Finding 1156528 (2024-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
I
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-09-29
Audit: 368878
Organization: Porter County (IN)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The County lacked an effective internal control system to verify that vendors were not suspended or debarred before entering contracts.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with federal procurement regulations (CFR Part 180.300) regarding suspension and debarment checks was not met.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should implement and document controls to ensure suspension and debarment checks are performed and retained for all applicable vendors.

Finding Text

Federal Program Name: Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Federal Agency: Department of Treasury Federal Assistance Listing Number: Number 21.027 Criteria: Procurement, suspension and debarment – CFR Part 180.300 states, “when you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or disqualified.” Condition: An effective internal control system was not in place at the County to ensure compliance with federal requirements related to suspension and debarment compliance requirements. Questioned Costs: None noted. Context: The County entered into contracts with vendors that were reimbursed through funds granted under the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recover Funds program. The County failed to retain documentation of the verification of suspension or disbarment to document that a covered transaction was not entered into with a suspended or debarred entity. Effect or Potential Effect: Goods or services were procured without retaining documentation that appropriate compliance guidelines were followed. Cause: The County’s internal controls did not require retention of suspension and debarment checks being performed. Recommendation: Management should perform a review to ensure controls are put into place and followed and documented for all applicable vendors and that documentation is retained to show the necessary suspension and debarment checks are completed. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Contact Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Porter County Auditor Contact Phone Number: 219-465-3445 1.) Finding: Internal control material weakness associated with not completing the required Suspension & Debarment checks associated with vendors utilized within the ARPA federal program Views of Responsible Official: County concurs with audit finding Description of Corrective Action Plan: County will collaborate with commissioner attorneys to include additional language confirming suspension and debarment checks to be confirmed by any entity signing a contract with the county. Anticipated Completion Date: 12/1/2025

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $11.31M
93.563 Child Support Services $1.12M
20.106 Airport Improvement Program, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Programs, and Covid-19 Airports Programs $559,631
20.205 Highway Planning and Construction $352,302
16.922 Equitable Sharing Program $280,056
93.069 Public Health Emergency Preparedness $198,994
16.575 Crime Victim Assistance $177,186
16.710 Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Grants $144,071
93.268 Immunization Cooperative Agreements $133,178
97.042 Emergency Management Performance Grants $69,828
16.588 Violence Against Women Formula Grants $63,664
15.226 Payments in Lieu of Taxes $26,840
93.354 Public Health Emergency Response: Cooperative Agreement for Emergency Response: Public Health Crisis Response $26,701
93.788 Opioid Str $23,000
10.555 National School Lunch Program $13,187
45.025 Promotion of the Arts Partnership Agreements $8,500
93.946 Cooperative Agreements to Support State-Based Safe Motherhood and Infant Health Initiative Programs $4,428
10.553 School Breakfast Program $4,186
93.323 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases (elc) $3,202
93.070 Environmental Public Health and Emergency Response $2,030