Finding 1162748 (2023-003)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
M
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2025-11-20

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: CUAHSI did not monitor its subrecipients in 2023 as required, completing assessments only in 2024.
  • Impacted Requirements: Monitoring must comply with federal regulations, including timely risk assessments and financial oversight as per 31 USC 7502 and 2 CFR sections 200.330, .331, and .501(h).
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should review federal requirements and enhance procedures to ensure timely monitoring of subrecipients moving forward.

Finding Text

Federal agency name: U.S. National Science Foundation & U.S. Department of Commerce Federal program title: Geosciences, Computer and Information Science and Engineering, Office of International Science and Engineering & NOAA – Cooperative Institute AL No.: 47.050, 47.070, 47.079 & 11.432 Federal Award Identification No. & Award Period: EAR-1849458 (06/01/2019 -05/31/2024), EAR-2012893 (10/01/2020 – 08/31/2025), OAC-1931278 (10/1/2019 – 09/30/2023), EAR- 2244446 (03/01/2023 – 02/28/2026), OAC-2209833 (01/01/2023 – 12/31/2026), OAC-1829744 (09/01/2018 – 08/31/2023), OAC-1835592 (01/01/2009 – 12/31/2022), OAC-1835818 (10/01/2018 – 09/30/2024), OAC-2103780 (10/01/2021 – 09/30/2026), OAC-2118329 (10/01/2021 – 09/30/2026), OISE-1855654 (05/15/2019 – 12/31/2023) & A22NWS4320003 (08/01/2022 – 07/25/2025, 08/01/2022 – 07/25/2025, 04/01/2023 – 03/31/2024, 06/01/2023 – 05/31/2024, 06/01/2023 – 05/31/2026, 06/01/2023 – 05/31/2025, 06/01/2023 – 05/31/2025) Pass Through Entity: University of Alabama MW2023-003 SUBRECIPIENT MONITORING Material Weakness Criteria The regulations are documented in 31 USC 7502(f)(2), 2 CFR sections 200.330, .331, and .501(h); (Requirements for Pass-Through Entities). The criteria for monitoring subrecipients of federal awards should be following federal regulations, the terms of the federal contract, and any additional requirements specified by the auditee's policies and procedures. Specifically, the monitoring criteria should include, but not be limited to, the following: • Subrecipient Risk Assessment • Financial Monitoring • Compliance Monitoring • Reporting and Documentation Condition The auditee failed to comply with federal regulations requiring the monitoring of subrecipients for federal awards on a timely basis. Recipients of federal awards are responsible for monitoring the activities of subrecipients to ensure that they comply with applicable laws, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award. CUAHSI did not complete the monitoring of its 2023 subrecipients until 2024. During the year ended December 31, 2023, CUAHSI had $627,464 in amounts paid to subrecipients. Based on our testing of amounts paid to subrecipients, no amounts were identified as unallowable. Cause & Context CUAHSI had a policy and procedure manual in place which outlined the steps for monitoring. There was no audit evidence of CUAHSI following the policy and monitoring that the subrecipient was using the funding as prescribed during the year ended December 31, 2023. Effect CUAHSI’s lack of monitoring creates a significant risk of the possible misuse or improper use of funds. Questioned Costs None Prior Year Audit Finding Yes, previously reported as MW2022-005. Recommendation The auditor recommends that management review the requirements documented in 31 USC 7502(f)(2), 2 CFR sections 200.330, .331, and .501(h);(Requirements for Pass-Through Entities) and develops and implements procedures to adhere to such requirements. View of Responsible Official and Planned Corrective Action See accompanying Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Statement of Concurrence or Nonconcurrence: CUAHSI agrees with the finding and recommendation. CUAHSI Corrective Action: Action by CUAHS! impacting audit year 2023: CUAHSI acknowledges that incomplete documentation was available to show subrecipient-monitoring procedures were followed for FY 2023 within the required timeframe. Corrective actions to processes and responsibilities impacting subsequent years: CUAHSI now follows a written Subrecipient Monitoring Policy that specifies the duties of the Director of Finance, Staff Accountant, and Principal Investigator. Monitoring of active subawards began in May 2023. The subaward monitoring process was updated on September 21 2023 and further refined in spring 2024. All subrecipients from FY 2020–2023 have been retroactively certified, and timely reviews were in place for awards from FY 2024 onward. Management performs a mid-year check to confirm that monitoring records are complete, adequate, and securely stored. Name of Contact Person: • Jordan S Read, Chief Executive Officer • Telephone: (339)933-4660 • Email: jread@cuahsi.org Projected Completion Date: NA; is complete

Categories

Subrecipient Monitoring

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1162734 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1162735 2023-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1162736 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1162737 2023-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1162738 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1162739 2023-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1162740 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1162741 2023-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1162742 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1162743 2023-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1162744 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1162745 2023-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1162746 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1162747 2023-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1162749 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
47.050 GEOSCIENCES $3.65M
11.432 NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION (NOAA) COOPERATIVE INSTITUTES $1.02M
47.070 COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING $376,326
47.079 OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING $25,407
43.001 SCIENCE $13,006