Finding 1153873 (2024-005)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-09-22
Audit: 366932
Organization: Chicago Housing Authority (IL)
Auditor: Ernst Young LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Internal controls for ensuring certified payroll reports (CPRs) are submitted before contract closeout are ineffective.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with Uniform Guidance 2 CFR section 200.303 regarding internal control over federal awards.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Authority should adhere to its internal control procedures to guarantee all CPRs are submitted prior to closing contracts.

Finding Text

Finding 2024-005 N. Special Tests and Provisions: N1. Wage Rate Requirements Identification of the federal program: Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Federal Assistance Listing Number: 14.881 Federal Program Name: Moving to Work (MTW) Demonstration Program Public and Indian Housing (Public Housing) Program Year: January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024 Program No.: IL002-01-00024D Criteria or specific requirement (including statutory, regulatory or other citation): The Uniform Guidance 2 CFR section 200.303 states, “The 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. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in “Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government” issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the “Internal Control Integrated Framework,” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).” Condition: For three of 24 (12.5%) contracts/task orders sampled to test the Authority’s internal control to ensure certified payroll reports (CPRs) are submitted by contractors/subcontractors, we noted the following: • For one (4.2%) of the 24, the contract summary checklist completed at contract closeout was not prepared or reviewed correctly, as it was noted that CPR findings were still outstanding and the contract could not be closed. • For two (8.3%) of the 24, the reviewed contract summary checklist was not provided. Cause: The Authority’s internal control to ensure all CPRs have been submitted prior to contract closeout was not operating effectively. Effect or Potential Effect: Required CPRs from contractors and subcontractors may not be submitted. Questioned Costs: None. Context: Public Housing expenditures reported in the schedule of expenditures of federal awards were $171,219,053 for the year ended December 31, 2024, representing 15.1% of total federal expenditures under Assistance Listing No. 14.881 of $1,106,629,432. Identification as a Repeat Finding, if Applicable: This finding is not a repeat finding from the prior year. Recommendation: The Authority should follow its established internal control to ensure all CPRs are submitted by contractors/subcontractors prior to contract closeout. Views of Responsible Officials: Management concurs with the finding and has developed a plan to correct the finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding 2024-005 N. Special Tests and Provisions: N1. Wage Rate Requirements – Assistance Listing No. 14.881 Corrective Action Plan: Response/Planned Actions: CHA Management concurs with the finding. A review of the process was completed, and the procedure will be updated to include language that notes until all documents are received, the contract file should be notated and remain open. The checklist will be updated as well. A review of the pending invoice payments will be completed by Internal Audit of the User Groups to ensure timely close out of projects can be completed. Contact Person: Shelia Johnson, Deputy Chief Procurement Anticipated Completion Date: End of 4th Qtr. 2025

Categories

HUD Housing Programs Special Tests & Provisions Reporting Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1153869 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1153870 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1153871 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1153872 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1153874 2024-006
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.881 Moving to Work Demonstration Program $1.06B
14.871 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers $17.37M
14.856 Lower Income Housing Assistance Program Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation $4.36M
14.879 Mainstream Vouchers $4.25M
10.565 Commodity Supplemental Food Program $1.54M
14.895 Jobs-Plus Pilot Initiative $1.35M
14.896 Family Self-Sufficiency Program $1.34M
14.870 Resident Opportunity and Supportive Services - Service Coordinators $310,690