Finding 31519 (2022-002)

Material Weakness
Requirement
I
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-08-07
Audit: 33918
Organization: City of Edina (MN)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The City failed to verify that vendors were not suspended or debarred before entering contracts for COVID-19 funds.
  • Impacted Requirements: This violates 2 CFR § 180.300, which mandates verification of vendor eligibility for federal transactions.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement a process to verify vendor status and retain documentation before entering any covered transactions.

Finding Text

Federal agency: U.S. Department of Treasury Federal program name: COVID-19 State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Assistance Listing Number: 21.027 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: SLFRP3395, 2022 Award Period: 6/13/2021 ? 12/31/2026 Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material Noncompliance (Modified Opinion) Criteria or specific requirement: 2 CFR ? 180.300 requires that before the City enters into a covered transaction with an entity at a lower tier, the City must verify that the entity, as defined in 2 CFR section 180.995 and agency adopting regulations, is not suspended or debarred or otherwise excluded from participating in the transaction. Condition: In our testing for the COVID-19 State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, we noted instances where there was no documentation of this verification being performed. Questioned Costs: None Context: During testing of the program, it was noted that five of five contracts that were tested were entered into without the City verifying and retaining documentation of said verification that the vendors were not suspended or debarred by the federal government. Cause: The City was unaware of the federal suspension and debarment requirements. Effect: The City is not in compliance with federal suspension and debarment requirements. Recommendation: We recommend the City ensure that this suspension and debarment verification occurs before entering covered transactions and that supporting documentation of this internal control is retained. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.

Corrective Action Plan

U.S. Department of Treasury 2022-002 COVID-19 State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds ? Assistance Listing No. 21.027 Recommendation: We recommend the City ensure that this suspension and debarment verification occurs before entering covered transactions and that supporting documentation of this internal control is retained. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: The City will work with their departments utilizing federal dollars to ensure the proper suspension and debarment verification is performed for all covered transactions and that the process is well documented. Name of the contact person responsible for corrective action: Alisha McAndrews Planned completion date for corrective action plan: December 31, 2023.

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Material Weakness

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 31520 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 607961 2022-002
    Material Weakness
  • 607962 2022-003
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $1.27M
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $154,092
97.083 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (safer) $82,165
20.608 Minimum Penalties for Repeat Offenders for Driving While Intoxicated $68,788
93.778 Medical Assistance Program $47,059
93.268 Immunization Cooperative Agreements $44,518
20.616 National Priority Safety Programs $41,379
93.069 Public Health Emergency Preparedness $39,990
93.323 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases (elc) $15,925
15.904 Historic Preservation Fund Grants-in-Aid $1,586