Finding 1218371 (2025-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
I
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-06-24
Audit: 404663
Organization: Township of Cranberry (PA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Township failed to follow internal control procedures for verifying vendor eligibility against the SAM.gov exclusion list before signing contracts.
  • Impacted Requirements: This oversight violates 2 CFR Part 200.303, which mandates effective internal controls for managing Federal awards.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Township should document the review of suspension and debarment checks before contract execution to ensure compliance.

Finding Text

FINDING: 2025-002 Clean Water State Revolving Fund - Suspension and Debarment U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Passed through Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) – Assistance Lising Number 66.458 Statement of Condition: The Township did not follow internal control procedures designed to ensure compliance with suspension and debarment requirements for covered contracts. During our testing of procurement transactions subject to suspension and debarment requirements, we noted that the Township did not retain documentation demonstrating that it had reviewed the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) exclusion records prior to entering into contractual agreements. Specifically, there was no evidence that a SAM.gov printout was reviewed or approved to verify that vendors were not suspended or debarred at the time of contract execution. In conjunction with the audit, we reviewed the SAM Exclusions for all transactions in our sample and we noted that no transactions were with entities that were suspended or debarred. Criteria: In accordance with 2 CFR Part 200.303, a non-Federal entity must establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal awards that provide reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity manages the Federal award in accordance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Cause: The Township did not follow the internal control procedures to document the review of the SAM.gov exclusion list prior to contract execution. Effect: The lack of following internal control procedures to review the verification of suspension and debarment prior to entering into contracts, agreements, and grants, could result in the Township entering into covered transactions with entities that are suspended and debarred which is not allowed under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program. Questioned Costs: None Identification as a Repeat Finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: The Township should follow the internal control procedure of reviewing the suspension and debarment verification prior to entering into contracts, agreements and grants. The review should be documented. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective action: Management agrees with the finding. See separate corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding 2025-002: Clean Water State Revolving Fund - Suspension and Debarment U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Passed through Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) - Assistance Using Number 66.458 Questioned Costs: None Condition: The Township did not follow internal control procedures designed to ensure compliance with suspension and debarment requirertients for covered contracts. During our testing of procurement transactions subject to suspension and debarment requirements, we noted that the Township did not retain documentation demonstrating that it had reviewed the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) exclusion records prior to entering into contractual agreements. Specifically, there was no evidence that a SAM.gov printout was reviewed or approved to verify that vendors were not suspended or debarred at the time of contract execution. In conjunction with the audit, we reviewed the SAM Exclusions for all transactions in our sample and we noted that no transactions were with entities that were suspended or debarred. Action: The Township will add suspension and debarment to all agreements. For the agreements that have been administered, the Township will review SAM.gov to ensure the client is not in the system. This will take effect immediately. If the United States Environmental Protection Agency has questions regarding this plan, please contact Mary Soroka at 724-776-4806 x1108.

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
66.458 CLEAN WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND $2.67M
15.916 OUTDOOR RECREATION ACQUISITION, DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING $912,668
66.202 CONGRESSIONALLY MANDATED PROJECTS $434,636
21.027 COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $425,930
20.939 SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL $131,709