Finding 38316 (2022-001)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-06-28
Audit: 28455
Organization: Global Ties U.s. (DC)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Global Ties U.S. failed to register first tier subawards over $30,000 in the FFATA Subaward Reporting System on time.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR Part 170, which mandates timely reporting of subawards in FSRS.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement controls to ensure all eligible subawards are reported accurately and on time, including necessary data elements.

Finding Text

2022 ? 001 Reporting, Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act Federal agency: U.S. Department of State, Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs Federal program title: International Visitor Leadership Program CFDA Number: 19.402 Award Period: January 1, 2020 ? June 30, 2022; February 2, 2022 ? June 30, 2023 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: As noted in 2 CFR Part 170, the recipients (i.e. direct recipients) of grants or cooperative agreements who make first tier subawards of $30,000 or more are required to register in the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) and report subaward data through FSRS no later than the end of the month following the month in which the obligation was made. Condition: During our testing, we noted Global Ties U.S. did not register all the original and subsequent first tier subawards of $30,000 or more in FSRS within the requirement timeline. Questioned costs: None Context: FFATA reporting was not submitted in FSRS. Cause: During the fiscal year under audit, Global Ties U.S. received several tranches of the direct award and distributed them to all the subrecipients. Due to the volume of the disbursement activity required to fulfil the obligations under this awards, the organization did not have sufficient staffing to comply with FFATA reporting requirements within the specified deadlines throughout the year. Repeat Finding: The finding is a repeat of a finding in the immediately prior year. Prior year finding number was 2021-005. Effect: Global Ties U.S could fail to ensure that subrecipients are in compliance with the federal award requirements. Recommendation: We recommend Global Ties U.S. design controls to ensure all first tier awards in excess of $30,000 are accurately and timely registered with the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act Subaward Reporting System. In addition, Global Ties U.S. should ensure that any subawards are reported within the required time frame. The list of data elements required to be reported for each subaward in excess of $30,000 include the following: ? Subaward date ? Subaward UEI number ? Subaward amount ? Subaward obligation/action date ? Subaward number ? Subaward report submission date. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.

Corrective Action Plan

United States Department of State Global Ties U.S. and Affiliate respectfully submits the following corrective action plan for the year ended September 30, 2022. Audit period: October 1, 2021 - September 30, 2022 The findings from the schedule of findings and questioned costs are discussed below. The findings are numbered consistently with the numbers assigned in the schedule. FINDINGS-FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT There were no financial statement findings. FINDINGS-FEDERAL AWARD PROGRAMS AUDITS UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE 2022-001 International Visitor Leadership Program - CFDA No. 19.402 Recommendation: We recommend Global Ties U.S. design controls to ensure all first-tier awards in excess of $30,000 are accurately and timely registered with the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act Subaward Reporting System. In addition, Global Ties U.S. should ensure that any subawards are reported within the required time frame. The list of data elements required to be reported for each subaward in excess of $30,000 include the following: ? Subaward date ? Subaward DUNS number ? Subaward amount ? Subaward obligation/action date ? Subaward number ? Subaward report submission date. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: Starting in July 2022, Global Ties U.S. and Affiliate put in place a tracking mechanism to report monthly subaward disbursements in excess of $30,000 to the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act Subaward Reporting System. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Gina M. Smallwood, Associate Director of Finance and Grants Planned completion date for corrective action plan: July 2022 If the United States Department of State has questions regarding this schedule, please call Katherine Brown, CEO, at (202) 271-1751.

Categories

Subrecipient Monitoring Reporting Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 614758 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
19.402 Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs - International Visitor Leadership Program $11.69M
19.452 International Exchange Alumni Programs $595,330
19.703 Criminal Justice Systems $350,385
19.017 Environmental and Scientific Partnerships and Programs $306,707
19.040 Public Diplomacy Programs $173,325
19.415 Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs - Citizen Exchanges $101,729
19.021 Investing in People in the Middle East and North Africa $2,076