Finding 1205334 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
I
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-31
Audit: 397042
Organization: Town of Easton (MD)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Town failed to maintain proper documentation for verifying that two out of five vendors were not suspended or debarred before payment with federal funds.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with suspension and debarment verification as outlined in 2 CFR Section 180.995.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Ensure that policies are enforced to maintain documentation verifying vendor eligibility before disbursement of federal funds.

Finding Text

Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Treasury Federal Program Name: Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Assistance Listing Number: 21.027 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: MD-0044 and 2021 Award Period: March 3, 2021 through December 31, 2024, liquidated by December 31, 2026 Compliance Requirement: Suspension and Debarment Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance Criteria or Specific Requirement: When a nonfederal entity enters into a covered transaction with an entity at a lower tier, the nonfederal entity must verify that the entity, as defined in 2 CFR Section 180.995 and agency adopting regulations, is not suspended or debarred or otherwise excluded from participating in the transaction. Questioned Costs: None Condition/Context: Two of five vendors tested did not have proper documentation maintained to support suspension and debarment verification was performed prior to them being paid with federal funds. Per SAM.gov, there was no history of the vendor being suspended or debarred. Cause: The Town’s policies and procedures did not require documentation be maintained to verify vendors are not suspended or debarred prior to paying with Federal grant funds. Effect: The Town could make a disbursement to a vendor that is suspended or debarred. Repeat Finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend the Town continue with the policies and procedures now established and require documentation be maintained to verify vendors are not suspended or debarred prior to being paid with federal funds. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund – Assistance Listing No. 21.027 Recommendation: We recommend the Town continue with the established policies and procedures and require documentation to verify vendors are not suspended or debarred prior to being paid with federal funds. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: Purchasing policy has been updated where necessary to require documented verification of vendor status through the SAM.gov database prior to contract execution for all federally funded procurements. Purchasing staff will ensure compliance with updated procedures. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Carol Callahan Planned completion date for corrective action plan: June 30, 2026

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $4.61M
20.600 STATE AND COMMUNITY HIGHWAY SAFETY $3,514