Finding 1227086 (2025-003)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
I
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-08-17
Audit: 409271
Organization: City of Poplar Bluff (MO)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The City did not verify if two vendors were suspended or debarred before making payments over $25,000.
  • Impacted Requirements: This oversight violates 2 CFR Section 180.300, which mandates verification for covered transactions.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement checks against the excluded parties list or obtain certifications for any vendor receiving over $25,000 in federal funds.

Finding Text

Federal Program: Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (21.027). Criteria: According to 2 CFR Section 180.300, when a non-federal entity enters into a covered transaction with an entity at a lower tier, the non-federal entity must verify that the entity is not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. Condition: The City had transactions in excess of $25,000 with two vendors in which they did not verify that the entities were not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. Cause: The City had inadequate oversight of this requirement. Effect: The City was at risk of making material payments to a vendor who is not allowed to do business with the federal government. There was no noncompliance, but there was inadequate internal control in place to prevent noncompliance. Questioned Costs: None. Context: Payments to two vendors totaled $544,626. Total payments from the program totaled $2,292,583. As noted above, there was no noncompliance, but there was not internal controls in place to ensure noncompliance. Repeat Finding: Yes. Recommendation: We recommend the City check the excluded parties list system or collect certifications from the entity for any vendor in which the City expects to spend more than $25,000 of federal grant funds for the year.

Corrective Action Plan

Name of Contact Person: Lori Phelps, City Clerk/Treasurer and Acting City Manager. Recommendation: We recommend that the City check the Excluded Parties List System or collect certification from the entity for any vendor in which the City expects to spend more than $25,000 of federal grant funds for the year. Corrective Action: We will ensure we comply going forward. Proposed Completion Date: Immediately.

Categories

Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1227084 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227085 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
97.044 ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT $619,048
20.205 HIGHWAY PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION $213,133
20.106 AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM $116,616
16.738 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM $74,855
97.036 DISASTER GRANTS - PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED DISASTERS) $61,984
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $23,355
90.200 DELTA REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT $20,648
95.001 HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREAS PROGRAM $6,157
14.228 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/STATE'S PROGRAM AND NON-ENTITLEMENT GRANTS IN HAWAII $3,420
20.607 NATIONAL PRIORITY SAFETY PROGRAMS $1,476
20.616 NATIONAL PRIORITY SAFETY PROGRAMS $863