Finding 1220090 (2025-003)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-06-29

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: NERACOOS failed to report subaward amendments timely and accurately in SAM.gov, violating FFATA requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR Section 200.332 and FFATA reporting for subawards over $30,000.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Strengthen controls for tracking subaward amendments and conduct periodic reviews of FFATA reports for accuracy.

Finding Text

Finding Number 2025-003 Instance of Non-Compliance: Reporting Assistance Listing Numbe: 11.012 Questioned Cost: $ 0 Significant Deficiency Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Commerce Criteria: According to grant terms & conditions and 2 CFR Section 200.332, all awardees of applicable grants and cooperative agreements are required to report to the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) Subaward Reporting System on all subawards over $30,000. Required reporting includes timely and accurate information regarding subaward amounts, dates, and other key subaward data. Condition: NERACOOS submitted FFATA reports for the initial subaward agreements; however, the reports were not updated timely for subsequent subaward amendments. Specifically, amended subaward amounts and amendment dates were not reported timely and accurately in SAM.gov. Context: The condition was identified during our review of grant terms and conditions, 2 CFR § 200.332 requirements, and FFATA reporting for selected subawards subject to reporting requirements. Cause: NERACOOS did not have sufficient controls in place to ensure that amendments to subaward agreements were identified, tracked, and reported timely in SAM.gov. In addition, the review process did not ensure that amended subaward amounts and amendment dates were updated accurately after subaward modifications were executed. Effect: NERACOOS was not in compliance with FFATA reporting requirements for fiscal year 2025. Although all initial subawards tested were reported, subsequent amendments were not reported timely and the reported subaward amounts were not updated accurately. Following is a summary of the finding: (See pdf for table) Identification of a Repeat Finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that management strengthen controls over FFATA reporting by implementing procedures to identify and track all subaward amendments subject to FFATA reporting requirements. Management should ensure that amended subaward amounts, amendment dates, and other required information are updated in SAM.gov timely and accurately. We further recommend that management perform a periodic review of FFATA reports on SAM.gov to verify completeness and accuracy of reported subaward information. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action Plan: Management concurs with this finding. NERACOOS acknowledges that while initial subaward reporting was completed as required, the organization did not have adequate controls to ensure that subaward amendments were identified, tracked, and reported timely and accurately in SAM.gov pursuant to 2 CFR § 200.332 and FFATA requirements. NERACOOS will develop and implement written FFATA reporting procedures that specifically address the identification and reporting of subaward amendments, including trigger points for updating SAM.gov following execution of any subaward modification. Responsible Official: Emily Silva, Administrative Director Anticipated Completion Date: August 31, 2026 (retroactive corrections); ongoing quarterly reconciliation beginning July 2026

Corrective Action Plan

Audit Finding Reference Number: 2025 – 003 Finding: NERACOOS submitted FFATA reports for the initial subaward agreements; however, the reports were not updated timely for subsequent subaward amendments. Specifically, amended subaward amounts and amendment dates were not reported timely and accurately in SAM.gov. Corrective Action Plan: Develop a subaward amendment tracking log to record all subaward modifications, including amendment dates, revised subaward amounts, and FFATA reporting due dates. The log will be updated each time a subaward amendment is executed. Establish a written procedure requiring that any subaward amendment triggering a change in amount or key data be reported in SAM.gov within the required timeframe (no later than the end of the month following the month in which the obligation or award was made). Designate a staff member responsible for FFATA reporting compliance and assign a backup to ensure coverage during absences. Implement a quarterly reconciliation between executed subaward agreements/amendments and SAM.gov reporting records to identify and remediate any unreported or inaccurate entries. Provide training to relevant Finance and Grants Management staff on FFATA reporting requirements under 2 CFR Section 200.332 and SAM.gov reporting procedures. Retroactively update SAM.gov for any subaward amendments identified during the audit as not having been reported or reported inaccurately. Responsible Official: Jake Kritzer, Executive Director Anticipated Completion Date: August 31, 2026 (retroactive corrections); ongoing quarterly reconciliation beginning July 2026

Categories

Subrecipient Monitoring Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Reporting Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1220089 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
11.431 CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH $190,776
12.300 BASIC AND APPLIED SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH $113,319
66.456 NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM $109,968
47.041 ENGINEERING $102,991
11.478 CENTER FOR SPONSORED COASTAL OCEAN RESEARCH COASTAL OCEAN PROGRAM $65,544
11.432 NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION (NOAA) COOPERATIVE INSTITUTES $59,198
11.417 SEA GRANT SUPPORT $46,907
15.423 BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT (BOEM) ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES (ES) $17,547
11.012 INTEGRATED OCEAN OBSERVING SYSTEM (IOOS) $8,874