Finding 1237833 (2025-064)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
I
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-09-29
Audit: 412698
Organization: The Geneva Foundation (WA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Foundation failed to follow internal controls for verifying vendor suspension and debarment before contract execution.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR Part 200.303, which mandates effective internal controls over Federal awards.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement written procedures to verify vendor status and retain documentation of this verification for all contracts over $25,000.

Finding Text

FINDING: 2025-001 - Suspension and Debarment Federal Program: Research and Development Cluster – Various ALNs Federal Agency: U.S Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Statement of Condition: The Foundation did not follow internal control procedures designed to ensure compliance with suspension and debarment requirements for covered contracts. During our testing of procurement transactions subject to suspension and debarment requirements, we noted that the Foundation did not retain documentation demonstrating that it had reviewed the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) exclusion records prior to entering into contractual agreements. Specifically, there was no evidence that a SAM.gov printout was reviewed or approved to verify that vendors were not suspended or debarred at the time of contract execution. In conjunction with the audit, we reviewed the SAM Exclusions for all transactions in our sample and we noted that no transactions were with entities that were suspended or debarred. Criteria: In accordance with 2 CFR Part 200.303, a non-Federal entity must establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal awards that provide reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity manages the Federal award in accordance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Cause: The Foundation did not follow the internal control procedures to document the review of the SAM.gov exclusion list prior to contract execution. Effect: The lack of following internal control procedures to review the verification of suspension and debarment prior to entering into contracts, agreements, and grants, could result in the Foundation entering into covered transactions with entities that are suspended and debarred which is not allowed under the Research and Development Cluster. Although no actual noncompliance was identified during our procedures, the lack of documented verification represents a deficiency in internal control over compliance that could adversely affect the Foundation's ability to comply with suspension and debarment requirements. Questioned Costs: None Identification as a Repeat Finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that the Foundation consistently apply written procedures to verify, prior to executing any covered transaction expected to equal or exceed $25,000, that the prospective contractor is not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. The Foundation should document its verification by retaining a dated SAM.gov exclusion search printout (or equivalent screenshot), obtaining a certification from the contractor, or including an appropriate suspension and debarment clause in the agreement. Evidence of the review and approval should be retained in the procurement file to demonstrate compliance. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective action: Management agrees with the finding. See separate corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

The Geneva Foundation (Foundation) submits the following corrective action plan in response to the finding identified during the audit for the year ending December 31, 2025. 1. Finding 2025-001: Research and Development Cluster - Suspension and Debarment; U.S Department of Defense/War (DoD/DoW) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) – Various R&D Assistance Listings Questioned Costs: None Condition: The Foundation did not follow internal control procedures designed to ensure compliance with suspension and debarment requirements for covered contracts. During our testing of procurement transactions subject to suspension and debarment requirements, we noted that the Foundation did not retain documentation demonstrating that it had reviewed the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) exclusion records prior to entering into contractual agreements. Specifically, there was no evidence that a SAM.gov printout was reviewed or approved to verify that vendors were not suspended or debarred at the time of contract execution. In conjunction with the audit, we reviewed the SAM Exclusions for all transactions in our sample and we noted that no transactions were with entities that were suspended or debarred. 2. Corrective Action: The Foundation will review and update its procurement and vendor eligibility procedures to ensure compliance with federal suspension and debarment requirements under 2 CFR Part 180 and applicable Uniform Guidance requirements. The revised procedures will: a. Define when SAM.gov exclusion verification is required. b. Identify personnel responsible for performing and documenting the verification. c. Require retention of date-stamped evidence of the SAM.gov review within the procurement file prior to contract execution. d. Establish supervisory review procedures to confirm required documentation is present before procurement approval is granted. e. Incorporate suspension and debarment verification requirements into procurement checklists, vendor onboarding procedures, and procurement approval workflows. f. Require that covered procurement actions cannot proceed to contract execution without documented evidence of suspension and debarment verification. g. Incorporate periodic compliance monitoring to assess adherence to the revised procedures and identify any exceptions requiring corrective action. These actions are designed to strengthen the Foundation's internal control environment, enhance documentation practices, and ensure consistent compliance with federal suspension and debarment requirements. Management believes these corrective actions adequately address the root cause of the finding and will reduce the risk of recurrence in future audit periods. 3. Responsible Party: The Director and Financial Controller will jointly oversee the policy review, procedural updates, and ongoing monitoring to ensure compliance with federal requirements. Day-to-day implementation and monitoring will be coordinated by the Procurement Manager, with oversight and periodic compliance review performed by the Financial Controller. 4. Anticipated Completion Date: December 31, 2026. Key milestones include: a. Revised procedures drafted and approved by October 31, 2026 b. Procurement workflow and checklist updates completed by November 15, 2026 c. Staff training completed by November 30, 2026 d. Updated controls and workflow requirements implemented by November 30, 2026 e. Compliance review completed by December 31, 2026 5. Implementation Details: To implement the updated procedures, the Foundation will incorporate SAM.gov suspension and debarment verification requirements into its procurement workflow, vendor onboarding process, and procurement file review procedures. Prior to execution of any covered contract subject to federal requirements, designated personnel will perform a SAM.gov exclusion search and retain date-stamped evidence of the search within the procurement file. Procurement approvals will not be finalized until the required documentation has been obtained and reviewed. In addition, Finance personnel processing covered transactions will verify that required suspension and debarment documentation is maintained within the procurement file before payments are processed. Transactions lacking required suspension and debarment documentation will be returned to Procurement for correction and completion prior to contract execution or payment processing, as applicable. The Procurement Manager will conduct periodic reviews of procurement files to verify compliance with documentation requirements. Any exceptions identified will be documented and reported to the Director and Financial Controller for resolution and corrective action. Additionally, procurement personnel and other employees involved in vendor onboarding, contracting, and accounts payable activities will receive training regarding federal suspension and debarment requirements, documentation standards, and revised approval procedures. During FY27, management will conduct and document quarterly reviews of a sample of covered procurement transactions to verify compliance with the revised controls. Any deficiencies identified will be evaluated and corrective actions implemented as necessary. Sincerely, Matt Rueckert Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1237770 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237771 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237772 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237773 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237774 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237775 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237776 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237777 2025-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237778 2025-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237779 2025-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237780 2025-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237781 2025-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237782 2025-013
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237783 2025-014
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237784 2025-015
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237785 2025-016
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237786 2025-017
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237787 2025-018
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237788 2025-019
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237789 2025-020
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237790 2025-021
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237791 2025-022
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237792 2025-023
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237793 2025-024
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237794 2025-025
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237795 2025-026
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237796 2025-027
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237797 2025-028
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237798 2025-029
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237799 2025-030
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237800 2025-031
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237801 2025-032
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237802 2025-033
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237803 2025-034
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237804 2025-035
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237805 2025-036
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237806 2025-037
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237807 2025-038
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237808 2025-039
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237809 2025-040
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237810 2025-041
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237811 2025-042
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237812 2025-043
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237813 2025-044
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237814 2025-045
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237815 2025-046
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237816 2025-047
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237817 2025-048
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237818 2025-049
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237819 2025-050
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237820 2025-051
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237821 2025-052
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237822 2025-053
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237823 2025-054
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237824 2025-055
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237825 2025-056
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237826 2025-057
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237827 2025-058
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237828 2025-059
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237829 2025-060
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237830 2025-061
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237831 2025-062
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237832 2025-063
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237834 2025-065
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237835 2025-066
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237836 2025-067
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237837 2025-068
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237838 2025-069
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237839 2025-070
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237840 2025-071
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237841 2025-072
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237842 2025-073
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237843 2025-074
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237844 2025-075
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237845 2025-076
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237846 2025-077
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237847 2025-078
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237848 2025-079
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237849 2025-080
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237850 2025-081
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237851 2025-082
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237852 2025-083
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237853 2025-084
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237854 2025-085
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237855 2025-086
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237856 2025-087
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237857 2025-088
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237858 2025-089
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237859 2025-090
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237860 2025-091
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237861 2025-092
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237862 2025-093
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237863 2025-094
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237864 2025-095
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237865 2025-096
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237866 2025-097
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237867 2025-098
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237868 2025-099
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237869 2025-100
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237870 2025-101
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237871 2025-102
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237872 2025-103
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237873 2025-104
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237874 2025-105
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237875 2025-106
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237876 2025-107
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237877 2025-108
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237878 2025-109
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237879 2025-110
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237880 2025-111
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237881 2025-112
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237882 2025-113
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237883 2025-114
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237884 2025-115
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237885 2025-116
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237886 2025-117
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237887 2025-118
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237888 2025-119
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237889 2025-120
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237890 2025-121
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237891 2025-122
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237892 2025-123
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237893 2025-124
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237894 2025-125
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237895 2025-126
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237896 2025-127
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237897 2025-128
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237898 2025-129
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237899 2025-130
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237900 2025-131
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237901 2025-132
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237902 2025-133
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237903 2025-134
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237904 2025-135
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237905 2025-136
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237906 2025-137
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237907 2025-138
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237908 2025-139
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237909 2025-140
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237910 2025-141
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237911 2025-142
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237912 2025-143
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237913 2025-144
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237914 2025-145
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237915 2025-146
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237916 2025-147
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237917 2025-148
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237918 2025-149
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237919 2025-150
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237920 2025-151
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237921 2025-152
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237922 2025-153
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237923 2025-154
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237924 2025-155
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237925 2025-156
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237926 2025-157
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1237927 2025-158
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
12.800 AIR FORCE DEFENSE RESEARCH SCIENCES PROGRAM $357,569
93.855 ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES RESEARCH $246,137
93.279 DRUG USE AND ADDICTION RESEARCH PROGRAMS $90,699
93.865 CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT EXTRAMURAL RESEARCH $57,911
93.837 CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES RESEARCH $39,324
93.242 MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH GRANTS $30,480
93.213 RESEARCH AND TRAINING IN COMPLEMENTARY AND INTEGRATIVE HEALTH $26,791
12.351 SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH - COMBATING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION $18,037
12.750 UNIFORMED SERVICES UNIVERSITY MEDICAL RESEARCH PROJECTS $15,786
12.420 MILITARY MEDICAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT $5,057
93.838 LUNG DISEASES RESEARCH $4,983
12.007 MILITARY HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH (MHSR) $4,115
93.157 CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE $2,649
12.300 BASIC AND APPLIED SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH $439