Finding Text
2024-002 Finding – Federal Award Type: Subrecipient Monitoring – Non-Compliance and Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance. AL Number: 10.163 Market Protection and PromotionCriteria / Requirement: 2 CFR section 200.303 requires that non-federal entities receiving federal awards establish and maintain internal control over the federal awards that provides reasonable assurance that the non-federal entity is managing the federal awards in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal awards. In accordance with 2 CFR section 200.332, a pass-through entity must clearly identify to the subrecipient the award as a subaward by providing the required federal information related to the award, all requirements imposed by the pass-through entity on the subrecipient so that the federal award is used in accordance with federal statutes, regulations, and the provisions of contracts and grants agreements. The pass-through entity must evaluate risk of non-compliance of each subrecipient, monitoring the subrecipient and ensuring accountability of for-profit subrecipients. Condition / Context: Oregon Tilth passed through $1,593,444 in funding to subrecipients under Assistance Listing 10.163. During our audit, we noted that Oregon Tilth did have documented written procedures or controls in place to ensure compliance with the U.S. Office of Management and Budget’s Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) subrecipient monitoring requirements. It was noted that within subaward contracts, required federal contract information was provided. Further, subrecipients are being evaluated for risk of non-compliance, prior to engaging in a subcontract. While monitoring has improved, as Oregon Tilth is having regular meetings to ensure tasks are being completed timely and providing technical assistance when needed, it was noted that in the sample of five subrecipients, three subrecipient was subject to 2 CFR Subpart F and the audit for this entity was not obtained. Per 2 CFR 200.332(d)(2) & (3), an entity must ensure that the subrecipient takes timely and appropriate action on all deficiencies pertaining to the Federal award provided to the subrecipient from the pass-through entity detected through audits, highlighting the status of action planned or taken to address Single Audit Finding related to the subaward. They must also issue a management decision for applicable audit findings. Further, per 2 CFR 200.332(g), pass-through entities must verify that a subrecipient is audited as required by 2 CFR 200 subpart F. Oregon Tilth did have the subrecipient answer a questionnaire that included a question asking if the subrecipient was subject to 2 CFR 200 subpart F, however they did not obtain the audit or verify in any other way that the client was audited as required by 2 CFR 200 subpart F. Cause: Procedures were in place to ensure that Oregon Tilth is maintaining proper subrecipient monitoring for each federal subrecipient, however the procedures were not fully compliant with 2 CFR 200.332. Effect: Failure to maintain sufficient subrecipient monitoring may result in the wrongful use of federal funds and non‐compliance with the provisions of applicable requirements of the federal award. Questioned Costs: None. Recommendation: The Organization should establish written policies and procedures regarding the contracting and monitoring of subrecipients that are in line with Uniform Guidance requirements, as well as establish organizational controls to ensure that such policies and procedures are being followed. Management’s Response: Management concurs with the finding and will implement effective internal controls to ensure that subrecipient monitoring is properly done and documented appropriately.