Finding Text
Reporting ALN 10:854: Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Criteria: The Rural Economic Development Loan Agreement outlines that the Cooperative shall submit a project performance report to Rural Development on an annual basis. The recipient or subrecipient must submit financial reports as required by the federal award (2 CFR 200.328). Condition: The Cooperative submitted a project performance report (Form RD 4280-1) but did not have support for the reported number of actual jobs created or the number of jobs retained/saved as a result of this project. The Cooperative also submitted a financial report (SF-425) and did not have support for the reported total recipient share required and the recipient share of expenditures. Context: The RD 4280-1 report is required annually. Both the SF-425 and RD 4280-1 reports were signed by Cooperative management. Effect: The Cooperative did not retain support for the reported information. Questioned Costs: None. Cause: This is the first year the Cooperative received these loan funds. The information in these reports was provided by the subrecipient, and Cooperative personnel did not retain support for this information in their records. Auditor Recommendation: We recommend the Cooperative retain support for all reported information to ensure accuracy of reporting. Fergus Electric Cooperative Response: Fergus worked in conjunction and regularly communicated with the local Montana USDA REDL/G office to understand program requirements, provide requested information, and meet federal guidelines. Loan agreement RD 4280-5, (Dated 10/31/2024) refers to 7 CFR part 4280, Subpart A, as (“Regulations”). Fergus was unaware that 2 CFR 200 regulations are associated with 7 CFR part 4280, Subpart A. Fergus regretfully acknowledges that we were not informed or aware of obligations to meet the regulatory requirements within 2 CFR 200. Fergus has adopted and implemented a policy, Federal Funding Compliance, to establish formal procedures and ensure ongoing compliance with applicable federal regulations, including 7 CFR 4280, Subpart A and 2 CFR 200.