Finding 369084 (2023-002)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-02-14
Audit: 290474
Organization: Easter Seals Serving Dc/md/va (MD)
Auditor: Aprio LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Organization failed to submit the required Real Property Status Report (SF-429) for the Head Start program by the deadline.
  • Impacted Requirements: This finding highlights a significant deficiency in meeting federal reporting requirements under the grant agreement.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Organization should actively seek assistance from the Federal agency and ensure timely submission of all future reports.

Finding Text

Finding 2023-002: Reportable Finding Considered a Significant Deficiency - Failure to Meet Reporting Requirement Program name: Head Start (Cluster) Assistance Listing: 93.600 Federal awarding agency: United States Department of Health and Human Services Compliance requirement: Reporting Criteria: The grant agreement (03CH012075-02-02) for Head Start requires the submission of the Real Property Status Report (SF-429), as expenditures for leasehold improvements were reimbursed under the award during the year ended August 31, 2023. Condition: The Organization did not submit the SF-429 report due during the year ended August 31, 2023. Context: The year under audit was the first year the Organization was subject to these reporting requirements. Cause: The Organization is aware of the requirement and has requested assistance with the preparation of the report from the Federal agency, but has not received assistance as of the date of the audit report. Effect: The Organization did not meet reporting requirements for the award during the year ended August 31, 2023. Repeat finding: This is not a repeat finding. Questioned costs: There are no questioned costs associated with this finding. Recommendation: We recommend that the Organization follow up with the relevant parties to ensure proper reporting requirements are met on a timely basis. Management’s response and corrective action plan (unaudited): See corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

The status of real property purchased, constructed, or subject to major renovations paid for in whole or in part with federal Head Start funds must be reported annually on standard forms (SF) Real Property Status Reports 429 and SF-429-A. Based on our grant agreement for our Early Head Start Program in Washington, DC , as well as construction activities undertaken throughout Fiscal Year 2023 related to the facility located at 1151 Bladensburg Road, NE, Easter Seals DC | MD | VA is required to file the aforementioned forms no later than 90 days after the program year ends. As noted in the audit report, our organization did not file the required SF-429 Form for the latest program year (FY 2023) for our Washington DC EHS program. The director for the Head Start program was aware of the Real Property Status filing requirement, but apparently misunderstood that the deadline for the Year 2 (FY 2023) filing was September 30, 2023. We anticipate that the required reports will be submitted to the appropriate governing agency by March 31, 2024.

Categories

Reporting Significant Deficiency Equipment & Real Property Management

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 369083 2023-001
    - Repeat
  • 945525 2023-001
    - Repeat
  • 945526 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
17.805 Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project $638,962
93.434 Every Student Succeeds Act/preschool Development Grants $632,000
93.600 Head Start $196,076
93.498 Provider Relief Fund $160,378
93.575 Child Care and Development Block Grant $89,592
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $30,000
93.048 Special Programs for the Aging_title Iv_and Title Ii_discretionary Projects $12,917
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $0