Finding 10945 (2022-004)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2024-01-31

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: FFATA reports were not submitted on time, violating federal requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act mandates timely reporting of sub-awards over $30,000.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Address technical issues with subrecipients and enhance oversight to ensure compliance; communicate implications of noncompliance to management.

Finding Text

Finding No. 2022-004 - Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act - Late Submission Federal Program Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act Cluster: ALN 17.258, 17.259, and 17.278 Name of Federal Agency U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Compliance Requirement Reporting Type of Finding Internal control over compliance/non-compliance Category Significant deficiency Criteria The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (Pub. L. 109-282, as amended by section 6202(a) of Pub. L. 110-252), known as FFATA or the Transparency Act requires information disclosure of entities receiving Federal financial assistance through Federal awards such as Federal contracts, sub-contracts, grants and sub_x0002_grants, FFATA 2(a),(2),(i),(ii). 2 CFR Chapter 1, Part 170, Reporting Sub-Award and Executive Compensation Information Prime Awardees awarded a federal grant are required to file a FFATA sub-award report by the end of the month following the month in which the prime awardee awards any sub-grant equal to or greater than $30,000. Condition None of the required Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reports were timely filed. Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce (An Agency of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico) Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs For the Year Ended June 30, 2022 - 97 - Part III - Findings and Questioned Costs Relating to Federal Awards – (continued) Finding No. 2022-004 Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act – Late Submission (continued) Context From a sample of ten (10) FFATA reports submitted during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022, none of the reports were timely submitted. Cause Lack of oversight and awareness over the federal reporting requirements of this Act. Effect If the Federal awarding agency or passthrough entity determines that noncompliance cannot be remedied by imposing additional conditions, the Federal awarding agency or passthrough entity may take one or more of the following actions, as appropriate in the circumstances: (a) Temporarily withhold cash payments pending correction of the deficiency by the non-Federal entity or more severe enforcement action by the Federal awarding agency or passthrough entity. Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce (An Agency of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico) Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs For the Year Ended June 30, 2022 - 98 - Part III - Findings and Questioned Costs Relating to Federal Awards – (continued) Finding No. 2022-004 Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act – Late Submission (continued) Effect - (continued) (b) Disallow (that is, deny both use of funds and any applicable matching credit for) all or part of the cost of the activity or action not in compliance. (c) Wholly or partially suspend or terminate the Federal award. (d) Initiate suspension or debarment proceedings as authorized under 2 CFR part 180 and Federal awarding agency regulations (or in the case of a passthrough entity, recommend such a proceeding be initiated by a Federal awarding agency). (e) Withhold further Federal awards for the project or program. (f) Take other remedies that may be legally available. Questioned Costs None Identification as a Repeated Finding This is a repeat finding from the immediate previous audit, Finding No. 2021-006. Recommendation We recommend the Department to correct the technical issues encountered with the Department's subrecipients' information and work together issue with the local areas to comply with FFATA. In addition, the implications of noncompliance should be communicated to management and those charged with governance, who are the individuals responsible for ascertaining those processes and controls are in place and operating effectively in compliance with federal requirements and enforce stricter compliance policies. Views of responsible Officials (Unaudited) Refer to the corrective action plan on pages 110-114

Categories

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

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 10939 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 10940 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 10941 2022-006
    Significant Deficiency
  • 10942 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 10943 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 10944 2022-006
    Significant Deficiency
  • 10946 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 10947 2022-006
    Significant Deficiency
  • 587381 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 587382 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 587383 2022-006
    Significant Deficiency
  • 587384 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 587385 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 587386 2022-006
    Significant Deficiency
  • 587387 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 587388 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 587389 2022-006
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
17.278 Wia Dislocated Worker Formula Grants $49.61M
17.258 Wia Adult Program $24.26M
17.259 Wia Youth Activities $19.77M
81.042 Weatherization Assistance for Low-Income Persons $1.70M
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $1.67M
59.061 State Trade and Export Promotion Pilot Grant Program $483,779
11.307 Economic Adjustment Assistance $411,501
17.285 Apprenticeship USA Grants $405,856
81.041 State Energy Program $311,822
12.002 Procurement Technical Assistance for Business Firms $282,910
17.245 Trade Adjustment Assistance $155,649
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $4,326