Finding 1156016 (2024-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
M
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-09-29

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Organization failed to communicate essential federal award information and requirements to subrecipients, leading to inadequate monitoring.
  • Impacted Requirements: The lack of risk evaluation and monitoring procedures violates federal regulations outlined in 2 CFR 200.332 and 200.331.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement policies and internal controls to assess subrecipient compliance risks and ensure proper monitoring in line with federal guidelines.

Finding Text

2024-001: Subrecipient Monitoring Criteria: The Code of Federal Regulations 2 CFR 200.332 states that all pass-through entities (PTE) must: Identify the Award and Applicable Requirements - Clearly identify to the subrecipient: (1) the award as a subaward at the time of subaward (or subsequent subaward modification) by providing the information described in 2 CFR section 200.331(a)(1); (2)all requirements imposed by the PTE on the subrecipient so that the federal award is used in accordance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the award (2 CFR section 200.331(a)(2)); and (3) any additional requirements that the PTE imposes on the subrecipient in order for the PTE to meet its own responsibility for the federal award (e.g., financial, performance, and special reports) (2 CFR section 200.331(a)(3)). Evaluate Risk - Evaluate each subrecipient’s risk of noncompliance for purposes of determining the appropriate subrecipient monitoring related to the subaward (2 CFR section 200.332(b)). Monitor - Monitor the activities of the subrecipient as necessary to ensure that the subaward is used for authorized purposes, complies with the terms and conditions of the subaward, and achieves performance goals (2 CFR sections 200.332(d) through (f)). In addition to procedures identified as necessary based upon the evaluation of subrecipient risk or specifically required by the terms and conditions of the award, subaward monitoring must include the following: (1) Reviewing financial and programmatic (performance and special reports) required by the PTE. (2) Following-up and ensuring that the subrecipient takes timely and appropriate action on all deficiencies pertaining to the federal award provided to the subrecipient from the PTE detected through audits, on-site reviews, and other means. (3) Issuing a management decision for audit findings pertaining to the federal award provided to the subrecipient from the PTE as required by 2 CFR section 200.521. Condition: The Organization did not clearly communicate the required federal award information and applicable requirements to the subrecipients. The Organization did not evaluate the risk of non-compliance of the subrecipients in order to identify the appropriate monitoring procedures. Cause: The Organization has not implemented policies or procedures, to the degree necessary, to ensure that federal award monitoring compliance requirements are being met. Effect: The Organization did not perform adequate monitoring procedures on the subrecipients. Without communication of required information, subrecipients may overspend award amounts or incur unallowable expenses towards the grant. Questioned Costs: N/A Statistical Sampling: Statistical sampling was not used in making sample selections. Recommendation: We recommend that management of the Organization implement policies, procedures, and internal controls to evaluate the subrecipient risk of noncompliance to ensure subrecipients are being appropriately monitored in compliance with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with this finding and their response is included in the corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Corrective Action Plan – Hamilton County Economic Development Corporation (dba Invest Hamilton County) Public Accounting Firm CliftonLarsonAllen LLP Audit Period Year ended December 31, 2024 The finding from the December 31, 2024 consolidated schedule of findings is discussed below. The findings is numbered consistently with the numbers assigned in the schedule. Section III 2024-001: Condition: The Organization did not clearly communicate the required federal award information and applicable requirements to the subrecipients. The Organization did not evaluate the risk of non-compliance of the subrecipients in order to identify the appropriate monitoring procedures. Statistical sampling was not used in making sample selections. Response: The response to this finding in 2023 was provided less than one month prior to the end of the grant activity period, and therefore adaptation to the management period was not feasible for this project. The Organizations’ Board and Chief Executive OMicer (CEO) and key HCEDC StaM recognize the need to further refine subrecipient monitoring. Subrecipients within the identified project are all school districts already under single audit with associated levels of financial controls and reporting. Participating districts, via their appropriate elected boards, were informed the conditions of the grant and individually voted to accept obligations and requirements. HCEDC management, in alignment with outsourced controller services via CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, have now further increased controls and monitoring activity. Through the onboarding of a new Grants Management System (GMS) in Fall 2024, subrecipient monitoring activity and profiles are now created for each eligible award. In 2024 and 2025, the HCEDC has also been much more active in communicating reporting and grants management requirements to subrecipients, including multiple amendments to the ESSER grant program. The new GMS system is built specifically to assist organizations with single audit compliance and has multiple features specific to subrecipient reporting and monitoring. If there are any questions regarding this plan, please contact the undersigned at 317-663-4457. Mike Thibideau PRESIDENT & CEO – INVEST HAMILTON COUNTY 37 East Main Street Carmel, IN 46032

Categories

Subrecipient Monitoring

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $1.37M