Finding 1171983 (2023-021)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2026-02-02
Audit: 385081

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: RepMar failed to provide a complete list of personnel funded by specific grants and evidence of their annual performance evaluations.
  • Impacted Requirements: This lack of documentation raises concerns about compliance with grant terms and effective internal controls as mandated by federal regulations.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: RepMar should implement stronger internal control policies to ensure proper monitoring and compliance with grant requirements.

Finding Text

Finding No.: 2023-021 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Interior AL Program: 15.875 Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories Federal Award No.: Compact of Free Association, As Amended Questioned Costs: $ Undeterminable Area: Special Test and Provisions – Annual Performance Reviews Criteria: Education Sector NGA Section 4c. states that in furtherance of the progress made under JEMFAC Resolution 2015-MT-2 all personnel funded from Education Sector, Supplemental Education Grant (SEG) and Ebeye Special Needs (ESN) grants are required to undergo an annual performance evaluation and such evaluation shall be maintained as part of the personnel files and made available when requested for purposes of grant oversight or audits. Furthermore, 2 CFR 200.303(a) states that a recipient of a Federal award must establish, document, and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the recipient is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should align with the guidance in “Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government” issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the “Internal Control-Integrated Framework” issued by the COSO. Condition: We were not provided with a complete listing of personnel funded by the Education Sector, SEG and ESN grants and evidence that the annual performance evaluation was conducted for such personnel. Thus, we were unable to ascertain compliance with this grant special terms and conditions. Cause: RepMar lacks adequate internal control policies and procedures to facilitate monitoring of and compliance with grant special terms and conditions. Effect: RepMar is potentially in noncompliance with applicable special tests and provision. We were unable to execute sufficient appropriate audit procedures. Accordingly, questioned cost is undeterminable. Recommendation: RepMar should establish adequate internal control policies and procedures to facilitate monitoring of and compliance with grant special terms and conditions. Views of Responsible Officials: RepMar’s Corrective Action Plan does not indicate disagreement and provides planned corrective action.

Corrective Action Plan

The Ministry acknowledges this finding and notes that the inability to reconcile the staff list was primarily due to the system migration from 4Gov to the new FMIS, which required additional time to review and make necessary adjustments. As a corrective measure, all personnel must be entered into the system using their RMI Social Security Number, legal names, and confirmation from the Budget Division regarding the funding source to support payroll. The Budget Division is now required to upload all supporting documents into FMIS prior to establishing and releasing funds. Any changes to the approved budget narrative must include an official communication from the grantor, which must also be uploaded. Requests will not be processed without the required documentation.

Categories

Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Special Tests & Provisions Subrecipient Monitoring

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1171976 2023-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171977 2023-013
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171978 2023-014
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171979 2023-015
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171980 2023-016
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171981 2023-018
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171982 2023-019
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171984 2023-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171985 2023-013
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171986 2023-014
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171987 2023-017
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171988 2023-018
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171989 2023-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171990 2023-013
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171991 2023-014
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171992 2023-017
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171993 2023-018
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171994 2023-020
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
15.875 ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE TERRITORIES $70.78M
93.323 EPIDEMIOLOGY AND LABORATORY CAPACITY FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES (ELC) $1.92M
84.027 SPECIAL EDUCATION GRANTS TO STATES $1.77M
93.224 HEALTH CENTER PROGRAM (COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, MIGRANT HEALTH CENTERS, HEALTH CARE FOR THE HOMELESS, AND PUBLIC HOUSING PRIMARY CARE) $1.45M
10.582 FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAM $595,637
93.268 IMMUNIZATION COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS $525,392
11.460 SPECIAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC PROJECTS $442,946
93.069 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS $306,144
84.325P The Rebublic of the Marshall Islands Teacher Retention Project $256,207
93.898 CANCER PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROGRAMS FOR STATE, TERRITORIAL AND TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS $252,680
93.994 MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES BLOCK GRANT TO THE STATES $237,430
15.904 HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND GRANTS-IN-AID $236,816
93.945 ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL $223,947
93.354 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY RESPONSE: COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE: PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE $205,291
93.074 HOSPITAL PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM (HPP) AND PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS (PHEP) ALIGNED COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS $196,374
17.225 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE $173,135
93.421 STRENGTHENING PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS AND SERVICES THROUGH NATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS TO IMPROVE AND PROTECT THE NATION’S HEALTH $145,500
93.391 ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT STATE, TRIBAL, LOCAL AND TERRITORIAL (STLT) HEALTH DEPARTMENT RESPONSE TO PUBLIC HEALTH OR HEALTHCARE CRISES $117,780
93.495 COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE AND RESILIENT $105,302
93.110 MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH FEDERAL CONSOLIDATED PROGRAMS $78,165
93.116 PROJECT GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR TUBERCULOSIS CONTROL PROGRAMS $63,723
10.664 COOPERATIVE FORESTRY ASSISTANCE $56,289
97.042 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE GRANTS $52,637
45.310 GRANTS TO STATES $28,942
93.991 PREVENTIVE HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICES BLOCK GRANT $27,459
93.917 HIV CARE FORMULA GRANTS $27,400
93.217 FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES $18,560
10.U01 Quarantine Direct Cost $4,248
93.243 SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROJECTS OF REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE $0