Federal Agency: National Science Foundation Pass-Through Entity: None ALN 84.031 ? Title III ? Higher Education ? Institutional Aid Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass-Through Entity: None Criteria Or Specific Requirement: 2 CFR section 200.403 requires adequate documentation for allowable activities and costs and 2 CFR section 200.430(i)(1) requires charges to federal awards for salaries and wages be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. Condition: We noted through procedures performed that payroll costs were not supported with adequate documentation. Internal controls designed for these federal programs did not detect these errors. Cause: Controls over compliance put in place by management were not operating effectively as it relates to allowable costs and activities charged to the grants. Effect: Instances of noncompliance were not detected by management. Questioned Costs: TRIO Cluster - $40,361 of known questioned costs were identified in our testing sample. Likely questioned costs exceed $25,000. National Science Foundation - $24,744 of known questioned costs were identified in our testing sample. Likely questioned costs exceed $25,000. Title III - $34,906 of known questioned costs were identified in our testing sample. Likely questioned costs exceed $25,000. Context: TRIO Cluster - For a sample of 40 individual costs charged to the grant, 26 payroll items tested did not include adequate documentation. The University did not provide documentation to support the time and effort of each employee charged to the grant. National Science Foundation - For a sample of 40 individual costs charged to the grant, 24 payroll items tested did not include adequate documentation. The University did not provide documentation to support the time and effort of each employee charged to the grant. Title III - TRIO Cluster - For a sample of 40 individual costs charged to the grant, 21 payroll items tested did not include adequate documentation. The University did not provide documentation to support the time and effort of each employee charged to the grant. Identification As A Repeat Finding: 2021-003, 2021-008, 2021-015, 2020-003, and 2020-007 Recommendation: We recommend that management adjust its time-keeping process to verify that the amount of time charged to the grant is accurate and based on the employee?s time spent working on the grant. Internal controls over allowable costs and activities should ensure procedural improvements are implemented properly. Views Of Responsible Officials: The University is working with our third-party payroll provider to automate time and effort reporting. We are currently using paper forms for reporting until we can implement Time & Effort through ADP. The Director of Title III & Finance Compliance officer to further discuss time and effort.
Finding 2022-003 ? Material Weakness: Allowable Costs & Activities ? Compliance and Control Finding ALN 84.042 ? Student Support Services, 84.044 ? Talent Search and 84.047 ? Upward Bound ? TRIO Cluster Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass-Through Entity: None ALN 47.076 ? Research and Development Cluster: National Science Foundation ?Missouri Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation, Research Initiation Grant, and Entrepreneurship Federal Agency: National Science Foundation Pass-Through Entity: None ALN 84.031 ? Title III ? Higher Education ? Institutional Aid Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass-Through Entity: None Criteria Or Specific Requirement: 2 CFR section 200.403 requires adequate documentation for allowable activities and costs and 2 CFR section 200.430(i)(1) requires charges to federal awards for salaries and wages be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. Condition: We noted through procedures performed that payroll costs were not supported with adequate documentation. Internal controls designed for these federal programs did not detect these errors. Cause: Controls over compliance put in place by management were not operating effectively as it relates to allowable costs and activities charged to the grants. Effect: Instances of noncompliance were not detected by management. Questioned Costs: TRIO Cluster - $40,361 of known questioned costs were identified in our testing sample. Likely questioned costs exceed $25,000. National Science Foundation - $24,744 of known questioned costs were identified in our testing sample. Likely questioned costs exceed $25,000. Title III - $34,906 of known questioned costs were identified in our testing sample. Likely questioned costs exceed $25,000. Context: TRIO Cluster - For a sample of 40 individual costs charged to the grant, 26 payroll items tested did not include adequate documentation. The University did not provide documentation to support the time and effort of each employee charged to the grant. National Science Foundation - For a sample of 40 individual costs charged to the grant, 24 payroll items tested did not include adequate documentation. The University did not provide documentation to support the time and effort of each employee charged to the grant. Title III - TRIO Cluster - For a sample of 40 individual costs charged to the grant, 21 payroll items tested did not include adequate documentation. The University did not provide documentation to support the time and effort of each employee charged to the grant. Identification As A Repeat Finding: 2021-003, 2021-008, 2021-015, 2020-003, and 2020-007 Recommendation: We recommend that management adjust its time-keeping process to verify that the amount of time charged to the grant is accurate and based on the employee?s time spent working on the grant. Internal controls over allowable costs and activities should ensure procedural improvements are implemented properly. Views Of Responsible Officials: The University is working with our third-party payroll provider to automate time and effort reporting. We are currently using paper forms for reporting until we can implement Time & Effort through ADP. The Director of Title III & Finance Compliance officer to further discuss time and effort.
Finding 2022-003 ? Material Weakness: Allowable Costs & Activities ? Compliance and Control Finding ALN 84.042 ? Student Support Services, 84.044 ? Talent Search and 84.047 ? Upward Bound ? TRIO Cluster Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass-Through Entity: None ALN 47.076 ? Research and Development Cluster: National Science Foundation ?Missouri Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation, Research Initiation Grant, and Entrepreneurship Federal Agency: National Science Foundation Pass-Through Entity: None ALN 84.031 ? Title III ? Higher Education ? Institutional Aid Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass-Through Entity: None Criteria Or Specific Requirement: 2 CFR section 200.403 requires adequate documentation for allowable activities and costs and 2 CFR section 200.430(i)(1) requires charges to federal awards for salaries and wages be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. Condition: We noted through procedures performed that payroll costs were not supported with adequate documentation. Internal controls designed for these federal programs did not detect these errors. Cause: Controls over compliance put in place by management were not operating effectively as it relates to allowable costs and activities charged to the grants. Effect: Instances of noncompliance were not detected by management. Questioned Costs: TRIO Cluster - $40,361 of known questioned costs were identified in our testing sample. Likely questioned costs exceed $25,000. National Science Foundation - $24,744 of known questioned costs were identified in our testing sample. Likely questioned costs exceed $25,000. Title III - $34,906 of known questioned costs were identified in our testing sample. Likely questioned costs exceed $25,000. Context: TRIO Cluster - For a sample of 40 individual costs charged to the grant, 26 payroll items tested did not include adequate documentation. The University did not provide documentation to support the time and effort of each employee charged to the grant. National Science Foundation - For a sample of 40 individual costs charged to the grant, 24 payroll items tested did not include adequate documentation. The University did not provide documentation to support the time and effort of each employee charged to the grant. Title III - TRIO Cluster - For a sample of 40 individual costs charged to the grant, 21 payroll items tested did not include adequate documentation. The University did not provide documentation to support the time and effort of each employee charged to the grant. Identification As A Repeat Finding: 2021-003, 2021-008, 2021-015, 2020-003, and 2020-007 Recommendation: We recommend that management adjust its time-keeping process to verify that the amount of time charged to the grant is accurate and based on the employee?s time spent working on the grant. Internal controls over allowable costs and activities should ensure procedural improvements are implemented properly. Views Of Responsible Officials: The University is working with our third-party payroll provider to automate time and effort reporting. We are currently using paper forms for reporting until we can implement Time & Effort through ADP. The Director of Title III & Finance Compliance officer to further discuss time and effort.
Finding 2022-003 ? Material Weakness: Allowable Costs & Activities ? Compliance and Control Finding ALN 84.042 ? Student Support Services, 84.044 ? Talent Search and 84.047 ? Upward Bound ? TRIO Cluster Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass-Through Entity: None ALN 47.076 ? Research and Development Cluster: National Science Foundation ?Missouri Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation, Research Initiation Grant, and Entrepreneurship Federal Agency: National Science Foundation Pass-Through Entity: None ALN 84.031 ? Title III ? Higher Education ? Institutional Aid Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass-Through Entity: None Criteria Or Specific Requirement: 2 CFR section 200.403 requires adequate documentation for allowable activities and costs and 2 CFR section 200.430(i)(1) requires charges to federal awards for salaries and wages be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. Condition: We noted through procedures performed that payroll costs were not supported with adequate documentation. Internal controls designed for these federal programs did not detect these errors. Cause: Controls over compliance put in place by management were not operating effectively as it relates to allowable costs and activities charged to the grants. Effect: Instances of noncompliance were not detected by management. Questioned Costs: TRIO Cluster - $40,361 of known questioned costs were identified in our testing sample. Likely questioned costs exceed $25,000. National Science Foundation - $24,744 of known questioned costs were identified in our testing sample. Likely questioned costs exceed $25,000. Title III - $34,906 of known questioned costs were identified in our testing sample. Likely questioned costs exceed $25,000. Context: TRIO Cluster - For a sample of 40 individual costs charged to the grant, 26 payroll items tested did not include adequate documentation. The University did not provide documentation to support the time and effort of each employee charged to the grant. National Science Foundation - For a sample of 40 individual costs charged to the grant, 24 payroll items tested did not include adequate documentation. The University did not provide documentation to support the time and effort of each employee charged to the grant. Title III - TRIO Cluster - For a sample of 40 individual costs charged to the grant, 21 payroll items tested did not include adequate documentation. The University did not provide documentation to support the time and effort of each employee charged to the grant. Identification As A Repeat Finding: 2021-003, 2021-008, 2021-015, 2020-003, and 2020-007 Recommendation: We recommend that management adjust its time-keeping process to verify that the amount of time charged to the grant is accurate and based on the employee?s time spent working on the grant. Internal controls over allowable costs and activities should ensure procedural improvements are implemented properly. Views Of Responsible Officials: The University is working with our third-party payroll provider to automate time and effort reporting. We are currently using paper forms for reporting until we can implement Time & Effort through ADP. The Director of Title III & Finance Compliance officer to further discuss time and effort.
Finding 2022-003 ? Material Weakness: Allowable Costs & Activities ? Compliance and Control Finding ALN 84.042 ? Student Support Services, 84.044 ? Talent Search and 84.047 ? Upward Bound ? TRIO Cluster Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass-Through Entity: None ALN 47.076 ? Research and Development Cluster: National Science Foundation ?Missouri Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation, Research Initiation Grant, and Entrepreneurship Federal Agency: National Science Foundation Pass-Through Entity: None ALN 84.031 ? Title III ? Higher Education ? Institutional Aid Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass-Through Entity: None Criteria Or Specific Requirement: 2 CFR section 200.403 requires adequate documentation for allowable activities and costs and 2 CFR section 200.430(i)(1) requires charges to federal awards for salaries and wages be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. Condition: We noted through procedures performed that payroll costs were not supported with adequate documentation. Internal controls designed for these federal programs did not detect these errors. Cause: Controls over compliance put in place by management were not operating effectively as it relates to allowable costs and activities charged to the grants. Effect: Instances of noncompliance were not detected by management. Questioned Costs: TRIO Cluster - $40,361 of known questioned costs were identified in our testing sample. Likely questioned costs exceed $25,000. National Science Foundation - $24,744 of known questioned costs were identified in our testing sample. Likely questioned costs exceed $25,000. Title III - $34,906 of known questioned costs were identified in our testing sample. Likely questioned costs exceed $25,000. Context: TRIO Cluster - For a sample of 40 individual costs charged to the grant, 26 payroll items tested did not include adequate documentation. The University did not provide documentation to support the time and effort of each employee charged to the grant. National Science Foundation - For a sample of 40 individual costs charged to the grant, 24 payroll items tested did not include adequate documentation. The University did not provide documentation to support the time and effort of each employee charged to the grant. Title III - TRIO Cluster - For a sample of 40 individual costs charged to the grant, 21 payroll items tested did not include adequate documentation. The University did not provide documentation to support the time and effort of each employee charged to the grant. Identification As A Repeat Finding: 2021-003, 2021-008, 2021-015, 2020-003, and 2020-007 Recommendation: We recommend that management adjust its time-keeping process to verify that the amount of time charged to the grant is accurate and based on the employee?s time spent working on the grant. Internal controls over allowable costs and activities should ensure procedural improvements are implemented properly. Views Of Responsible Officials: The University is working with our third-party payroll provider to automate time and effort reporting. We are currently using paper forms for reporting until we can implement Time & Effort through ADP. The Director of Title III & Finance Compliance officer to further discuss time and effort.
Finding 2022-007 ? Material Weakness: Allowable Costs & Activities and Period of Performance? Compliance and Control Finding ALN 84.425F ? Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Institutional Portion Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass-Through Entity: None Criteria Or Specific Requirement: The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) section 314(c )(1-3) notes that HEERF Institutional Portion funds are to be used to defray expenses associated with coronavirus or to carry out student support activities that address needs related to coronavirus. 2 CFR section 200.403 requires adequate documentation for allowable activities and costs and 2 CFR section 200.430(i)(1) requires charges to federal awards for salaries and wages be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. Condition: We noted through procedures performed that costs were not supported with adequate documentation. Internal controls designed for this federal program did not detect these errors. Cause: Controls over compliance put in place by management were not operating effectively as it relates to allowable costs and activities charged to the grant. Effect: Instances of noncompliance were not detected by management. Questioned Costs: $766,177 of known questioned costs were identified in our testing sample. Likely questioned costs exceed $25,000. Context: For a sample of 23 individual costs charged to the grant, 4 items tested, all payroll related, did not include adequate documentation. For the payroll items, the University did not provide documentation to support the time and effort of each student worker charged to the grant. For a sample of 23 individual costs charged to the grant, 7 items tested were utilized to cover costs related to building renovations and the associated project management. The documentation provided did not indicate that these costs were utilized to defray expenses associated with coronavirus. The control over compliance to ensure costs charged to the grant were allowable did not operate effectively. Statistical sampling was not used to test this compliance requirement. Identification As A Repeat Finding: 2021-010 Recommendation: We recommend that management review its processes and controls surrounding applicable compliance requirements to improve the existing system such that it will ensure compliance with the requirements of federal grants. In addition, we recommend that management adjust its time-keeping process to verify that the amount of time charged to the grant is accurate and based on the employee?s time spent working on the grant. Internal controls over allowable costs and activities should ensure procedural improvements are implemented properly. Views Of Responsible Officials: The University's current process is to collect and retain procurement documents for no less than five years. The institution will work to strengthen the current process in place relevant to securing adequate documentation. Supporting documentation was provided for data selection relating to the upgrades to the HVAC, ventilation, and the spacing of the academic facilities which were all completed in accordance with Covid guidelines. The University is working with our third-party payroll provider to automate time and effort reporting.. We are currently using paper forms for reporting until we can implement Time & Effort through ADP. The Director of Title III & Finance Compliance officer to further discuss time and effort.
Finding 2022-003 ? Material Weakness: Allowable Costs & Activities ? Compliance and Control Finding ALN 84.042 ? Student Support Services, 84.044 ? Talent Search and 84.047 ? Upward Bound ? TRIO Cluster Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass-Through Entity: None ALN 47.076 ? Research and Development Cluster: National Science Foundation ?Missouri Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation, Research Initiation Grant, and Entrepreneurship Federal Agency: National Science Foundation Pass-Through Entity: None ALN 84.031 ? Title III ? Higher Education ? Institutional Aid Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass-Through Entity: None Criteria Or Specific Requirement: 2 CFR section 200.403 requires adequate documentation for allowable activities and costs and 2 CFR section 200.430(i)(1) requires charges to federal awards for salaries and wages be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. Condition: We noted through procedures performed that payroll costs were not supported with adequate documentation. Internal controls designed for these federal programs did not detect these errors. Cause: Controls over compliance put in place by management were not operating effectively as it relates to allowable costs and activities charged to the grants. Effect: Instances of noncompliance were not detected by management. Questioned Costs: TRIO Cluster - $40,361 of known questioned costs were identified in our testing sample. Likely questioned costs exceed $25,000. National Science Foundation - $24,744 of known questioned costs were identified in our testing sample. Likely questioned costs exceed $25,000. Title III - $34,906 of known questioned costs were identified in our testing sample. Likely questioned costs exceed $25,000. Context: TRIO Cluster - For a sample of 40 individual costs charged to the grant, 26 payroll items tested did not include adequate documentation. The University did not provide documentation to support the time and effort of each employee charged to the grant. National Science Foundation - For a sample of 40 individual costs charged to the grant, 24 payroll items tested did not include adequate documentation. The University did not provide documentation to support the time and effort of each employee charged to the grant. Title III - TRIO Cluster - For a sample of 40 individual costs charged to the grant, 21 payroll items tested did not include adequate documentation. The University did not provide documentation to support the time and effort of each employee charged to the grant. Identification As A Repeat Finding: 2021-003, 2021-008, 2021-015, 2020-003, and 2020-007 Recommendation: We recommend that management adjust its time-keeping process to verify that the amount of time charged to the grant is accurate and based on the employee?s time spent working on the grant. Internal controls over allowable costs and activities should ensure procedural improvements are implemented properly. Views Of Responsible Officials: The University is working with our third-party payroll provider to automate time and effort reporting. We are currently using paper forms for reporting until we can implement Time & Effort through ADP. The Director of Title III & Finance Compliance officer to further discuss time and effort.
Finding 2022-003 ? Material Weakness: Allowable Costs & Activities ? Compliance and Control Finding ALN 84.042 ? Student Support Services, 84.044 ? Talent Search and 84.047 ? Upward Bound ? TRIO Cluster Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass-Through Entity: None ALN 47.076 ? Research and Development Cluster: National Science Foundation ?Missouri Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation, Research Initiation Grant, and Entrepreneurship Federal Agency: National Science Foundation Pass-Through Entity: None ALN 84.031 ? Title III ? Higher Education ? Institutional Aid Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass-Through Entity: None Criteria Or Specific Requirement: 2 CFR section 200.403 requires adequate documentation for allowable activities and costs and 2 CFR section 200.430(i)(1) requires charges to federal awards for salaries and wages be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. Condition: We noted through procedures performed that payroll costs were not supported with adequate documentation. Internal controls designed for these federal programs did not detect these errors. Cause: Controls over compliance put in place by management were not operating effectively as it relates to allowable costs and activities charged to the grants. Effect: Instances of noncompliance were not detected by management. Questioned Costs: TRIO Cluster - $40,361 of known questioned costs were identified in our testing sample. Likely questioned costs exceed $25,000. National Science Foundation - $24,744 of known questioned costs were identified in our testing sample. Likely questioned costs exceed $25,000. Title III - $34,906 of known questioned costs were identified in our testing sample. Likely questioned costs exceed $25,000. Context: TRIO Cluster - For a sample of 40 individual costs charged to the grant, 26 payroll items tested did not include adequate documentation. The University did not provide documentation to support the time and effort of each employee charged to the grant. National Science Foundation - For a sample of 40 individual costs charged to the grant, 24 payroll items tested did not include adequate documentation. The University did not provide documentation to support the time and effort of each employee charged to the grant. Title III - TRIO Cluster - For a sample of 40 individual costs charged to the grant, 21 payroll items tested did not include adequate documentation. The University did not provide documentation to support the time and effort of each employee charged to the grant. Identification As A Repeat Finding: 2021-003, 2021-008, 2021-015, 2020-003, and 2020-007 Recommendation: We recommend that management adjust its time-keeping process to verify that the amount of time charged to the grant is accurate and based on the employee?s time spent working on the grant. Internal controls over allowable costs and activities should ensure procedural improvements are implemented properly. Views Of Responsible Officials: The University is working with our third-party payroll provider to automate time and effort reporting. We are currently using paper forms for reporting until we can implement Time & Effort through ADP. The Director of Title III & Finance Compliance officer to further discuss time and effort.
Finding 2022-003 ? Material Weakness: Allowable Costs & Activities ? Compliance and Control Finding ALN 84.042 ? Student Support Services, 84.044 ? Talent Search and 84.047 ? Upward Bound ? TRIO Cluster Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass-Through Entity: None ALN 47.076 ? Research and Development Cluster: National Science Foundation ?Missouri Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation, Research Initiation Grant, and Entrepreneurship Federal Agency: National Science Foundation Pass-Through Entity: None ALN 84.031 ? Title III ? Higher Education ? Institutional Aid Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass-Through Entity: None Criteria Or Specific Requirement: 2 CFR section 200.403 requires adequate documentation for allowable activities and costs and 2 CFR section 200.430(i)(1) requires charges to federal awards for salaries and wages be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. Condition: We noted through procedures performed that payroll costs were not supported with adequate documentation. Internal controls designed for these federal programs did not detect these errors. Cause: Controls over compliance put in place by management were not operating effectively as it relates to allowable costs and activities charged to the grants. Effect: Instances of noncompliance were not detected by management. Questioned Costs: TRIO Cluster - $40,361 of known questioned costs were identified in our testing sample. Likely questioned costs exceed $25,000. National Science Foundation - $24,744 of known questioned costs were identified in our testing sample. Likely questioned costs exceed $25,000. Title III - $34,906 of known questioned costs were identified in our testing sample. Likely questioned costs exceed $25,000. Context: TRIO Cluster - For a sample of 40 individual costs charged to the grant, 26 payroll items tested did not include adequate documentation. The University did not provide documentation to support the time and effort of each employee charged to the grant. National Science Foundation - For a sample of 40 individual costs charged to the grant, 24 payroll items tested did not include adequate documentation. The University did not provide documentation to support the time and effort of each employee charged to the grant. Title III - TRIO Cluster - For a sample of 40 individual costs charged to the grant, 21 payroll items tested did not include adequate documentation. The University did not provide documentation to support the time and effort of each employee charged to the grant. Identification As A Repeat Finding: 2021-003, 2021-008, 2021-015, 2020-003, and 2020-007 Recommendation: We recommend that management adjust its time-keeping process to verify that the amount of time charged to the grant is accurate and based on the employee?s time spent working on the grant. Internal controls over allowable costs and activities should ensure procedural improvements are implemented properly. Views Of Responsible Officials: The University is working with our third-party payroll provider to automate time and effort reporting. We are currently using paper forms for reporting until we can implement Time & Effort through ADP. The Director of Title III & Finance Compliance officer to further discuss time and effort.
FINDING 2022-002 Subject: Special Education Grants to States - Earmarking Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Special Education Grants to States Assistance Listings Number: 84.027 Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): 20611-130-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context An effective internal control system was not designed, nor implemented at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Proportionate share is an amount of funds that must be expended on special education/related services for parentally-placed private school and homeschooled students. The amount to be spent is automatically calculated within each grant application. The School Corporation had not designed, nor implemented, policies and procedures to ensure that the required level of expenditures for non-public students was met for each grant. The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 20611-130-PN01 grant were not spent in full, and the School Corporation did not file a waiver which if approved would have allowed the funds to be moved and spent under the regular Part B special education scope. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the 20611-130-PN01 grant award. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: . . . (g) Be adequately documented. . . ." 2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ." 511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states: "The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities, who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total number of students with disabilities of the same age range." Cause Management had not designed nor implemented a system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective system of internal controls enabled noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement could result in the loss of future funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a system of internal controls to ensure compliance and comply with the grant agreement and the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2022-002 Subject: Special Education Grants to States - Earmarking Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Special Education Grants to States Assistance Listings Number: 84.027 Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): 20611-130-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context An effective internal control system was not designed, nor implemented at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Proportionate share is an amount of funds that must be expended on special education/related services for parentally-placed private school and homeschooled students. The amount to be spent is automatically calculated within each grant application. The School Corporation had not designed, nor implemented, policies and procedures to ensure that the required level of expenditures for non-public students was met for each grant. The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 20611-130-PN01 grant were not spent in full, and the School Corporation did not file a waiver which if approved would have allowed the funds to be moved and spent under the regular Part B special education scope. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the 20611-130-PN01 grant award. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: . . . (g) Be adequately documented. . . ." 2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ." 511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states: "The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities, who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total number of students with disabilities of the same age range." Cause Management had not designed nor implemented a system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective system of internal controls enabled noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement could result in the loss of future funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a system of internal controls to ensure compliance and comply with the grant agreement and the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.