Finding Text
Finding 2025-003: Subrecipient Monitoring Criteria: The Uniform Guidance (2 CFR §200.332) requires a non-Federal entity to monitor the activities of its subrecipients as necessary to ensure that Federal awards are used for authorized purposes in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Furthermore, the Organization's policy and/or CACFP regulations governing the Sponsoring Organization require an initial on-site review of each new center or Family Child Care (FCC) provider within the first 28 calendar days of program operation. This is a critical component of initial subrecipient monitoring to ensure program integrity and compliance with Federal requirements. Condition: The Sponsoring Organization did not consistently perform the required initial on-site review for new subrecipients (centers and FCC providers) within the mandatory 28-day timeframe. A sample of 40 new centers/FCC providers was selected for testing. Four (4) of the 40 subrecipients (10%) did not have their initial on-site review completed within the first 28 days of operation. The delays in conducting the initial reviews ranged from 6 to 23 days past the required 28-day deadline. Cause: The cause appears to be an inadequate internal control or process to ensure initial review scheduling and completion are prioritized and managed to meet the 28-day deadline, potentially due to competing demands or staffing limitations. Effect: Failure to conduct initial on-site reviews within the required timeframe weakens the Sponsoring Organization's internal controls over subrecipient monitoring and oversight. Timely initial reviews are essential for early identification and correction of compliance issues, proper training, and ensuring new centers/FDCH providers operate in accordance with Federal CACFP requirements from the outset. Questioned Costs: None noted. Context: This is the first time this issue has been noted as a finding. The Sponsoring Organization performed the required reviews; however, they were completed after the regulatory deadline. Repeat Finding: No. This is the first time this specific finding has been identified. Recommendation: The Sponsoring Organization should strengthen its internal controls and monitoring procedures to ensure that all new centers and FCC providers receive the required initial on-site review within the 28-day mandatory timeframe. This should include: 1. Establishing a formal process with documented timeframes for assigning and completing initial reviews immediately upon a new site's approval. 2. Implementing a system to track and alert monitoring staff of the 28-day deadline for each new subrecipient. 3. Providing targeted training to monitoring staff to emphasize the importance of timely initial reviews and the associated regulatory deadlines.