Finding 2025-001: Significant Deficiency – Unallowable Cost Included in Indirect Cost Pool Agency: Department of Defense Federal Program: Research & Development Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 12.630, Award Number: W911NF-16-2-0092 U.S. Army Research Institute - Basic, Applied and Advanced Research in Science and Engineering Assistance Listing Number: 12.300, Award Number: FA8650-13-2-6366 U.S. Air Force/Air Force Materiel Command - Basic and Applied Scientific Research Grant Year: 2025 Criteria: Per 2 CFR § 200.411 and § 200.414(e), indirect cost rates must be developed using only allowable costs. Unallowable costs must be excluded from the indirect cost pool, and if included, the rates must be adjusted or refunds issued to the Federal Government. Per 2 CFR § 200.411 Each cost incurred for the same purpose in like circumstances must be treated consistently either as a direct or an indirect cost to avoid possible double-charging of Federal awards. Condition: During our testing of the indirect cost pool, we noted inclusion of bad debt expense. Bad debt is explicitly addressed at §200.426 of 2 CFR Part 200 and identified as an unallowable cost. In addition, we noted that rent expense for leased space was charged directly as well as being included in the indirect cost pool, thus causing it to be double-counted. Context: The bad debt and duplicative rent included in the indirect cost pool totaled $52,400. We observed that the indirect rates for these awards were capped at a lower rate than the Consortium’s negotiated indirect rate, resulting in a portion of allowable indirect costs incurred not being charged to the grant in amounts greater than the error. Effect: Including unallowable costs in the indirect cost pool resulted in an inflated indirect cost rate, however, the approved rates used for the awards was less than the actual negotiated rate and therefore, not all possible allowable indirect was passed through to the government agency. Cause: The inclusion of bad debt and duplicative rent expense in the indirect cost pool appears to be due to a lack of adequate internal controls regarding review of the preparation of the Indirect Cost Rate Proposal and review of cost classifications against Uniform Guidance requirements. Questioned costs: No questioned costs. Perspective: Statistical sampling was not used, however, samples were determined using AICPA approved guidelines. Repeat finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: The Consortium should remove the bad debt and duplicative rent expense from the indirect cost pool, recalculate their indirect rate based on the adjusted indirect cost pool and implement a stronger review for any unallowable costs in alignment with the Cost Principles as outlined in the Uniform Guidance when preparing the incurred cost submission. Management’s response (unaudited): See Management’s Corrective Action Plan.
FINDING 2025-004 – Payroll Allocations Federal Program: Continuum of Care Program Federal Identifying Number: Direct funding grants - IL0395L5T102214, IL0395L5T102315, IL0184L5T102316, IL0184L5T102417, IL1790H5T102200, IL1791H5T102200, IL1792H5T102200; Passed- through grants -IL1759D5T102201, IL1878D5T102300, IL1759D5T102202, and 8567-D Federal Assistance Listing Number: 14.267 Passed Through: All Chicago Making Homeless History and Aids Foundation of Chicago Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Criteria/Specific Requirement: A. The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) require Inner Voice, Inc. to ensure federal expenditures to be consistent with the standards set forth in the Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR part 200, subpart E. B. The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) section 200.430(g)(1)(i) Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses states the following, “Charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. These records must: Be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated. C. The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) section 200.303 Internal Controls states the following, “The 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.” Condition: Our audit procedures over expenditures revealed the following: 1) For one (1) of forty (40) expenditure transactions tested, The Inner Voice, Inc. did not adequately track or review time and effort documentation for accuracy. For this selection, the time study applied to allocate salary and actual hours reported and paid did not agree. Questioned Costs: None. Context: The Inner Voice, Inc. expended a total of $5,207,762 of federal awards in fiscal year 2025. The Inner Voice, Inc. expended a total of $3,992,341 of federal awards in fiscal year 2025 under the Continuum of Care program. Effect: The Inner Voice, Inc. is not in compliance with Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200.426 as it relates to activities allowed or unallowed and allowable costs/cost principles requirements. Additionally, the effect of noncompliance can result in questioned costs. Cause: The Inner Voice, Inc.’s implementation of internal controls is inconsistent in the 1) review of time study against payment and 2) review and approval of payroll salaries transactions. Recommendation: We recommend that The Inner Voice, Inc. establish and maintain effective internal control over federal awards to ensure expenditures are supported as required by 2 CFR 200.430(g)(1)(i). This includes: a. Conducting a formal time and effort study to support payroll allocations; b. Enhancing policies and procedures surrounding time and effort documentation and review and approval of payroll expenditures. Management’s Response: See Corrective Action Plan.