FAC Explorer

Finding 1224449 (2023-040)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
E
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2026-07-22
Audit: 407734
Organization: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (MP)
Auditor: ERNST & YOUNG (CNMI) INC

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: CNMI did not follow eligibility requirements for childcare services, leading to questioned costs of $12,490 due to missing valid work permits and inconsistent benefit payments.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with the CCDF State Plan's documentation and payment rate consistency is lacking, resulting in noncompliance and repeat findings.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Strengthen monitoring procedures, ensure proper documentation is verified, and consider adopting software to automate benefit calculations and reduce errors.

Finding Text

Finding No. 2023-040 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services AL Program: 93.575/93.596 CCDF Cluster COVID-19 93.575/93.596 CCDF Cluster Federal Award No.: 2101MPCDC6, 2101MPCCC5, 2001MPCCC3, 2101MPCCDF, 2001MPCCDD, 1901MPCCDD Area: Eligibility Questioned Costs: $12,490 Criteria: Section 3.1.8 of the CCDF FY2023 State Plan dictates that to be eligible for childcare services, a parent must have a current and valid CW-1 permit at the time of eligibility determination/ redetermination. Further, based on Section 4.3.1 of the CCDF FY2023 State Plan, the calculation of the base payment rates applicable to each eligible child is based on their age, and the rates applied to the child depends on the age bracket they fall under. Condition: Of forty applicants tested, aggregating $217,320 of a total population of $6,140,523, the following were noted: 1. For two (or 5%), CNMI did not obtain valid work permits for the non-US citizen parents. 2. For five (or 13%), CNMI made inconsistent monthly benefit payments. The identified questioned cost is for the overpayment made to the beneficiary. No questioned costs were identified for case IDs that were undercharged as there are no excess charges to the program; however, these are identified as an internal control finding. Finding No. 2023-040, continued Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services AL Program: 93.575/93.596 CCDF Cluster COVID-19 93.575/93.596 CCDF Cluster Federal Award No.: 2101MPCDC6, 2101MPCCC5, 2001MPCCC3, 2101MPCCDF, 2001MPCCDD, 1901MPCCDD Area: Eligibility Questioned Costs: $12,490 Cause: 1. CNMI failed to properly monitor adherence to the CCDF State Plan requirements of the required documents to support the applicant’s eligibility. 2. CNMI lacks proper monitoring controls to ensure that approved pay rates are consistently applied and paid to the applicants throughout the duration of the eligibility period. Effect or Potential Effect: CNMI is in noncompliance with applicable eligibility requirements and questioned costs of $12,490 result. Identification as a Repeat Finding: Finding No. 2022-032 Recommendation: CNMI should strengthen and enforce compliance with applicable eligibility compliance requirements over the following: 1. Improve the current monitoring procedures to ensure that responsible personnel should utilize the application checklist and review it against the applicant’s files to verify all required forms and information are completed, valid, and filed accordingly. 2. Establish monitoring and review procedures to ensure that the benefits paid for the applicants per month are in accordance with the established approved rates by CCDF and consistently applied. Finding No. 2023-040, continued Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services AL Program: 93.575/93.596 CCDF Cluster COVID-19 93.575/93.596 CCDF Cluster Federal Award No.: 2101MPCDC6, 2101MPCCC5, 2001MPCCC3, 2101MPCCDF, 2001MPCCDD, 1901MPCCDD Area: Eligibility Questioned Costs: $12,490 Recommendation, continued: 3. CCDF can consider adopting more sophisticated software that would enable them to automatically calculate the benefits, and which has more functions that could help them streamline and improve their current procedures. Views of Responsible Officials: Condition 1 - CNMI CCDF Program respectfully disagrees with this finding. During the audit period, the CNMI CCDF State Plan for FY 2022–2024, Section 3.1.8, Employment Requirements, permitted the acceptance of a USCIS receipt notice (WAC receipt number) as documentation of employment authorization when applicable. Specifically, the State Plan states that a USCIS receipt indicating a WAC number may be requested when necessary and that additional documentation may be requested to identify applicants who meet the long-term employment criteria. Based on the policies in effect during the certification periods cited above, the CCDF Program determined eligibility using the documentation requirements established in the approved CCDF State Plan. Therefore, the questioned costs associated with these cases were incurred in accordance with the Program's established eligibility policies at that time. Condition 2 - CNMI CCDF Program agrees with this finding. During the audit period, provider payments were processed manually for approximately 1,101 children each month. The manual calculation and entry of subsidy amounts increased the risk of human error, resulting in isolated instances of overpayments and underpayments. Refer to CNMI’s Corrective Action Plan for additional information. Auditor Response: Condition 1 - Work permit validity dates were not reflected on the USCIS receipt notices.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding No.: 2023-040 AL Program: 93.489/93.575/93.596 – CCDF Cluster COVID-19 93.489/93.575/93.596 CCDF Cluster Area: Eligibility Questioned Costs: $12,490 Contact Person(s): Roselle Teregeyo, CCDF Co-Administrator/Accountant Corrective Action Plan: Condition 1: The CNMI CCDF Program respectfully disagrees with this finding. During the audit period, the CNMI CCDF State Plan for FY 2022–2024, Section 3.1.8, Employment Requirements, permitted the acceptance of a USCIS receipt notice (WAC receipt number) as documentation of employment authorization when applicable. Specifically, the State Plan states that a USCIS receipt indicating a WAC number may be requested when necessary and that additional documentation may be requested to identify applicants who meet the long-term employment criteria. Based on the policies in effect during the certification periods cited above, the CCDF Program determined eligibility using the documentation requirements established in the approved CCDF State Plan. Therefore, the questioned costs associated with these cases were incurred in accordance with the Program's established eligibility policies at that time. The issue occurred during a period of increased application volume when eligibility determinations and document reviews were processed manually. In addition, the State Plan language did not explicitly state that USCIS receipt notices would not be accepted as evidence of employment authorization, which contributed to differing interpretations of acceptable documentation requirements. Although the Program maintains that the cited cases were processed in accordance with the policies in effect during the audit period, the CCDF Program has strengthened its documentation requirements to address concerns raised in prior audits. Effective February 1, 2026, the CCDF Program no longer accepts USCIS employment authorization receipt notices as proof of work authorization. This policy change was implemented through CCDF Memorandum Subsidy FY26 No. 1 and serves as a corrective action to ensure consistency and strengthen compliance with employment verification requirements. Program staff have been notified of the revised policy and eligibility determinations will now require approved work authorization documentation rather than receipt notices. Proposed Completion Date: Completed Finding No.: 2023-040, continued AL Program: 93.489/93.575/93.596 – CCDF Cluster COVID-19 93.489/93.575/93.596 CCDF Cluster Area: Eligibility Questioned Costs: $12,490 Contact Person(s): Roselle Teregeyo, CCDF Co-Administrator/Accountant Corrective Action Plan: Condition 2: The CNMI CCDF Program agrees with this finding. During the audit period, provider payments were processed manually for approximately 1,101 children each month. The manual calculation and entry of subsidy amounts increased the risk of human error, resulting in isolated instances of overpayments and underpayments. To strengthen internal controls and reduce the risk of payment errors, the CCDF Program has been working with a contracted system developer since late 2025 to implement an automated subsidy management system. Once operational, the system will automatically calculate and assign payment amounts based on eligibility factors, including the child's age and approved level of care, thereby reducing reliance on manual calculations. The CCDF Program will continue monitoring payment processes and implementing automated controls to improve payment accuracy and strengthen compliance with program requirements. The Program will initiate recovery of the $390 overpayment identified in Case ID 3040 B through adjustments to provider payments scheduled for August and September 2026. For the underpayments identified in Case IDs 3275 B, 3275 C, and 3600 C, the Program will process payment adjustments and issue the respective amounts owed through the August 2026 provider payment cycle. Proposed Completion Date: September 2026

Categories

Subrecipient Monitoring Eligibility Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1224392 2023-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224393 2023-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224394 2023-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224395 2023-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224396 2023-013
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224397 2023-014
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224398 2023-015
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224399 2023-016
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224400 2023-017
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224401 2023-018
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224402 2023-019
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224403 2023-020
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224404 2023-015
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224405 2023-016
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224406 2023-017
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224407 2023-018
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224408 2023-019
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224409 2023-020
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224410 2023-015
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224411 2023-016
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224412 2023-017
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224413 2023-018
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224414 2023-019
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224415 2023-020
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224416 2023-015
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224417 2023-016
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224418 2023-017
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224419 2023-018
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224420 2023-019
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224421 2023-020
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224422 2023-021
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224423 2023-022
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224424 2023-023
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224425 2023-024
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224426 2023-025
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224427 2023-026
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224428 2023-027
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224429 2023-028
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224430 2023-029
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224431 2023-030
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224432 2023-031
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224433 2023-032
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224434 2023-033
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224435 2023-034
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224436 2023-035
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224437 2023-036
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224438 2023-037
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224439 2023-038
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224440 2023-039
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224441 2023-040
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224442 2023-041
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224443 2023-042
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224444 2023-039
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224445 2023-040
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224446 2023-041
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224447 2023-042
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224448 2023-039
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224450 2023-041
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224451 2023-042
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224452 2023-043
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224453 2023-044
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224454 2023-045
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224455 2023-046
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224456 2023-047
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224457 2023-048
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224458 2023-049
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224459 2023-050
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224460 2023-048
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224461 2023-049
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1224462 2023-050
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $104.07M
93.778 GRANTS TO STATES FOR MEDICAID $76.95M
97.036 DISASTER GRANTS - PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED DISASTERS) $31.11M
10.539 CNMI NUTRITION ASSISTANCE $16.44M
93.767 CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM $14.01M
93.575 CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT $10.33M
10.542 PANDEMIC EBT FOOD BENEFITS $9.86M
20.205 HIGHWAY PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION $7.85M
84.425H Education Stabilization Fund-Governors (Outlying Areas) $6.68M
17.225 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE $5.91M
11.307 ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE $4.56M
21.023 EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM $3.57M
93.596 CHILD CARE MANDATORY AND MATCHING FUNDS OF THE CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT FUND $3.54M
20.526 BUSES AND BUS FACILITIES FORMULA, COMPETITIVE, AND LOW OR NO EMISSIONS PROGRAMS $2.85M
66.600 Environmental Protection Consolidated Grants for the Insular Areas - Program Support $2.46M
66.801 HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT STATE PROGRAM SUPPORT $2.18M
97.039 HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT $2.05M
93.667 SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT $1.52M
15.611 WILDLIFE RESTORATION AND BASIC HUNTER EDUCATION AND SAFETY $1.45M
12.617 ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE FOR STATE GOVERNMENTS $1.43M
15.875 ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE TERRITORIES $1.39M
11.419 COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT ADMINISTRATION AWARDS $1.06M
15.605 SPORT FISH RESTORATION $1.03M
20.600 State and Community Highway Safety $1.02M
84.126A Rehabilitation Services Vocational Rehabilitation Grants to States $722,785
17.277 WIOA NATIONAL DISLOCATED WORKER GRANTS / WIA NATIONAL EMERGENCY GRANTS $642,983
97.067 HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM $586,122
11.482 CORAL REEF CONSERVATION PROGRAM $485,806
16.575 CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE $480,848
93.045 SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR THE AGING, TITLE III, PART C, NUTRITION SERVICES $465,958
16.588 VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN FORMULA GRANTS $463,780
10.649 PANDEMIC EBT ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS $459,938
16.710 Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Grants $439,489
97.012 BOATING SAFETY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE $400,545
93.044 SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR THE AGING, TITLE III, PART B, GRANTS FOR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND SENIOR CENTERS $392,210
17.278 WIOA DISLOCATED WORKER FORMULA GRANTS $374,455
15.615 COOPERATIVE ENDANGERED SPECIES CONSERVATION FUND $368,265
16.738 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM $341,575
97.047 BRIC: BUILDING RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITIES $319,766
17.259 WIOA YOUTH ACTIVITIES $307,211
16.750 Support for Adam Walsh Act Implementation Program $273,641
81.041 STATE ENERGY PROGRAM $265,459
17.504 CONSULTATION AGREEMENTS $264,451
20.218 MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ASSISTANCE $252,525
45.025 PROMOTION OF THE ARTS PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS $239,433
17.258 WIOA ADULT PROGRAM $229,634
17.235 SENIOR COMMUNITY SERVICE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM $224,606
81.042 WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME PERSONS $212,348
15.634 STATE WILDLIFE GRANTS $201,740
16.034 CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING PROGRAM $197,962
10.766 COMMUNITY FACILITIES LOANS AND GRANTS $195,515
15.904 HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND GRANTS-IN-AID $186,515
11.472 COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM $168,303
93.464 ACL ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY $128,419
93.747 ELDER ABUSE PREVENTION INTERVENTIONS PROGRAM $123,018
17.285 REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP $116,929
11.437 FISHERIES DATA PROGRAM $112,596
11.467 METEOROLOGIC AND HYDROLOGIC MODERNIZATION DEVELOPMENT $104,532
10.664 COOPERATIVE FORESTRY ASSISTANCE $103,272
15.663 NFWF-USFWS CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP $91,690
11.035 BROADBAND EQUITY, ACCESS, AND DEPLOYMENT PROGRAM $87,681
97.062 SCIENTIFIC LEADERSHIP AWARDS $86,357
93.048 SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR THE AGING, TITLE IV, AND TITLE II, DISCRETIONARY PROJECTS $85,373
93.127 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN $84,663
15.957 EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND $73,515
17.273 TEMPORARY LABOR CERTIFICATION FOR FOREIGN WORKERS $68,059
97.042 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE GRANTS $67,796
12.300 Basic and Applied Scientific Research $65,974
20.509 FORMULA GRANTS FOR RURAL AREAS AND TRIBAL TRANSIT PROGRAM $64,714
93.645 STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES CHILD WELFARE SERVICES PROGRAM $61,124
10.680 Forest Health Protection $60,114
10.179 MICRO-GRANTS FOR FOOD SECURITY PROGRAM $58,129
16.017 SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES FORMULA PROGRAM $58,045
10.170 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program - Farm Bill $52,296
93.053 NUTRITION SERVICES INCENTIVE PROGRAM $50,933
93.556 MARYLEE ALLEN PROMOTING SAFE AND STABLE FAMILIES PROGRAM $49,361
59.061 STATE TRADE EXPANSION $41,693
93.569 COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT $39,897
11.407 INTERJURISDICTIONAL FISHERIES ACT OF 1986 $36,146
45.310 Grants to States $32,929
12.022 DOD MENTOR-PROTEGE PROGRAM $31,470
93.369 ACL INDEPENDENT LIVING STATE GRANTS $31,188
21.029 CORONAVIRUS CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND $30,034
93.450 Ebola Healthcare Preparedness and Response for Select Cities with Enhanced Airport Entrance Screenings from Affected Countries in West Africa $27,956
12.600 Community Investment $25,881
66.442 WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE NATION SMALL AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES EMERGING CONTAMINANTS GRANT PROGRAM $22,460
16.585 TREATMENT COURT DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAM $18,807
93.052 NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT, TITLE III, PART E $16,169
93.590 Community - Based Child Abuse Prevention Grants $15,683
10.698 STATE & PRIVATE FORESTRY COOPERATIVE FIRE ASSISTANCE $14,514
93.043 SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR THE AGING, TITLE III, PART D, DISEASE PREVENTION AND HEALTH PROMOTION SERVICES $14,287
16.540 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention $13,470
84.177B Rehabilitation Services Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind $13,468
17.600 Mine Health and Safety Grants $13,189
15.631 PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE $9,540
20.703 INTERAGENCY HAZARDOUS MATERIALS PUBLIC SECTOR TRAINING AND PLANNING GRANTS $9,151
45.129 PROMOTION OF THE HUMANITIES FEDERAL/STATE PARTNERSHIP $8,543
66.040 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) State Grants $8,314
93.671 FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND SERVICES/DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES $8,215
93.042 SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR THE AGING, TITLE VII, CHAPTER 2, LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN SERVICES FOR OLDER INDIVIDUALS $5,973
16.753 CONGRESSIONALLY RECOMMENDED AWARDS $5,484
11.032 STATE DIGITAL EQUITY PLANNING AND CAPACITY GRANT $4,673
15.657 ENDANGERED SPECIES RECOVERY IMPLEMENTATION $4,508
93.558 TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES $4,200
11.U01 2010 Census $2,255
93.630 Developmental Disabilities Basic Support and Advocacy Grants $1,917
11.016 STATISTICAL, RESEARCH, AND METHODOLOGY ASSISTANCE $1,265
10.950 Agricultural Statistics Report $1,113
12.113 STATE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT PROGRAM FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT OF TECHNICAL SERVICES $1,029
93.568 LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE $854
20.500 Federal Transit Capital Investment Grants $761
93.041 SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR THE AGING, TITLE VII, CHAPTER 3, PROGRAMS FOR PREVENTION OF ELDER ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND EXPLOITATION $525
20.513 ENHANCED MOBILITY OF SENIORS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES $318
11.473 OFFICE FOR COASTAL MANAGEMENT $169