Finding Text
Federal Program – American Rescue Plan Technical Assistance Investment Program – Assistance Listing No. 10.234 – Award No. 2023-70504-40441 – Program Year 2024– U.S. Department of Agriculture Criteria or specific requirement – Cash Management, 2 CFR 200.305 Condition – The organization is required to minimize the time elapsing between the transfer of funds from the Federal agency and the disbursement of funds by the recipient or the subrecipients in accordance with 2 CFR 200.305. If the organization cannot meet the requirements for advance payment, they must use the reimbursement method. The organization, as a pass-through entity, is also responsible for implementing procedures to ensure the time elapsing between the transfer of Federal funds to the subrecipient and the disbursement of such funds for program purposes by the subrecipient is minimized in accordance with 2 CFR section 200.305(b)(1). Cause – The organization did not have appropriate controls in place to ensure compliance with federal requirements to minimize the time elapsing between receiving and disbursing the federal funds. The organization also did not have appropriate controls in place to ensure the time elapsing between the transfer of federal funds to the subrecipient and the disbursement of funds by the subrecipient for program purposes was minimized. Effect – The organization drew funds, but did not disburse them in a timely manner. Additionally, they passed funds to subrecipients and did not ensure the subrecipients spent those funds timely. Questioned costs – Assistance Listing No. 10.234, FAIN No. 20237050440441: $2,855,333. The amount calculated represents the total federal funding the organization received in advance that had not been expensed for program purposes by the end of the reporting period. Assistance Listing No. 10.234: $741,517. The amount calculated represents the total amount of federal funds passed through to subrecipients for the reporting period. Context – There were no cash draws for the reporting period as the majority of the funding awarded was received in advance in the prior year. Out of a population of 8 subrecipients, 2 subrecipients were selected for testing. Of these subrecipients, both received funding in advance; however, both did not disburse funds under the program purposes within a timely manner. Our sample was not, and was not intended to be, statistically valid. Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable – N/A Recommendation – The organization should put controls in place to ensure that funds are requested and spent timely or move to the reimbursement basis. The organization should put controls in place to ensure that funds passed through to subrecipients are disbursed by the subrecipient for the program within a timely manner. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions – Management agrees with the finding. Management plans to revise internal procedures to include verification of expenditures for eligible and allowable expenses before initiating a draw request, develop a drawdown checklist and require supporting documentation for incurred costs, retain supporting documentation for all drawdowns, require Executive Director approval prior to all federal drawdowns, and conduct training on federal reimbursement protocols for program and finance staff.