Finding 1156539 (2024-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
H
Questioned Costs
$1
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-09-30
Audit: 368884
Organization: Samaritas and Subsidiaries (MI)
Auditor: Clark Nuber P S

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There is a significant deficiency in internal controls, leading to noncompliance with the period of performance for federal awards.
  • Impacted Requirements: Costs incurred outside the designated period violate Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, specifically Section 200.309.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Strengthen internal controls to ensure accurate recording of charges within the correct period to prevent future noncompliance.

Finding Text

Finding 2024-001 Significant deficiency in internal controls over compliance and instances of noncompliance related to period of performance. Federal Agency: United States Department of Health and Human Services Program Title: Unaccompanied Children Program Pass-Through Entities: Global Refugee (fka Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services) Assistance Listing Number: 93.676 Award Identification: All awards Criteria Per the standards contained in Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (the Uniform Guidance), Subpart D ‐ Post Federal Award Requirements, Section 200.309, only allowable costs incurred during the period of performance may be charged to the federal awards. Condition/Context During our audit, out of a sample of 25 transactions tested for period of performance, we identified three selections where the cost was incurred either before or after the respective award’s the period of performance. All three charges that were outside of the period of performance related to charges for goods and services that were entered into the incorrect period due to timing of receipt of the invoice and/or data entry error. Cause The Organization’s controls did not operate effectively to prevent or detect expenditures that were incurred outside of the federal award’s period of performance. Effect or Potential Effect The Organization charged to federal awards costs incurred outside the period of performance. Questioned Costs Award 90ZU0555-02-01: $1,829 Award 90ZU0521-02: 150 Total Questioned Costs: $1,979 Recommendation We recommend the Organization strengthen its internal control processes and procedures to ensure there are adequate controls in place to identify and record charges in the correct period to prevent charges to federal awards that did not occur within the award’s period of performance. Views of Responsible Individual and Corrective Action Plan Management agrees with the finding and has provided the accompanying corrective action plan. Repeat Finding Not a repeat finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Contact Person(s): Bridgette Zappacosta, CFO Corrective Action Planned: Management concurs with the finding. We acknowledge that expenditures were charged outside of the applicable award period due to timing of invoice receipt and data entry errors. The Organization has reviewed its internal controls and will strengthen procedures to ensure compliance with federal requirements. Specifically, we are revising our grant expenditure procedures, implementing new software which includes additional review controls and is specific to grant reporting, and providing targeted staff training on period of performance compliance. We will also perform quarterly monitoring of federal award expenditures to verify compliance. Anticipated Completion Date: December 31, 2025

Categories

Questioned Costs Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Period of Performance Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1156533 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1156534 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1156535 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1156536 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1156537 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1156538 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1156540 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1156541 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1156542 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1156543 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.576 Refugee and Entrant Assistance Discretionary Grants $327,005
93.567 Refugee and Entrant Assistance Voluntary Agency Programs $311,435
10.569 Emergency Food Assistance Program (food Commodities) $154,635
93.566 Refugee and Entrant Assistance State/replacement Designee Administered Programs $140,937
19.510 U.s. Refugee Admissions Program $107,498
14.231 Emergency Solutions Grant Program $86,551
93.959 Block Grants for Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse $68,336
93.558 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families $62,685
10.568 Emergency Food Assistance Program (administrative Costs) $48,565
93.583 Refugee and Entrant Assistance Wilson/fish Program $48,180
14.267 Continuum of Care Program $37,570
93.676 Unaccompanied Children Program $14,967
97.024 Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program $9,500
93.778 Medical Assistance Program $3,908
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $2,500
93.658 Foster Care Title IV-E $218
93.659 Adoption Assistance $152