Finding 375948 (2021-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
B
Questioned Costs
$1
Year
2021
Accepted
2024-03-13

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Project Worksheet #136175 submitted to FEMA had discrepancies with supporting documents, leading to an overstatement of costs by $79,284.82.
  • Impacted Requirements: Reimbursement eligibility requires costs to be well-documented, authorized, and compliant with federal and local regulations.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement independent review procedures for project worksheets before submission to FEMA to ensure accuracy and compliance.

Finding Text

Condition - Project Worksheet #136175 submitted to FEMA for reimbursement of 90% of the cost incurred during the Presidentially Declared Disaster did not agree to supporting documentation. Criteria - Eligibility for reimbursement for Presidentially Declared Disasters, the costs must be directly tied to the performance of eligible work, adequately documented, reduced by all applicable credits, authorized and not prohibited under Federal or SL TT government laws or regulations, consistent with the Applicant's internal policies, regulations, and procedures that apply uniformly to both Federal awards and other activities of the Applicant, and necessary and reasonable to accomplish the work properly and efficiently. Cause - Procedures were not in place for supervisory approval of documentation before submission to FEMA for reimbursement of 90% of cost incurred. Effect - The cost submitted for Project Worksheet #136175 was overstated by $79,284.82 of total dollars requested for reimbursement. Recommendation - The Corporation should implement procedures to review of the Project's worksheets before submission to FEMA by someone independent of the preparation process. Views of responsible officials - The Corporation agrees with the finding and has resubmitted the Project Worksheet #136175 to FEMA. The Corporation will adjust their procedures of federal awards and require review by someone independent of the preparation process.

Corrective Action Plan

Since the date of the deficiency was identified, the MTE Finance Department recalculated the allowable costs for the project worksheet #136175 and submitted a revised worksheet to FEMA. We met with the employees responsible for completion and filing of eligible costs with FEMA. We believe this was an isolated incident due to preparation and submittal on our behalf by an independent contractor. We will have an employee of the Finance Department perform a review of any future projects submitted for reimbursement.

Categories

Questioned Costs Cash Management Eligibility

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 952390 2021-001
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $7.35M