Finding 1166931 (2023-009)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
M
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2025-12-29
Audit: 377993
Organization: State of Kosrae (FM)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The FSM National Government lacks necessary subrecipient monitoring procedures, leading to noncompliance with the Fiscal Procedures Agreement (FPA) and questioned costs of $72,071,497.
  • Impacted Requirements: Failure to ensure sub-grants meet Compact requirements, lack of awareness for sub-grantees about their obligations, and inadequate monitoring of fund disbursement timelines.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Update policies to align with FPA requirements and establish formal monitoring procedures to ensure timely disbursement of federal funds to subrecipients.

Finding Text

Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Interior ALN Program: 15.875 Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories Federal Award No.: D23AF00012, D23AF00013, D23AF00014, D23AF00015, D23AF00016, D23AF00017, D23AF00020, D23AF0002, D23AF00022, D22AF00155 Requirement: Subrecipient Monitoring Questioned Costs: $72,071,497 Criteria: In accordance with Article VI, Section 1(k)(1) of the Fiscal Procedures Agreement (FPA) The Government of the Federated States of Micronesia will follow its laws and procedures when awarding and administering Sub-Grants. The Governments shall ensure that: (i) Every Sub-Grant includes any clauses required by the Compact, as amended, the sector Grant awards and this Agreement; (ii) Sub Grantees are aware of requirements imposed upon them by the Compact, as amended, the sector Grant awards and this agreement; and (iii) The Sub-Grantee can meet the financial management standards of this Agreement. Additionally, Article VI, Section 1(h) requires that The Government of the Federated States of Micronesia shall not award funds received pursuant to the Compact, as amended, to any party which is debarred, suspended or otherwise excluded from and ineligible for participation in United States assistance programs under Executive Order 12549, ‘Debarment and suspension.’ issued by the President of the United States on February 18, 1986. Furthermore, Article IV, Section 5(b)(3) says the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia maintains procedures to minimize the time elapsing between transfer of funds and their disbursements. Condition: 1) The FSM National Government does not have subrecipient monitoring procedures as required by the FPA. Thus, the FSM National Government did not perform the minimum subrecipient monitoring requirements over the $72,071,497 amounts passed to subrecipients. a. Ensure that every sub-grant includes any clauses required by the Compact, as amended, the sector Grant awards and the FPA. b. Ensure Sub Grantees are aware of requirements imposed upon them by the Compact, as amended, the sector Grant awards and the FPA. c. The Sub-Grantee can meet the financial management standards of the FPA. The FSM National Government does not perform suspension and debarment monitoring for covered transactions that is in accordance with Article VI, Section 1(h) of the FPA. 2) Condition: Payments to subrecipients, with a total population of $6,197,594, were not monitored whether procedures to minimize the time elapsing between the payment to the subrecipient and the subrecipient disbursements were followed. No questioned costs are presented as amounts are questioned at Condition 1. Cause: 1) The FSM National Government does not consider amounts passed through to the State Governments as a subaward/sub-grant. 2) FSM National Government does not have policies and procedures that comply with Article VI, Section 1(h) and Section 1(k)(1) of the Fiscal Procedures Agreement. 3) The FSM National Government does not have established policies and procedures to minimize time elapsing between the transfer of federal funds to the subrecipient and the disbursement of such funds by the subrecipient. Effect: 1) FSM National Government is in noncompliance with applicable subrecipient monitoring requirements and questioned costs of $72,071,497, which is the total subrecipient disbursements made during the year, result. The $72,071,497 is not necessarily unallowable costs but rather funds passed through that have no monitoring. 2) The FSM National Government is in noncompliance with the applicable subrecipient cash management monitoring requirements. Identification as a Repeat Finding: 2022-014 Recommendation: 1) FSM National Government should update their established policies and procedures to be in accordance with Article VI, Section 1(k) and Section 1(h)()of the FPA to comply with the requirements for pass-through-entities. 2) The FSM National Government should establish a policy and implement formal monitoring procedures to ensure that the subrecipient complies with the requirement to minimize the time elapsing between the transfer of federal funds to the subrecipient and the disbursement of such funds for program purposes. Views of Responsible Officials: Management disagrees with the finding. Refer to FSM NG’s Views of Responsible Officials for their detailed response. Auditor Response: Noncompliance was due to FSM National Government not having subrecipient monitoring procedures in place as required by the FPA.

Corrective Action Plan

Disagree with adverse compliance opinion and findings, as auditors applied Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200) requirements, which are inapplicable to Compact sector grants (ALN 15.875) governed exclusively by the Compact of Free Association, as amended, and the Fiscal Procedures Agreement (FPA). • Request U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs, to disregard these findings for grant administration and questioned costs resolution, as they do not reflect noncompliance with Compact/FPA standards. • Maintain commitment to accountability under Compact/FPA standards. 9/30/2026 Ms. Christina Elnei, Asst. Secretary of National Treasury (primary contact) Email: christina.elnei@dofa.gov.fm

Categories

Subrecipient Monitoring Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Allowable Costs / Cost Principles

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1166850 2023-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166851 2023-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166852 2023-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166853 2023-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166854 2023-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166855 2023-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166856 2023-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166857 2023-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166858 2023-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166859 2023-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166860 2023-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166861 2023-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166862 2023-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166863 2023-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166864 2023-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166865 2023-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166866 2023-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166867 2023-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166868 2023-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166869 2023-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166870 2023-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166871 2023-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166872 2023-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166873 2023-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166874 2023-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166875 2023-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166876 2023-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166877 2023-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166878 2023-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166879 2023-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166880 2023-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166881 2023-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166882 2023-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166883 2023-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166884 2023-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166885 2023-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166886 2023-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166887 2023-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166888 2023-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166889 2023-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166890 2023-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166891 2023-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166892 2023-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166893 2023-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166894 2023-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166895 2023-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166896 2023-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166897 2023-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166898 2023-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166899 2023-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166900 2023-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166901 2023-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166902 2023-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166903 2023-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166904 2023-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166905 2023-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166906 2023-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166907 2023-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166908 2023-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166909 2023-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166910 2023-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166911 2023-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166912 2023-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166913 2023-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166914 2023-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166915 2023-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166916 2023-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166917 2023-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166918 2023-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166919 2023-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166920 2023-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166921 2023-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166922 2023-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166923 2023-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166924 2023-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166925 2023-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166926 2023-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166927 2023-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166928 2023-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166929 2023-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166930 2023-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166932 2023-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166933 2023-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166934 2023-017
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166935 2023-018
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166936 2023-019
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166937 2023-020
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166938 2023-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166939 2023-013
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166940 2023-014
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166941 2023-015
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166942 2023-016
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
20.106 AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT PROGRAMS, AND COVID-19 AIRPORTS PROGRAMS $7.62M
93.323 EPIDEMIOLOGY AND LABORATORY CAPACITY FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES (ELC) $3.76M
84.027 SPECIAL EDUCATION GRANTS TO STATES $3.73M
93.268 IMMUNIZATION COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS $2.00M
11.431 CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH $1.91M
15.875 ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE TERRITORIES $943,754
93.959 BLOCK GRANTS FOR PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE $926,326
93.116 PROJECT GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR TUBERCULOSIS CONTROL PROGRAMS $857,028
93.217 FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES $606,890
93.354 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY RESPONSE: COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE: PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE $540,103
93.994 MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES BLOCK GRANT TO THE STATES $516,493
15.904 HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND GRANTS-IN-AID $512,290
93.069 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS $496,380
93.958 BLOCK GRANTS FOR COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES $422,475
93.391 ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT STATE, TRIBAL, LOCAL AND TERRITORIAL (STLT) HEALTH DEPARTMENT RESPONSE TO PUBLIC HEALTH OR HEALTHCARE CRISES $402,201
93.377 PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF CHRONIC DISEASE AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS IN THE U.S. AFFILIATED PACIFIC ISLANDS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS, AND P. R. $390,383
93.898 CANCER PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROGRAMS FOR STATE, TERRITORIAL AND TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS $293,369
84.325 SPECIAL EDUCATION - PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT TO IMPROVE SERVICES AND RESULTS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES $283,747
93.251 EARLY HEARING DETECTION AND INTERVENTION $262,950
93.092 AFFORDABLE CARE ACT (ACA) PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY EDUCATION PROGRAM $255,308
93.889 NATIONAL BIOTERRORISM HOSPITAL PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM $209,357
93.788 OPIOID STR $183,482
45.310 GRANTS TO STATES $85,009
93.110 MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH FEDERAL CONSOLIDATED PROGRAMS $82,927
93.104 COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH SERIOUS EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCES (SED) $74,975
17.225 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE $71,770
93.991 PREVENTIVE HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICES BLOCK GRANT $56,709
93.336 BEHAVIORAL RISK FACTOR SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM $54,763
93.917 HIV CARE FORMULA GRANTS $49,133
93.127 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN $42,555
97.042 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE GRANTS $34,976
10.675 URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY PROGRAM $29,673
93.060 SEXUAL RISK AVOIDANCE EDUCATION $13,930
93.967 CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION COLLABORATION WITH ACADEMIA TO STRENGTHEN PUBLIC HEALTH $13,341
59.006 8(A) BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM $0