Finding 1205396 (2024-003)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
H
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2026-03-31

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Corporation failed to make timely payments to a vendor, resulting in noncompliance with federal award requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Payments were not processed within the required period of performance, violating Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 200.303 and 200.344(c).
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Work with the funding agency to address the compliance issue and improve internal controls for managing financial obligations after grant periods.

Finding Text

Finding Reference: 2024-003 – H. Period of Performance Federal Program Information Federal Agencies: Department of Health and Human Services Awards: Assistance Listing 93.959 – Block Grants for Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Award Periods: June 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 Description: Timely Payment of Financial Obligations Type of Finding: Compliance and Material Weakness in Internal Control Over Compliance Criteria In accordance with Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Part 200.303, Internal controls, “Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award.” In accordance with Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Part 200.344(c), Closeout, “The recipient must submit, no later than 120 calendar days after the end date of the period of performance, all financial, performance, and other reports as required by the terms and conditions of the Federal award.” Condition Management’s monitoring control over compliance with applicable period of performance requirements and timely payment of the reported expenditures following their reimbursement from BHSB was not designed appropriately to ensure all expenditures were paid within the specific period of performance. Cause The Corporation did not process payments to one vendor within the applicable period of performance requirement for federal award expenditures reimbursed by the BHSB. Effect or potential effect The expenditures included in the BHSB submissions are not in compliance with applicable period of performance requirements. Questioned costs $17,151 represents Federal expenditures that remained unpaid or were paid outside of the 120 days following the end date of the period of performance for the following subawards: • 93.959: BH031 - OUD MEETS-OTP-UMMC - $ 3,589 • 93.959: BH031 - OUD MEETS-HOS-UMMC - $13,562 Identification of a repeat finding No. This is not a repeat finding. Context As part of our testing, we selected 25 expenditures. We identified that four selections or $1,695 of the total expenditures remained unpaid or were paid outside of the 120 days from the end of the period of performance or June 30, 2024. This was isolated to one vendor that is set up under the Corporation’s group purchasing process. As part of our testing, there were $4,362 purchases tested and $36,943 total purchases related to the vendor within the grant period. Due to complexities of group purchase billing and recording for the vendor, management further investigated and identified that $17,151 of total expenditures within the grant period or approximately 5% of total expenditures remained unpaid or were paid outside of the 120 days from the end of the period of performance or June 30, 2024. Recommendation As the grant period has ended, we recommend that the Corporation works with the funding agency to remedy the period of performance noncompliance. In addition, we recommend that the Corporation reassess the design of its period of performance controls to identify where enhancement or additional controls are needed over liquidation of financial obligations subsequent to the end of a grant award. View of responsible officials There is no disagreement with the audit finding.

Corrective Action Plan

H. Period of Performance Timely Payment of Financial Obligations Assistance Listing 93.959: Block Grants for Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Federal Agency: Department of Health and Human Services Recommendation: As the grant period has ended, we recommend that the Corporation works with the funding agency to remedy the period of performance noncompliance. In addition, we recommend that the Corporation reassess the design of its period of performance controls to identify where enhancement or additional controls are needed over liquidation of financial obligations subsequent to the end of a grant award. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the finding and recommendation. Action planned/taken in response to finding: The Corporation went live on its new ERP system in April 2024. Since go-live, management has continued to optimize the system and find ways to strengthen our internal controls, including automating certain processes. Management will continue to educate all grant managers on (1) the reporting capabilities within the system that can be utilized in the execution of monitoring payment status on individual invoices that have been submitted to granting agencies for reimbursement, and (2) the requirement to use their grant specific general ledger coding when orders are placed with vendors that are set up under the Corporation’s group purchasing process. For the specific vendor noted in Finding 2024-003, a grant number input field has been added to the group purchasing orders to allow for enhanced tracking and review of expenditures associated with grants and the monitoring of payment of those expenditures. The use of the accurate grant general ledger coding by grant managers when orders are placed will reduce the time between placement of order and payment of the invoice. The grant manager responsible for oversight of BHSB grants will work with BHSB to remedy the period of performance noncompliance noted in Finding 2024-003. Anticipated Completion Date – June 30, 2026 Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Jeff Chadwick, Financial Reporting Director, jeff.chadwick@umm.edu

Categories

Subrecipient Monitoring Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Cash Management Material Weakness Period of Performance

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1205394 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1205395 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1205397 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1205398 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1205399 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1205400 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1205401 2024-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1205402 2024-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1205403 2024-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1205404 2024-007
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.959 BLOCK GRANTS FOR PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE $352,026
21.027 COVID-19 - CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $204,285
16.575 CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE $199,999
16.738 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM $94,247
93.078 STRENGTHENING EMERGENCY CARE DELIVERY IN THE UNITED STATES HEALTHCARE SYSTEM THROUGH HEALTH INFORMATION AND PROMOTION $91,018
16.838 COMPREHENSIVE OPIOID, STIMULANT, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES USE PROGRAM $87,155
16.588 VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN FORMULA GRANTS $80,952
16.320 SERVICES FOR TRAFFICKING VICTIMS $60,297
16.017 SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES FORMULA PROGRAM $32,750
93.354 COVID-19 - PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY RESPONSE: COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE: PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE $30,000
93.325 PARALYSIS RESOURCE CENTER $25,000
93.898 CANCER PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROGRAMS FOR STATE, TERRITORIAL AND TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS $9,999
93.889 NATIONAL BIOTERRORISM HOSPITAL PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM $2,000