Finding 1084692 (2023-004)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
I
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-11-18

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: USTTI lacks a formalized procurement policy, which is necessary for compliance with Uniform Guidance.
  • Impacted Requirements: The absence of documented procedures violates 2 CFR 200.318, affecting procurement actions and documentation.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: USTTI should formalize and communicate a compliant procurement policy, ensuring all actions are documented and maintained.

Finding Text

Finding 2023-004: Procurement (Significant Deficiency) Information on the Federal Program: ALN 19.663 Global Telecommunications and Emerging Technology Training Criteria: 2 CFR 200.318 states that non-Federal entities must have and use documented procurement procedures consistent with the requirements for procurement regulations included in paragraphs 318 through 327. Condition: We noted procurement procedures are outsourced to a third party, but management is heavily involved in the ultimate decision. However, the procurement policy is not formalized and procurement actions are not documented and maintained in USTTI's vendor files. Cause: USTTI did not have a documented formal procurement policy in accordance with the Uniform Guidance. Effect: A lack of a formal procurement policy is insufficient to meet the requirements of the Uniform Guidance as noted in the Criteria section above. Questioned Costs: None. Context: Because USTTI does not have a formal procurement policy, it is not in compliance with the Uniform Guidance.Context (continued): Our audit work in this area consisted of a test of internal controls over a random sample of expenditures, as well as substantive tests of details over transactions above a defined threshold from select expense accounts that were charged to the Federal program. We consider our samples to be representative of the respective populations, and thus, are statistically valid samples. Due to the timing of the audit for the year ended December 31, 2022, USTTI was not able to formalize a policy for the year ended December 31, 2023. We noted that USTTI has formalized a procurement policy during the year ended December 31, 2024. Identification as a Repeat Finding: Yes. See Finding 2022-03. Recommendation: We recommend USTTI formalize a procurement policy which is in compliance with the Uniform Guidance. We also recommend that USTTI management ensure the procurement policy is distributed and communicated in a formal manner to its employees, and that management properly enforce compliance with the policy. All procurement actions should be clearly documented in writing and maintained in the vendor or contractor files.

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Significant Deficiency Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 508248 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 508249 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 508250 2023-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 508251 2023-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 508252 2023-006
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1084690 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1084691 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1084693 2023-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1084694 2023-006
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
19.663 Global Telecommunications and Emerging Technology Training $2.31M
11.553 Special Projects $189,795