Finding 1228657 (2025-006)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
LM
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-09-02
Audit: 410304
Organization: City of Aurora, Colorado (CO)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The City failed to report a first-tier subaward in SAM.gov and did not communicate necessary federal award information to its subrecipient.
  • Impacted Requirements: Noncompliance with FFATA reporting and 2 CFR § 200.332(a) regarding subrecipient communication and federal award details.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Submit outstanding FFATA reports, notify the subrecipient of funding changes, and establish procedures for timely compliance updates.

Finding Text

Reporting – Special Reports for FFATA and Subrecipient Monitoring Assistance Listing Number 14.251 – Economic Development Initiative, Community Project Funding, and Miscellaneous Grants U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Federal Award Identification Number(s): B-22-CP-CO-0165 Award Year – 2022 Criteria or specific requirement(s): In accordance with the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) and 2 CFR Part 170, recipients are required to report applicable first-tier subawards of $30,000 or more, including required data elements, in SAM.gov by the end of the month following the month in which the subaward obligation was made. Furthermore, pursuant to 2 CFR § 200.332(a), pass-through entities are required to clearly identify federal award information and communicate all applicable federal requirements, terms and conditions, and compliance requirements to subrecipients at the time of the subaward. Required information includes, among other items, the Assistance Listing number and name, federal award identification information, indirect cost rate and any additional requirements imposed by the pass-through entity so that subrecipients can properly administer the federal award and comply with applicable federal requirements. Condition: During testing of FFATA reporting requirements, we noted that the City had one applicable first-tier subrecipient; however, the City did not report the subaward information in SAM.gov. Additionally during testing of subrecipient monitoring, we noted the City did not communicate required federal award information or increase in funding to its sole subrecipient as required by 2 CFR § 200.332(a). Cause: The City experienced a delay in receiving the federal award and initially funded the subaward with nonfederal resources. After the federal award was received and the related expenditures were identified as federally funded, the City did not have a process to update the subaward, communicate the federal award information and funding increase to the subrecipient, or evaluate FFATA reporting requirements. As a result, the required subaward information was not reported in SAM.gov or communicated to the subrecipient. Effect or potential effect: Failure to report the applicable first-tier subaward in accordance with FFATA requirements resulted in noncompliance with federal reporting requirements and reduced transparency over the use of federal funds by preventing complete and accurate subaward information from being available through federal transparency reporting systems. In addition, failure to communicate required federal award information to the subrecipient increases the risk that the subrecipient would be unaware of applicable federal requirements and unable to properly administer the award in accordance with federal regulations and the terms and conditions of the subaward. Questioned costs: None Context: The City had one subrecipient during the audit period. The following testing was performed related to FFATA reporting: Transactions Tested -1 Subaward not reported -1 Report not timely -1 Subaward amount incorrect - Unable to test due to subaward no tbeing reported Subaward missing key elements -Unable to test due to subaward not being reported Dollar Amount of Tested Transactions - $1,045,014 Subaward not reported - $1,045,014 Report not timely - $ 1,045,014 Subaward amount incorrect -Unable to test due to subaward not being reported Subaward missing key elements - Unable to test due to subaward not being reported Additionally, we performed subrecipient monitoring testing over the sole subrecipient and identified the compliance exception described above. Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable: N/A Recommendation: We recommend the City submit any outstanding FFATA reporting information and formally notify the subrecipient of the increase in funding, applicable federal requirements, and terms and conditions of the award. We also recommend the City implement procedures to identify and assess compliance requirements when funding sources and award amounts change, including procedures to ensure required reporting, documentation, and subrecipient communications are updated timely and accurately. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: Agree. See separate corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Reporting – Special Reports for FFATA and Subrecipient Monitoring Assistance Listing Number 14.251 – Economic Development Initiative, Community Project Funding, and Miscellaneous Grants U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Federal Award Identification Number(s): B-22-CP-CO-0165 Award Year – 2022 Condition: During testing of FFATA reporting requirements, it was noted that the City had one applicable first-tier subrecipient; however, the City did not report the subaward information in SAM.gov. Additionally, during testing of subrecipient monitoring, it was noted that the City did not communicate required federal award information or increase in funding to its sole subrecipient as required by 2 CFR § 200.332(a). Planned Corrective Action: The City corrected the FFATA reporting in SAM.gov and the reporting now includes the subaward information for the subrecipient. In addition, the City provided a letter to its sole subrecipient to communicate the required federal award information. Additional procedures will be implemented for Departments to identify subrecipients during the grant set up process with the Controller’s Office to ensure that FAFTA reporting is completed for required grants and subrecipients. Finally, the City will continue to work with the Legal Department to create subrecipient agreements and ensure that federal award information is detailed in the executed agreements. City of Aurora Responsible Party: Stephanie Keiper, Homelessness Division Manager; Tim Sherbondy, Grant Compliance Officer; and Tyra Litzau, Controller Anticipated Completion Date: December 31, 2026

Categories

Subrecipient Monitoring Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1228658 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
20.933 NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS $6.04M
14.239 HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM $3.71M
14.251 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING, AND MISCELLANEOUS GRANTS $3.20M
66.202 CONGRESSIONALLY MANDATED PROJECTS $2.22M
20.205 HIGHWAY PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION $1.59M
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $1.21M
10.727 INFLATION REDUCTION ACT URBAN & COMMUNITY FORESTRY PROGRAM $754,322
16.922 EQUITABLE SHARING PROGRAM $635,873
97.044 ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT $249,419
16.045 COMMUNITY-BASED VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION INITIATIVE $187,649
97.036 DISASTER GRANTS - PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED DISASTERS) $152,436
97.025 NATIONAL URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE (US&R) RESPONSE SYSTEM $140,040
14.231 EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT PROGRAM $127,403
59.037 SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS $114,896
95.001 HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREAS PROGRAM $64,888
21.016 EQUITABLE SHARING $61,978
16.741 DNA BACKLOG REDUCTION PROGRAM $61,559
14.218 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/ENTITLEMENT GRANTS $60,833
16.609 PROJECT SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS $52,227
20.608 MINIMUM PENALTIES FOR REPEAT OFFENDERS FOR DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED $51,535
97.132 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR TARGETED VIOLENCE AND TERRORISM PREVENTION $49,455
20.600 STATE AND COMMUNITY HIGHWAY SAFETY $33,199
14.169 HOUSING COUNSELING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM $26,259
16.738 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM $16,941
16.036 COMPREHENSIVE FORENSIC DNA ANALYSIS GRANT PROGRAM $11,100
20.616 NATIONAL PRIORITY SAFETY PROGRAMS $7,286
16.543 MISSING CHILDREN'S ASSISTANCE $1,784
97.042 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE GRANTS $714
21.026 HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE FUND $114
16.607 BULLETPROOF VEST PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM $-644