Finding 1164720 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
A
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2025-12-12
Audit: 374432
Organization: Southwest Care Center (NM)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Organization lacks effective internal controls over payroll cost allocations for the HOPWA grant.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with §200.303 of 2 CFR Part 200, which mandates accurate record-keeping for federal awards.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Update the grant allocation process to ensure accurate wage rates are used for payroll calculations starting July 2025.

Finding Text

2025 – 001 Allowable Costs Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program: Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) AL Number: 14.241 Award Period: 7/1/24 - 6/30/25 Type of Finding: Significant deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Compliance Criteria or Specific Requirement According to §200.303 Internal controls of 2 CFR Part 200, the nonfederal entity must establish and maintain effective internal control over the federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the nonfederal entity is managing the federal award in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award. Condition and Context During our testing, we noted four samples where the Organization was not maintaining accurate records to support the payroll costs allocated to the grant. Based on the actual payroll costs of the employees charged to the grant the Organization could have charged additional costs to the grant. Effect Noncompliance results in potential for incorrect payroll costs allocated to federal grants. Questioned Costs None identified. Cause The issuance was caused by management oversight resulting in wage allocations not being updated and reviewed. Recommendation We recommend the Organization update their grant allocation process to ensure accurate wage rates are used to calculate the allocations. Views of Responsible Officials Beginning with July 2025, the Organization will ensure that current month costs are a direct reflection of that month's costs of the allocated employees using a labor rate equal to ((total allowable salaries and wages + total allowable employee benefits and taxes) / total allowable hours worked) * applicable HOPWA-related hours worked.

Corrective Action Plan

Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Grant – Assistance Listing No. 14.241 Recommendation: Our auditors recommended the Organization update their grant allocation process to ensure accurate wage rates are used to calculate the allocations. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: Beginning with July 2025, the Organization will ensure that current month costs are a direct reflection of that month's costs of the allocated employees using a labor rate equal to ((total allowable salaries and wages + total allowable employee benefits and taxes) / total allowable hours worked) * applicable HOPWA-related hours worked.

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Significant Deficiency Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.241 HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS $913,257
93.917 HIV CARE FORMULA GRANTS $600,000
93.918 GRANTS TO PROVIDE OUTPATIENT EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES WITH RESPECT TO HIV DISEASE $122,057
93.779 CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES (CMS) RESEARCH, DEMONSTRATIONS AND EVALUATIONS $72,500