Finding 1158129 (2024-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
IM
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-09-30

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Organization failed to verify that five out of nine vendors and subrecipients were not suspended or debarred before contracting, violating federal requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with federal procurement guidelines, specifically the need to check for suspension and debarment before engaging contractors for services over $25,000.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement internal controls to ensure vendor checks are conducted prior to contracts, and maintain documentation of the procurement process.

Finding Text

2024-002 – Documentation of Controls over Suspension and Debarment (Repeat Finding) Finding Type. Immaterial Noncompliance/Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance (Procurement, Suspension and Debarment, Subrecipient Monitoring). Program. Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds; U.S. Department of Treasury; ALN 21.027, All Awards. Criteria. A recipient of federal awards, when using a contractor for $25,000+ in services, the entity is required to determine whether the contractor has been suspended or debarred by the federal government. Condition. During our testing of suspension and debarment for three vendors and six subrecipients, it was determined that the Organization did not verify that vendors or subrecipients were not suspended, debarred or otherwise excluded when the Organization contracted with them to provide goods or services for five of the nine vendors and subrecipients. The searches at www.sam.gov were done in early 2025 by management, which was well after the date of the applicable contractual agreement and expenditure activity. Cause. The Organization does not have the proper internal controls in place to ensure that verification of procured transaction is performed in accordance with the requirements of the Uniform Guidance. Effect. The failure to monitor suspension and debarment could cause funds to be disbursed to vendors or subrecipients who are not eligible to have goods and services purchased with federal monies. Questioned Costs. No costs were required to be questioned as a result of this finding inasmuch as our testing did not reveal any suspended or debarred vendors or subrecipients. Recommendation. We recommend that the Organization retain documentation of their procurement process including checking vendors for potential exclusions from federal award work. We further recommend that these checks be done prior to entering into a contractual agreement. View of Responsible Officials. Management agrees with this finding and has prepared a Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

2024-002 – Documentation of Controls over Suspension and Debarment (Repeat Finding) Finding Type. Immaterial Noncompliance/Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance (Procurement, Suspension and Debarment, Subrecipient Monitoring). Program. Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds; U.S. Department of Treasury; ALN 21.027, All Awards. Auditor Description of Condition and Effect. During our testing of suspension and debarment for three vendors and six subrecipients, it was determined that the Organization did not verify that vendors or subrecipients were not suspended, debarred or otherwise excluded when the Organization contracted with them to provide goods or services for five of the nine vendors and subrecipients. The searches at www.sam.gov were done in early 2025 by management, which was well after the date of the applicable contractual agreement and expenditure activity. The failure to monitor suspension and debarment could cause funds to be disbursed to vendors or subrecipients who are not eligible to have goods and services purchased with federal monies. Auditor Recommendation. We recommend that the Organization retain documentation of their procurement process including checking vendors for potential exclusions from federal award work. We further recommend that these checks be done prior to entering into a contractual agreement. Corrective Action. LEAP will be following the recommendation of retaining all documentation of our procurement process including the checking of vendors both at state and federal levels for any potential exclusions from federal award work, and ensuring these checks be done prior to contract execution. LEAP will be substantially modifying its procurement policy that is part of its Grants Management SOP in order to more explicitly detail expectations and procedural steps to meet the requirements of Uniform Guidance with regards to sequence of events leading up to contract execution, including the state and federal checks for exclusion. Further, LEAP’s leadership will be holding a module within the aforementioned internal training for all management team members to walk through a new check list tool that aligns with policy and Uniform Guidance, and case study exercise will also hit on this topic to ensure learning occurs around the internal controls improvements made with policy revamp. Responsible Person. Tony Klisch, LEAP CFO Anticipated Completion Date. August 31, 2025

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Subrecipient Monitoring

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1158126 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1158127 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1158128 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1158130 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $849,387
11.307 Economic Adjustment Assistance $37,677