Finding 1160142 (2022-021)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
C
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2025-10-06
Audit: 370531
Organization: College of the Marshall Islands (MH)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The College lacks written procedures for cash management, leading to non-compliance with federal requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Failure to disburse funds within specified timeframes and inadequate internal controls as per 2 CFR 200.305 and OMB guidelines.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should create and implement written cash management policies, including monitoring disbursements of drawdowns.

Finding Text

Finding No.: 2022-021 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education AL Program: 84.425 Education Stabilization Fund AL Sub-Program: 84.425E Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) - Student Aid Portion Federal Award No.: COVID-19 P425E204126 AL Sub-Program: 84.425F HEERF - Institutional Portion Federal Award No.: COVID-19 P425F202732 AL Sub-Program: 84.425L HEERF - Minority Serving Institution Federal Award No.: COVID-19 P425L200219 Area: Cash Management Questioned Costs: $ Undeterminable Criteria: Per OMB Compliance Supplement April 2022, non-federal entities must establish written procedures to implement the requirements of 2 CFR section 200.305. Specifically, 2 CFR section 200.305(b) states that for recipients other than States, payment methods must minimize the time elapsing between the transfer of funds from the Federal agency and the disbursement of funds by the recipient. Furthermore, per OMB Compliance Supplement April 2022, for CRRSAA HEERF II and ARP HEERF III, the Certification and Agreements and/or Supplemental Agreements requires that Student Aid Portion (ALN 84.425E) should be disbursed within 15 calendar days of the drawdown from ED’s G5 grants system and Institutional Aid Portion, (a)(2), and (a)(3) funds (all other ALNs) should be disbursed within 3 calendar days of the drawdown from G5. Furthermore, 2 CFR 200.303(a) states that the subrecipient must establish, document, and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the subrecipient is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should align with the 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 COSO. Condition: The College does not have written procedures to implement the requirements set in the criteria above. Furthermore, monitoring of actual disbursements of the following drawdowns during the year was not performed: AL Sub-Program Drawdown Amount 84.425E $750,000 84.425E $250,000 84.425E $650,000 84.425F $350,000 84.425F $552,500 84.425F $900,000 84.425F $550,000 84.425F $351,000 84.425F $350,000 84.425F $450,000 84.425F $820,000 84.425F $250,000 84.425F $350,000 84.425F $292,650 84.425F $150,000 84.425F $150,000 84.425L $750,000 84.425L $360,589 84.425L $1,150,000 84.425L $350,000 84.425L $150,000 Cause: The College lacks written policies and procedures over cash management, including monitoring of actual disbursements of drawdowns. Effect: The College is not in compliance with the applicable cash management requirements. Questioned costs, if any, that may result from non-monitoring of actual disbursements are not determinable. Recommendation: College management should establish written policies and procedures over cash management, including monitoring of actual disbursements of drawdowns. Views of Auditee and Planned Corrective Actions: The College agrees with the finding and provides details in its Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Cash Management: The College agrees with the finding. To strengthen internal controls over cash management, the College will establish written guidelines that will clearly define timelines, responsibilities, and approval processes for drawdown and disbursements. The College will reconcile drawdowns to expenditures on a monthly/quarterly basis.

Categories

Subrecipient Monitoring Cash Management

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1160126 2022-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160127 2022-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160128 2022-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160129 2022-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160130 2022-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160131 2022-013
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160132 2022-014
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160133 2022-015
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160134 2022-016
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160135 2022-017
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160136 2022-018
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160137 2022-019
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160138 2022-019
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160139 2022-020
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160140 2022-021
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160141 2022-021
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160143 2022-022
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160144 2022-022
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160145 2022-023
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160146 2022-023
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160147 2022-023
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $7.50M
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $3.02M
15.875 Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories $1.69M
84.047 Trio Upward Bound $269,114
93.107 Area Health Education Centers $90,102
10.308 Resident Instruction, Agriculture, and Food Science Facilities and Equipment Grants $45,256
47.076 Stem Education (formerly Education and Human Resources) $16,725