Finding 1222897 (2023-005)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2026-07-04

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: PSS failed to provide necessary accounting records for all SF-425 and quarterly program reports submitted in FY2023.
  • Impacted Requirements: Noncompliance with 7 CFR Section 210.8 and reporting requirements due to lack of supporting documentation.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement monitoring controls and establish systematic filing procedures to ensure compliance and facilitate record retrieval.

Finding Text

Finding No. 2023-005 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture AL Program: 10.555 National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Federal Award No.: 217NMNM3N1174, 227NMNM3N1174, 237NMNM3N1174 Area: Reporting Questioned Costs: $-0- Criteria: In accordance with 7 CFR Section 210.8, to be entitled to reimbursement under this part, each school food authority shall submit to the State agency, a Claim for Reimbursement that must include data in sufficient detail to justify the reimbursement claimed and to enable the State agency to provide the Report of School Program Operations required under § 210.5(d). Such data must include, at a minimum, the number of free, reduced price, and paid lunches and after school snacks served to eligible children. The claim must be signed by a school food authority official. In addition, School food authorities shall maintain on file, each Claim for Reimbursement and all data used in the claims review process, by school. Records shall be retained as specified in § 210.23(c) of this part. School food authorities shall make this information available to the Department and the State agency upon request. In accordance with the applicable reporting requirements, an SF-425 report is required to be accompanied by supporting accounting records to verify the accuracy of the reported amounts. Condition: 1. Of five SF-425 reports that were due for submission during FY2023, the underlying accounting records supporting all five (or 100%) SF-425 reports, were not provided. 2. Of four quarterly program reports that were due for submission during FY2023, the underlying accounting records supporting all four (or 100%) quarterly program reports, were not provided. Cause: 1. PSS lacks monitoring control procedures to ensure data included in the SF-425 and quarterly program reports are supported with underlying accounting records. 2. Inadequate documentation and inadequate systematic filing of relevant documentation supporting the SF-425 and quarterly program reports. Effect or potential effect: PSS is in noncompliance with the applicable reporting compliance requirements. Identification as a Repeat Finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: 1. PSS should implement and enforce monitoring controls over compliance with applicable reporting requirements; and 2. Establish and maintain effective systematic filing of relevant documentation to support program costs and for easier retrieval. Views of Auditee and Corrective Action Plan: PSS concurs with the findings. Refer to PSS’ Corrective Action Plan for additional information.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding No.: 2023-005 AL Program: 10.555 National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Area: Reporting Questioned Costs: $-0- Views of Auditee and Corrective Action Plan: Management’s Position: PSS Management concurs with the findings. Financial and Grants Management procedures were promulgated in a SOP on September 18, 2024. The financial management system was subsequently changed to Tyler Munis to conform with CNMI central government requirements which will enhance capabilities. The SOPs and the Tyler Munis implementation are under review by an external consultant and recommendations made to improve coding of grant details and expenditures, increased frequency of reconciliations, and a specific SOP for report preparation. Corrective Action Plan: I. Implementation of a Comprehensive Grant Tracker: PSS will develop and implement a centralized Grant Lifecycle Tracker for all active federal awards. This tool will serve as the primary monitoring mechanism for compliance by recording all financial and programmatic reporting due dates, assigning specific preparers for each report, and establishing automated milestones to ensure sufficient lead time for both the preparation phase and the subsequent supervisory review. II. Deployment of Enhanced Data Analysis Tools: To ensure that quarterly program reporting is both consistent and timely, PSS will develop and implement specialized data analysis tools. these tools will streamline the aggregation of program data, reducing manual entry errors and allowing for more efficient evaluation of program performance against federal benchmarks. Proposed Completion Date: In progress for FY 2024 with completion by August 2026. Name of Contact Person and Title: Contact: Jacqueline Che, Federal Programs Officer Email Address: jacqueline.che@cnmipss.org

Categories

Reporting Subrecipient Monitoring Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Cash Management School Nutrition Programs

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1222895 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222896 2023-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222898 2023-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222899 2023-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222900 2023-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222901 2023-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222902 2023-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222903 2023-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222904 2023-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222905 2023-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222906 2023-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222907 2023-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222908 2023-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222909 2023-013
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222910 2023-013
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222911 2023-014
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222912 2023-014
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222913 2023-015
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222914 2023-015
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222915 2023-016
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222916 2023-016
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222917 2023-017
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222918 2023-017
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222919 2023-018
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222920 2023-019
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222921 2023-020
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.425X AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN - STATE EDUCATIONAL AGENCY (OUTLYING AREAS) (ARP-OA-SEA) $53.69M
10.555 NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM $18.00M
84.403 CONSOLIDATED GRANT TO THE OUTLYING AREAS $16.53M
84.425A EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND - STATE EDUCATIONAL AGENCY (OUTLYING AREAS) (ESF-SEA) $6.37M
84.027A SPECIAL EDUCATION GRANTS TO STATES $4.40M
93.356 HEAD START DISASTER RECOVERY $2.02M
93.243 SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROJECTS OF REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE $1.65M
84.372 STATEWIDE LONGITUDINAL DATA SYSTEMS $1.30M
10.766 COMMUNITY FACILITIES LOANS AND GRANTS $1.09M
84.181 SPECIAL EDUCATION-GRANTS FOR INFANTS AND FAMILIES $628,205
84.027X SPECIAL EDUCATION GRANTS TO STATES $477,042
84.215K INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO LITERACY; PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS; FULL-SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS; AND CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING FOR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION COMMUNITY PROJECTS $426,512
93.060 SEXUAL RISK AVOIDANCE EDUCATION $318,776
94.006 AMERICORPS STATE AND NATIONAL 94.006 $307,231
10.568 EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS) $306,484
12.U01 ARMY JROTC EFT DISTRICT $298,397
93.092 AFFORDABLE CARE ACT (ACA) PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY EDUCATION PROGRAM $290,881
93.612 NATIVE AMERICAN PROGRAMS $117,573
93.600 HEAD START $116,353
84.371 COMPREHENSIVE LITERACY DEVELOPMENT $96,484
84.184 SCHOOL SAFELY NATIONAL ACTIVITIES $80,580
10.579 CHILD NUTRITION DISCRETIONARY GRANTS LIMITED AVAILABILITY $73,477
93.982 MENTAL HEALTH DISASTER ASSISTANCE AND EMERGENCY MENTAL HEALTH $18,258
93.587 PROMOTE THE SURVIVAL AND CONTINUING VITALITY OF NATIVE AMERICAN LANGUAGES $17,924
84.424F STUDENT SUPPORT AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAM - STRONGER CONNECTIONS GRANT $11,351
15.875 ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE TERRITORIES $9