Finding Text
2024-001 Internal Control over Compliance and Compliance with Period of Performance
Identification of the Federal Program:
United States Department of Justice
Assistance Listing Number: 16.726
Assistance Listing Name: Juvenile Mentoring Program
Grant Award Number: 15PJDP-21-GG-02766-MENT
Award Period: October 1, 2021 through June 30, 2024
Criteria or Specific Requirement: §200.303 Internal Controls states that a 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.
Per 2 CFR Section 200.1 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. The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity must include start and end dates of the period of performance in the Federal award (see Sections 200.211 Information contained in a Federal award paragraph (b)(5) and 200.332 Requirements for pass-through entities, paragraph (b)(1)(v)).
Condition: During the audit, we tested Council’s period of performance of subrecipient costs. We noted that Council has documented policies and procedures to comply with period of performance requirements and in all twenty-four samples tested complied with the prime award period of performance. However, in one sample out of twenty-four tested, Council paid the subrecipient $1,322 for expenses that were incurred after the subaward period of performance. Upon identifying this condition in our audit procedures, Council management determined that a total of $5,635 was paid to the subrecipient for costs incurred after the end of the subaward period of performance.
Cause: Council did not follow its process to execute a no-cost extension of the subaward period of performance before approving reimbursement for costs incurred by the subrecipient during the prime award’s period of performance.
Effect: The lack of adherence to the established internal control policies and procedures can lead to noncompliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the provisions of grant agreements which could ultimately lead to disallowed costs for the major federal program.
Questioned Costs: There are questioned costs totaling $5,635.
Context: This is a condition based on testing of Council’s compliance with specified requirements. The prevalence of the finding is detailed in the condition section above. The samples were selected using a non-statistical method.
Repeat Finding: This is not a repeat finding.
Recommendation: BDO recommends that Council follows its processes to ensure only subrecipient costs incurred during an active subgrant period of performance are reimbursed.
Views of Responsible Officials: Council management agrees with the finding and recommendations set forth within and will work with program management teams to provide guidance and training related to subrecipient organization period of performance. Refer to management’s corrective action plan for additional information.