Finding 1181946 (2024-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2026-03-23
Audit: 393216
Organization: Strategic Capacity Group, Inc. (VA)
Auditor: CBIZ CPAS PC

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Data Collection Form for 2024 was filed late, missing the September 30, 2025 deadline.
  • Impacted Requirements: This finding violates the Uniform Guidance, which mandates timely submission of audit packages and forms.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should enhance processes to ensure compliance with all federal filing deadlines moving forward.

Finding Text

Finding No. 2024-001: Late Filing of Data Collection Form – Compliance Finding – All Federal Awards Criteria In accordance with the Uniform Guidance, the audit package and the Data Collection Form must be submitted within 30 days after receipt of the auditors’ report or nine months after the end of the fiscal year, whichever comes first. Condition and Context The Data Collection Form for the year ended December 31, 2024 was not submitted to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse by the September 30, 2025 deadline. Cause SCG was unable to meet the September 30, 2025 deadline for its 2024 data collection form submission due to an appeal stemming from differing interpretations of guidelines related to the calculation and application of the negotiated indirect cost rate between SCG and the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), the agency contracted to administer the U.S. Department of State’s Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA). The Department of State issued the Notice of Determination—the response to SCG’s appeal—on September 24, 2024. Further delays were caused by a government shutdown in January 2025, which suspended certain grants until March 2025. As a result, the completion of the 2024 audit was delayed, which correspondingly affected the timing of the 2024 audit. Effect Management was not in compliance with the requirements of the Uniform Guidance. Questioned Costs None. Repeat Finding Yes. Recommendation We recommend that management continue its efforts to ensure that all filing requirements under federal awards are met. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions See corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

STRATEGIC CAPACITY GROUP CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN For the Year Ended December 31, 2024 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) submits the following corrective action plan for the year ended December 31, 2024. Independent Public Accounting Firm: CBIZ CPAs P.C. 1899 L Street NW, Suite 850 Washington, DC 20036 Audit Period: The finding from the December 31, 2024 schedule of findings and questioned costs is discussed below. The finding is numbered consistently with the numbers assigned in the schedule. FINDING - FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS Finding No. 2024-001: Late Filing of Data Collection Form - Compliance Finding – All Federal Awards Criteria In accordance with the Uniform Guidance, the audit package and the Data Collection Form must be submitted within 30 days after receipt of the auditors’ report or nine months after the end of the fiscal year, whichever comes first. Condition and Context The Data Collection Form for the year ended December 31, 2024 was not submitted to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse by the September 30, 2025 deadline. Recommendation It was recommended that management continue its efforts to ensure that all filing requirements under federal awards are met. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions SCG has consistently ensured that all audits preceding fiscal year 2023 were completed by the annual September 30 deadline. Both the 2023 and 2024 audit delays resulted from SCG’s appeal to the U.S. Department of State on December 20, 2023, concerning differing interpretations surrounding the configuration and application of the Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA). Additionally, in January 2025, the U.S. Department of State suspended 100 percent of SCG’s funding. Although SCG subsequently resumed programmatic activities, the disruption of funding paused the in-progress 2023 audit and delayed its rescheduling. It also delayed the start of the 2024 audit. SCG received a response to its appeal only on September 24, 2024. Had it not been for these unique circumstance and the timing of the U.S. Department of State’s appeal determination, SCG’s 2023 audit would have been filed by the deadline, and SCG’s 2024 audit would have been completed and submitted by September 30, 2025. Because of these unique circumstances, SCG believes no corrective action is warranted. Contact Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Querine Hanlon, President _______________ If the US Department of State has questions regarding this plan, please call Querine Hanlon, President, (202) 746-7317. Sincerely, Querine Hanlon, Ph.D. President Strategic Capacity Group

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Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1181943 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1181944 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1181945 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
19.703 CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS $5.79M
19.705 TRANS-NATIONAL CRIME $868,468
19.301 THE SECRETARY'S OFFICE OF THE GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE (S/GPI) GRANT PROGRAMS $404,867
19.704 COUNTER NARCOTICS $137,089