Finding Text
2025-001: Academic Programs - Period of Performance (Material Weakness; Noncompliance) Assistance Listing Number/Title: #81.252, Academic Programs Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Energy Award Number: DE-LM0000497 Award Year: October 1, 2023 - March 31, 2025 Criteria: Per 2 CFR 200.343, the recipient must incur expenditures within the performance period of the grant award, as indicated in the Assistance Agreement(s). Per 2 CFR 200.344(c), the recipient must liquidate all obligations incurred under the award no later than 120 calendar days after the conclusion of the period of performance. Condition/context: This award closed on March 31, 2025, with a final liquidation date of July 29, 2025. Two expenditures for obligations totaling $69,608 were not incurred by March 31, 2025. Neither expenditure for those obligations was liquidated by July 29, 2025. Cause: Central Wyoming College (the College) originally anticipated this funding to last several more years (beyond March 31, 2025). As such, a long-term project that was funded by this award was ongoing at the end of the award period of performance. Due to external pressures surrounding award closeout, the College requested two pay applications from its contractor for work not yet performed. The College then held checks for each pay application until the related work was completed. Effect: Per 2 CFR 200.339, if a non-Federal entity fails to comply with Federal statutes, regulations, or the terms and conditions of a Federal award, the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may impose additional conditions, as described in §200.208, Specific Conditions. If the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity determines that noncompliance cannot be remedied by imposing additional conditions, the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may take one or more of the following actions, as appropriate in the circumstances: a. Temporarily withhold payments until the recipient or subrecipient takes corrective action. b. Disallow costs for all or part of the cost of the activity associated with the noncompliance of the recipient or subrecipient. c. Suspend or terminate the Federal award in part or in its entirety. d. Initiate suspension or debarment proceedings as authorized in 2 CFR Part 180 and the Federal agency’s regulations or, for pass-through entities, recommend suspension or debarment proceedings be initiated by the Federal agency. e. Withhold further Federal funds (new awards or continuation funding) for the project or program. f. Pursue other legally available remedies. Questioned costs: $69,608 Identification as a repeat finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend that the College work closely with its granting agency to ensure that any unanticipated changes/reductions in funding periods are communicated in time to allow the College to effectively close out the grant, or to obtain permission for funding of expenditures that will not be incurred and/or liquidated timely. Views of responsible officials: Management concurs with the finding. See Exhibit I for corrective action plan.