Finding 1182116 (2025-003)

Federal Agencies: US Department of Defense (DoD); US Department of Energy (DOE); US Health and Human Services (HHS) Program Names: Research & Development Cluster: Basic, Applied and Advanced Research in Science and Engineering; Research and Technology Development; Fossil Energy Research and Development; and HIV-Related Training and Technical Assistance ALN #s: 12.630; 12.910; 81.089; 93.145 Award Numbers (Federal Award Year): ARMY W911NF-17-2-0196 (2024-2025); DARPA HR0011-23-2-0004 (2024-2025); DOE DE-FE0031581 (2024-2025); and HRSA 5 U1OHA32109-07 (2024-2025) Questioned Costs: None 2025-003. Finding: Cash Management – Timeliness of Subrecipient Payments The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Illinois Chicago did not make certain subrecipient payments timely and the controls in place did not identify the late payments. Condition: Out of seventeen subrecipient payments tested which were made by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign under the Research & Development Cluster, three payments (18%) were not made within 30 days after receipt of the billing from the subrecipient. The payments ranged from 37-79 days after receipt of the billing from the subrecipients. The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Out of eight subrecipient payments tested which were made by the University of Illinois Chicago under the HIV-Related Training and Technical Assistance Program, two payments (25%) were not made within 30 days after receipt of the billing from the subrecipient. The payments were made 34 and 40 days after the receipt of billing from the subrecipients. The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Criteria: Under Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200.305(b)(3)), when the reimbursement method is used, the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity must make payment within 30 calendar days after receipt of the billing, unless the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity reasonably believes the request to be improper. Uniform Grant Guidance (2 CFR 200.303) requires nonfederal entities receiving Federal awards to establish and maintain internal controls designed to reasonably ensure compliance with Federal laws, regulations, and program compliance requirements. Effective internal controls should include procedures to ensure subrecipient payments are made timely. Cause: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign officials stated the multi-layered review and approval process along with workload caused the exceptions noted. University of Illinois Chicago officials stated the subrecipient payments were late due to competing priorities. Effect: Without proper program cash management processes and procedures, late subrecipient payments could result in the loss of future funding. (Finding Code No. 2025-003, 2024-002, 2023-006, 2022-008) Recommendation: We recommend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Illinois Chicago review current processes, policies and procedures to minimize the time elapsing between the receipt of billings from the subrecipient and the transfer of federal funds to the subrecipient. University Response: Accepted. The University will take steps to address the recommendation in this finding.