Finding 1227257 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
H
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-08-18
Audit: 409371
Organization: Samaritas and Subsidiaries (MI)
Auditor: CLARK NUBER P S

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There is a significant deficiency in internal controls leading to noncompliance with federal regulations regarding the period of performance for costs charged to federal awards.
  • Impacted Requirements: Costs incurred outside the designated period of performance violate Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, specifically Section 200.309.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Strengthen internal controls to ensure accurate recording of expenditures within the correct period to prevent future noncompliance.

Finding Text

Significant deficiency in internal controls over compliance and instances of noncompliance related to period of performance. Federal Agency: United States Department of Health and Human Services Program Title: Refugee and Entrant Assistance State/Replacement Designee Administered Programs Pass-Through Entities: Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Assistance Listing Number: 93.566 Award Identification: All awards Criteria Per the standards contained in Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (the Uniform Guidance), Subpart D ‐ Post Federal Award Requirements, Section 200.309, only allowable costs incurred during the period of performance may be charged to the federal awards and the start date of a renewal award begins a new and distinct period of performance. Condition/Context During our audit, out of a sample of 25 transactions tested for period of performance, we identified three selections where the cost was incurred before the respective renewal award’s period of performance start date. All three charges that were outside of the period of performance related to charges for goods and services that were entered into the incorrect period due to timing of receipt of the invoice and close out of the prior award. Cause The Organization’s controls did not operate effectively to prevent or detect expenditures that were incurred outside of the federal award’s period of performance. Effect or Potential Effect The Organization charged to federal awards costs incurred outside the period of performance. Questioned Costs Award UHPAS26-5002: $117 Award RSI26-0033: 15 Award RSS26-00002: 24 Total Questioned Costs: $156 Recommendation We recommend the Organization strengthen its internal control processes and procedures to ensure there are adequate controls in place to identify and record charges in the correct period to prevent charges to federal awards that did not occur within the award’s period of performance. Views of Responsible Individual and Corrective Action Plan Management agrees with the finding and has provided the accompanying corrective action plan. Repeat Finding Repeat of finding 2024-001.

Corrective Action Plan

SAMARITAS AND SUBSIDIARIES Management’s Corrective Action Plan For the Year Ended December 31, 2025 Finding 2025-001 Contact Person(s): Bridgette Zappacosta, Chief Financial Officer Corrective Action Planned: Management concurs with the finding. During the period under review, the Finance Department was transitioning to a new accounting system. The identified exceptions occurred prior to the implementation of the new system and related processes. As part of the transition to Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT, Samaritas has implemented controls designed to prevent expenditures from being charged outside of a federal award's period of performance. Grant records within the system now include defined start and end dates that prevent expenditures from being applied to awards outside the authorized grant period. In addition, Samaritas enhanced its invoice approval process by adding a required custom field to identify the service period associated with each invoice. This information is reviewed during the monthly close process to identify invoices received before or after a grant period and to ensure expenditures are recorded in the appropriate award period. The Finance Department completed training on these revised procedures in July 2026. Management will continue to monitor compliance with these controls as part of its monthly grant and financial review processes. Anticipated Completion Date: Implemented July 2026; ongoing monitoring procedures are in place.

Categories

Period of Performance Allowable Costs / Cost Principles

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1227232 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227233 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227234 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227235 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227236 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227237 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227238 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227239 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227240 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227241 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227242 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227243 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227244 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227245 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227246 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227247 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227248 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227249 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227250 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227251 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227252 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227253 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227254 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227255 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227256 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.567 REFUGEE AND ENTRANT ASSISTANCE VOLUNTARY AGENCY PROGRAMS $851,837
10.568 EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS) $269,911
10.569 EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (FOOD COMMODITIES) $241,621
93.576 REFUGEE AND ENTRANT ASSISTANCE DISCRETIONARY GRANTS $141,691
93.566 REFUGEE AND ENTRANT ASSISTANCE STATE/REPLACEMENT DESIGNEE ADMINISTERED PROGRAMS $131,743
14.267 CONTINUUM OF CARE PROGRAM $128,442
93.583 REFUGEE AND ENTRANT ASSISTANCE WILSON/FISH PROGRAM $123,619
14.231 EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT PROGRAM $101,322
93.959 BLOCK GRANTS FOR PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE $82,962
93.558 TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES $66,487
19.510 U.S. REFUGEE ADMISSIONS PROGRAM $37,633
93.778 GRANTS TO STATES FOR MEDICAID $11,724
93.658 FOSTER CARE TITLE IV-E $653
93.659 ADOPTION ASSISTANCE $455
14.218 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/ENTITLEMENT GRANTS $221
93.676 UNACCOMPANIED ALIEN CHILDREN PROGRAM $-1,438