Finding 1201403 (2025-004)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
M
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-30

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Department has fallen significantly behind on subrecipient monitoring, completing required evaluations and reviews for the current program year.
  • Impacted Requirements: Non-compliance with 2 CFR Part 200 monitoring requirements, risking federal grant compliance and project management effectiveness.
  • Recommended Follow-up: Continue to enhance internal controls and ensure timely monitoring to mitigate risks of misstatement and non-compliance moving forward.

Finding Text

2025-004 SUBRECIPIENT MONITORING – WOIA (REPEATED) Funding agency: U.S. Department of Labor Title: Workforce Investment Act Cluster ALN Number: 17.258, 17.259, 17.278 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance; Other Non-compliance Compliance Area: Subrecipient Monitoring Award Year: Program Year 2023-2024 Question Costs: None Condition During prior year audit testing, we noted that the Department had been behind on performing monitoring controls such as quarterly desk reviews, annual on-site evaluations, and remote reviewing and testing of cost documentation. The Department had not completed fiscal or programmatic monitoring relating to Program Year 2023-2024 activity for any of its subrecipients. Due to staffing vacancies at the beginning of the fiscal year, as of January 2024, the Department had fallen approximately 2 years behind. By the beginning of fiscal year 2025, they had just completed Program Year 2022-2023 monitoring, and were thus out of compliance for a portion of the current year under audit. During the fiscal year, the Department made significant progress towards corrective action in compliance and controls over compliance for Subrecipient Monitoring over the WIOA program. Fiscal and programmatic monitoring for Program Year 2024 was substantially complete around June of 2025. We also noted that risk assessments are now being performed by the Department, rather than as selfassessments by the subrecipients. As a result of these improvements, we have lowered the type of finding from a Material Weakness to a Significant Deficiency in internal control over compliance, and from Material Non-Compliance to Other Non-Compliance. Criteria §200.332 Requirements for pass-through entities of 2 CFR Part 200, all pass-through entities must monitor the activities of the subrecipient as necessary to ensure that the subaward is used for authorized purposes, in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the subaward; and that subaward performance goals are achieved. Pass-through entity monitoring of the subrecipient must include: (1) Reviewing financial and performance reports required by the pass-through entity. (2) Following-up and ensuring that the subrecipient takes timely and appropriate action on all deficiencies pertaining to the Federal award provided to the subrecipient from the passthrough entity detected through audits, on-site reviews, and written confirmation from the subrecipient, highlighting the status of actions planned or taken to address Single Audit findings related to the particular subaward. (3) Issuing a management decision for applicable audit findings pertaining only to the Federal award provided to the subrecipient from the pass-through entity as required by §200.521 Management Decision. Effect The lack of internal controls over this compliance requirement provides an opportunity for federal grant noncompliance at the subrecipient level. For monitoring controls to be wholly effective, they must be performed timely. Potential costs outside the scope of work as well as overall effective project management at the subrecipient level. There is higher risk of material misstatement, fraud, noncompliance, or errors. Cause The Department had previously not established internal controls and procedures over financial grant management to ensure compliance with applicable compliance requirements. The Department had experienced staffing turnover during prior years. These causes have since been rectified

Corrective Action Plan

Recommendation We recommend that the Department continue to monitor its monitoring activities over subrecipients, to ensure that they are being performed timely. Management Response Corrective Action The Department acknowledges the corrective action related to the completion of required WIOA monitoring activities and has taken concrete steps to bring monitoring into compliance. NMDWS has scheduled onsite monitoring reviews and issued formal notification letters to all four subrecipients, as outlined below: • Southwestern Local Workforce Development Board: Notification letter sent January 26, 2026; onsite monitoring scheduled for March 9–13, 2026 • Northern Area Local Workforce Development Board: Notification letter sent January 26, 2026; onsite monitoring scheduled for April 20–24, 2026 • Workforce Connection of Central New Mexico: Notification letter sent January 5, 2026; onsite monitoring scheduled for May 4–11, 2026 • Eastern Area Workforce Development Board: Notification letter sent January 26, 2026; onsite monitoring scheduled for May 18–22, 2026 The Department has completed Program Years 2022, 2023 and 2024. In addition, the Department has also completed a Program Year 2024 risk assessment, which is now incorporated into the grant agreements. The WIOA Monitoring Unit will continue to utilize the Department’s Grant Risk Assessment tool for future grant agreements to ensure consistent and risk-informed monitoring. Finally, the WIOA Monitoring Unit has drafted a comprehensive subrecipient monitoring policy. This policy will establish clear monitoring standards for subrecipients and pass-through entities under WIOA Title I-B and related discretionary awards, including monitoring frequency, scope, and requirements for monitoring letters and reports. These actions are intended to address the identified deficiencies and strengthen the Department’s monitoring framework moving forward. Due Date of Completion: June 30, 2026 Responsible Party(ies): Administrative Services Division Director

Categories

Subrecipient Monitoring

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1201401 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1201402 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
17.225 Unemployment Insurance $237.07M
17.278 WIOA Dislocated Worker Formula Grants $15.57M
93.558 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families $9.89M
17.207 Employment Service/Wagner-Peyser Funded Activities $9.66M
17.258 WIOA Adult Program $7.09M
17.259 WIOA Youth Activities $6.79M
94.006 AmeriCorps State and National $3.03M
17.285 Registered Apprenticeship $1.48M
17.801 Jobs for Veterans State Grants $1.37M
21.027 COVID-19 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $1.07M
17.261 Workforce Data Quality Initiative $1.02M
17.002 Labor Force Statistics $938,176
17.245 Trade Adjustment Assistance $594,497
17.277 WIOA National Dislocated Worker Grants $374,793
94.003 AMERICORPS STATE COMMISSIONS SUPPORT GRANT $357,224
17.271 Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program $309,170
94.008 State Commissions-Investment Funds $282,266
21.023 COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program $159,144
17.273 Temporary Labor Certification for Foreign Workers $133,923
30.001 Employment Discrimination Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 $67,431
11.307 Economic Adjustment Assistance $58,072
93.967 CDC's Collaboration with Academia to Strengthen Public Health $38,000