Finding Text
Finding 2025-003: Conflict of Interest Attestations Federal Agency(ies): United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Federal Program(s): Adv HIV & AIDS Epidemic Control (AHEC) Activity Assistance Listing Number(s): N/A – Federal Contract Pass-through Entity (if applicable): N/A Award Identification Number and Year: 72066821C00001 Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory, or Other Citation): Under 2 CFR §200.112, non-Federal entities must disclose in writing any potential conflict of interest to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity. Additionally, 2 CFR §200.318(c)(1) requires organizations to maintain written standards of conduct governing the performance of employees engaged in the administration of Federal awards. Effective internal controls require employees to periodically acknowledge and attest to compliance with IntraHealth’s conflict of interest policy to ensure transparency, accountability, and compliance with Federal regulations. Condition: During our testing of payroll and employee personnel files at both headquarters and the field office level, we noted instances in which employee-signed conflict of interest attestation forms were not available for our review. For various employees included in our sample, there was no documentation evidencing that the employee had acknowledged or certified compliance with IntraHealth’s conflict of interest policy. Cause: Based on discussions with management, the condition appears to be the result of employees which were terminated prior to the fiscal year 2025 attestation date. However, we were unable to verify that the employees had signed the conflict of interest forms for the immediately preceding period (which their sampled pay periods pertained to). This limitation was due to the inability to access systems which were discontinued, as well as the termination of responsible employees, due to cost reduction measures in response to the stop-work orders issued by the Federal Government. Effect or Potential Effect: Failure to obtain and retain signed conflict of interest attestations increases the risk that potential or actual conflicts may not be identified, disclosed, or appropriately managed. This weakens IntraHealth’s internal control environment and increases the risk of noncompliance with Federal conflict of interest requirements. Without documented attestations, IntraHealth cannot demonstrate that employees involved in the administration of Federal awards are aware of and complying with established standards of conduct. Questioned Costs: N/A, as the condition does not lead to unallowable costs. Context: The exceptions were identified across multiple locations and arose from our testing of internal controls around the payroll cycle. Identification as a Repeat Finding, if Applicable: N/A Recommendation: We recommend that management strengthen controls over its conflict of interest compliance process by implementing procedures to ensure all employees complete and sign conflict of interest attestations upon hire and on a periodic basis thereafter. Management should establish a centralized tracking mechanism and perform periodic monitoring to ensure documentation is complete and retained in personnel files. Strengthening this process will enhance transparency, promote ethical conduct, and provide reasonable assurance of compliance with Federal conflict of interest requirements.