Finding Text
Inadequate Internal Controls Over Compliance Related to Identification and Reporting of Assistance Listing Numbers (ALNs) in Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards Federal Program State Energy Program ALN 81.141 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant ALN 81.128 Name of Federal Agency U.S. Department of Energy Compliance Requirement Reporting Type of Finding Internal control over compliance/non-compliance Category Significant deficiency on internal controls over compliance and Other Matter. Criteria Title 2 CFR §200.303 requires non-Federal entities to establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal awards that provides reasonable assurance that the entity is managing the awards in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Additionally, 2 CFR §200.510(b) requires the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) to include the correct Assistance Listing Number (ALN) for each Federal program. Proper identification of ALNs is essential, as different ALNs may be subject to different compliance requirements under the Uniform Guidance and program-specific terms and conditions. Condition During our review of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA), we noted that Federal funds received under the U.S. Department of Energy were not consistently identified and documented under the correct Assistance Listing Numbers. Specifically, expenditures related to ALNs 81.141 and 81.128 were not clearly distinguished or were incorrectly classified. The entity did not have sufficient internal controls in place to ensure that Federal awards were properly identified by ALN at the time funds were received and subsequently recorded and reported on the SEFA. Cause The condition resulted from inadequate internal controls over compliance related to: •The identification of Federal awards upon receipt of funds; •The documentation and tracking of ALNs throughout the grant lifecycle; and •The preparation and review of the SEFA to ensure accurate classification by ALN. Management relied on informal processes and did not implement a formal review or reconciliation procedure to verify that Federal expenditures were recorded under the correct Assistance Listing Numbers. Effect Failure to correctly identify and document the applicable ALN may result in noncompliance with Federal requirements, as different ALNs can carry different compliance requirements, including but not limited to: •Allowable costs and activities. •Period of performance •Reporting requirements •Special tests and provisions; and •Subrecipient monitoring requirements. Misclassification of expenditures by ALN increases the risk that the entity may apply incorrect compliance requirements to a Federal award, potentially leading to unrecognized instances of noncompliance and inaccurate reporting on the SEFA. Additionally, incorrect ALN reporting may affect the determination of major programs and the scope of Single Audit testing. Context Two (2) out of a total of fifteen (15) Federal programs were not consistently identified and documented under the correct Assistance Listing Numbers. Questioned Costs None. Identification as a Repeated Finding This is not a repeat finding from the immediate previous audit. Recommendation We recommend that management strengthen internal controls over compliance by: 1. Implementing formal procedures to identify and document the correct ALN at the time Federal funds are received. 2. Maintaining detailed grant tracking records that clearly link expenditures to the appropriate ALN. 3. Establishing a supervisory review process over the preparation of the SEFA to verify the accuracy and completeness of ALN classifications prior to submission. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions Management of the Department agrees with this finding. Refer to the corrective action plan on pages 114-119.