Finding 1148357 (2024-001)

Material Weakness
Requirement
ABH
Questioned Costs
$1
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-07-24

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There is a lack of proper tracking and internal controls over materials charged to the federal grant, leading to potential noncompliance.
  • Impacted Requirements: Procedures for tracking inventory and ensuring appropriate review and approval of grant charges were not followed.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement a structured materials tracking system with documentation and approval processes to prevent unsupported costs.

Finding Text

Identification of the federal program: 97.036 – Disaster Grants – Public Assistance Noncompliance and material weakness in internal controls over allowable activities, allowable costs and period of performance. Criteria: Procedures should be implemented to ensure all materials taken from inventory and charged to the grant are appropriately tracked and supporting documentation is maintained. In addition, internal controls should be present to ensure there is appropriate review and approval of charges made to the grant. Condition: Materials charged to the grant were not adequately tracked and internal controls were not in place to ensure only items used on the project were charged to the grant. Cause: The Cooperative did not have a structured process for tracking, reviewing, and approving materials removed from inventory, leading to gaps in oversight and control. Effect: Without proper tracking and approval procedures, the Cooperative risks charging unallowable or unsupported costs to the grant. Questioned Costs: $137,075 Recommendations: The Cooperative should implement and follow a proper materials tracking system that ensures all materials taken from inventory are properly documented and approved for use. Views of responsible officials: We used our standard process for charging out materials and did a physical inventory count. We do believe that we have properly charged this project for the appropriate materials used. However, to avoid this in the future, we are implementing a new process for physically setting aside the materials and having a second sign-off on material sheets.

Categories

Questioned Costs Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Equipment & Real Property Management Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 571915 2024-001
    Material Weakness
  • 571916 2024-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 571917 2024-003
    Material Weakness
  • 571918 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 571919 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1148358 2024-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1148359 2024-003
    Material Weakness
  • 1148360 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1148361 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
97.047 Bric: Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities $1.52M
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $954,731