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FINDING 2024-002 Subject: COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds - Suspension and Debarment Federal Agency: Department of the Treasury Federal Program: COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Assistance Listings Number: 21.027 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): CONTRACT 64511, YR 2024 Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Condition and Context Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with the COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) award funds, recipients are required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods or services awarded under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000. Verification is to be done by checking the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS), collecting a certification from that person, or adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person. Due to the U.S. Department of the Treasury's determination that the revenue loss eligible use category does not give rise to subawards, the County was only required to comply with suspension and debarment requirements related to covered transactions. The County did not have any policies or procedures in place during the audit period for verifying that a vendor with which it plans to enter into a covered transaction is not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. A population of six covered transactions, totaling $760,544, that equaled or exceeded $25,000 paid from SLFRF funds was identified. For each of the six transactions, the County did not provide any evidence that a verification took place to ensure the vendor was not suspended or debarred. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systematic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "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). . . ." 31 CFR 19.300 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 do business is not excluded or disqualified. You do this by: (a) Checking the EPLS; or (b) Collecting a certification from that person if allowed by this rule; or (c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person." Cause The County did not have policies or procedures in place to document the process performed to ensure each vendor related to the SLFRF program was not suspended or debarred from participation in federal awards. Effect Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls and procedures, the County could not ensure the vendors paid with federal funds were eligible to participate in federal programs. Any program funds the County used to pay vendors that have been suspended or debarred would be unallowable and the funding agency could potentially recover the funds. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that management of the County establish a proper system of internal controls and establish policies and procedures to ensure that vendors paid $25,000 or more, all or in part with federal funds, are verified to ensure they are not suspended or debarred, or other excluded from participating in federal programs. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.