Finding 1238339 (2025-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
I
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-09-29
Audit: 413181
Auditor: COHNREZNICK LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: BCHN failed to check the System for Award Management (sam.gov) for vendor debarment or suspension before hiring, violating federal regulations.
  • Impacted Requirements: Noncompliance with 2 CFR 200.214 and 2 CFR part 180, which mandate checks for debarred or suspended parties in federal assistance programs.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: HR should verify vendor status at sam.gov before hiring and document the verification process, ensuring compliance and preventing future issues.

Finding Text

Finding 2025-002 - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment - Significant Deficiency Name of Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Federal Program Names: Health Center Program and Grants for New and Expanded Services Under the Health Center Program. Assistance Listing Numbers: 93.224 and 93.527 Federal Award Identification Numbers and Years: Health Center Program Cluster: H80CS00626‐2023, H8KCS49691-2023, H8KCS49691-2024, H8ICS53459-2024 Criteria In accordance with 2 CFR 200.214, nonfederal entities are subject to the nonprocurement debarment and suspension regulations. The regulations in 2 CFR part 180 restrict awards, subawards, and contracts with certain parties that are debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded from or ineligible for participation in federal assistance programs or activities. Condition During our audit, we noted that BCHN did not perform a check at the System for Award Management Exclusions (sam.gov) to verify whether a vendor had been suspended or debarred before being hired. Cause As a result of personnel changes, the check was not timely performed. Effect or Potential Effect The condition could result in vendors who are suspended or debarred receiving federal funds. Questioned Costs None. Context One exception from a statistically valid sample of eight. Identification as a Repeat Finding Yes (see prior year finding number 2024-002) Recommendation We recommend Human Resources (HR) personnel/management perform a check at sam.gov prior to the hire of an vendor to ensure the vendor was not suspended or debarred and retain evidence of that verification, including the date it was performed. Views of Responsible Officials The vendor that was selected during the audit was hired in March of 2025. Since that time, BCHN has implemented a process by which all new employees and new vendors are added to the Exclusion Screening LLC database. We engaged Exclusion screening LLC because they check for exclusion and debarment on the OIG, SAM and state exclusion lists monthly, once entered in the system. This process ensures that all new vendors or employees are screened upon hire and are then automatically screened going forward. Bronx Community Health Network, Inc. and Affiliate Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs Year Ended December 31, 2025 38

Corrective Action Plan

Bronx Community Health Network, Inc. (“BCHN”) Corrective Action Plan For the Year Ended December 31, 2025 Health Resources and Services Administration (“HRSA”) Federal Award Finding Finding 2025-002 – Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Description of Finding: BCHN did not perform a check at the System for Award Management Exclusions (sam.gov) to verify whether a vendor had been suspended or debarred before being hired. Statement of Concurrence: We concur with the finding above. Corrective Action: The vendor that was selected during the audit was hired in March of 2025. Since that time, BCHN has implemented a process by which all new employees and new vendors are added to the Exclusion Screening LLC database. We engaged Exclusion screening LLC because they check for exclusion and debarment on the OIG, SAM and state exclusion lists monthly, once entered in the system. This process ensures that all new vendors or employees are screened upon hire and are then automatically screened going forward. Completion Date: January 2026 Name of Contact Person: Alicia Tenny Chief Financial Officer Tel. No.: (917) 364-1156 E-mail: atenny@bchnhealth.org If HRSA has questions regarding this Corrective Action Plan, please call Alicia Tenny at (917) 364-1156. Sincerely yours, _________________________ Alicia Tenny Chief Financial Officer

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1238337 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1238338 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1238340 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.224 HEALTH CENTER PROGRAM $9.15M
93.493 CONGRESSIONAL DIRECTIVES $2.00M
93.918 GRANTS TO PROVIDE OUTPATIENT EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES WITH RESPECT TO HIV DISEASE $708,046
93.527 GRANTS FOR NEW AND EXPANDED SERVICES UNDER THE HEALTH CENTER PROGRAM $82,446