Finding 1179421 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
M
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-13

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There is a material weakness in internal controls due to incomplete subaward agreements, which lack essential information required by federal regulations.
  • Impacted Requirements: Key elements missing include the assistance listing number, federal funds obligated, and other compliance details as mandated by 2 CFR 200.332(a).
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should create a standardized subaward agreement template to ensure all required information is included and communicated to subrecipients.

Finding Text

2025-001 - Material Weakness in Internal Control and Material Compliance over Subrecipient Monitoring: Incomplete Subaward Agreements Identification of federal programs: Federal Agency: Department of Commerce (DOI) ALN: 11.438 – Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Pacific Salmon Treaty Program Award Numbers: NA22NMF4380226, NA20NMF4380258, and NA21NMF4380467 Criteria: Per 2 CFR 200.332(a), pass-through entities must provide specific information to subrecipients at the time of the subaward, including but not limited to:  Subrecipient name, UEI, and contact information  Federal Award Identification Number (FAIN)  Federal award date  Period of performance  CFDA/ALN number and program name  Total amount of federal funds obligated  All requirements imposed by the pass-through entity  Indirect cost rate information  Provisions for closeout Failure to include the required information limits the subrecipient’s ability to comply with federal requirements. Condition: During our testing of subrecipient monitoring, we noted that the subawards were missing elements under 2 CFR 200.332(a), including the assistance listing number and amount of federal funds obligated. Further, these relevant compliance requirements were not communicated to the subrecipients at any other time in writing. The entity made subaward payments totaling $784,907 during the audit period without maintaining complete documentation demonstrating compliance with federal subaward requirements. Cause: Pass through funding through subawards was new for the Organization and they were not familiar with subrecipient disclosure requirements. Effect or potential effect: Failure to issue complete subaward agreements increases the likelihood that subrecipients may not comply with federal requirements. These deficiencies represent a material weakness because they indicate a reasonable possibility that material noncompliance with federal requirements could occur and not be prevented or detected. Questioned Costs: None. Context: There were seven subrecipients under the program. In 2025, subrecipient expenditures totaled $784,907. Identification of Repeat Finding: Not applicable. Recommendations: Management should implement a standardized subaward agreement template that incorporates all elements required by 2 CFR 200.332(a). Views of Responsible Officials: See Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Name of Contact Person: Karen Gillis Corrective Action Plan: We have submitted our Subaward Agreement Template to our attorney’s office for review of compliance in all segments of the Agreement Template. Once we receive the new version we will work with all Subaward partners to update the agreements for the current term of their awards. We will also use the new version for all awards hereafter. Proposed Completion Date: June 30, 2026

Categories

Subrecipient Monitoring

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1179422 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179423 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
11.438 PACIFIC COAST SALMON RECOVERY PACIFIC SALMON TREATY PROGRAM $1.07M
15.664 FISH AND WILDLIFE COORDINATION AND ASSISTANCE $685,399