Finding 1173169 (2023-006)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2026-02-10
Audit: 386627
Organization: Rmi Ports Authority (MH)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Authority failed to receive and review certified weekly payrolls from contractors, violating wage rate requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with federal wage rate laws (Davis-Bacon Act) and related regulations is not being met.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Establish internal controls to ensure timely submission of certified payrolls from contractors and subcontractors.

Finding Text

Federal Agency: U.S Department of Transportation Assistance Listing Program: 20.106 Airport Improvement Program Federal Award Nos.: 3-68-0001-018-2017, 3-68-0001-020-2019, 3-68-0001-022-2020, 3-68-0001-023-2020,3-68-0001-024-2020, 3-68-0001-025-2022 Area: Special Tests and Provisions – Wage Rate Requirements Questioned Costs: $ Undeterminable Criteria: All laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors to work on construction contracts more than $2,000 financed by federal assistance funds must be paid wages not less than those established for the locality of the project (prevailing wage rates) by the Department of Labor (DOL) (40 USC 3141–3144, 3146, and 3147). Nonfederal entities shall include in their construction contracts subject to the Wage Rate Requirements (which still may be referenced as the Davis-Bacon Act) a provision that the contractor or subcontractor comply with those requirements and the DOL regulations (29 CFR Part 5, Labor Standards Provisions Applicable to Contacts Governing Federally Financed and Assisted Construction). This includes a requirement for the contractor or subcontractor to submit to the nonfederal entity weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, a copy of the payroll and a statement of compliance (certified payrolls) (29 CFR sections 5.5 and 5.6; the A-102 Common Rule (section 36(i)(5)); OMB Circular A-110 (2 CFR Part 215, Appendix A, Contract Provisions); 2 CFR Part 176, Subpart C; and 2 CFR section 200.326). Condition: For the year ended September 30, 2023, the Authority did not receive and review certified weekly payrolls from contractors and/or subcontractors. Cause: The Authority lacks internal control policies and procedures to obtain required certified weekly payrolls reports from contractors and/or subcontractors to ensure compliance with wage rate requirements. Effect: The Authority is in noncompliance with applicable wage rate requirements. No questioned costs are reported as we were unable to determine the quantitative impact to the program. Recommendation: We recommend the Authority’s responsible personnel to establish internal control policies and procedures to ensure that contractors and/or subcontractors are submitting weekly certified payrolls as required. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan: The Authority agrees with the finding and provides details in its Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

RMIPA will strictly enforce contractors to submit wage-rate compliance documentation as a condition for invoice payment. This reporting requirement will be formally integrated into contract oversight practices.

Categories

Special Tests & Provisions Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1173166 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1173167 2023-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1173168 2023-005
    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 $4.83M