Finding 404156 (2023-002)

2023-002 – COVID 19: Community Development Block Grants/Entitlement Grants Federal Awarding Agency – U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Assistance Listing Number – 14.218 FAIN – B-20-UW-12-0017 & B-21-UC-12-0017 Award Year – 2021 & 2022 Questioned costs – none Criteria: 2 CFR Part 200 in general and 2 CFR section 200.303(a) require non-Federal entities to establish and maintain effective internal controls over Federal awards, including the requirements for allowable costs, cost principles, period of performance, and special tests and provisions – wage rate requirements. The related compliance requirements are set in 24 CFR Part 570 Subpart D and sections 570.200 through .710, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the April 30, 2021 Quick Guide, CDBG-CV PPR Tieback Flexibilities, Title I of the Housing Community Development Act (HCDA) of 1974, as amended (Pub. L. No. 93-383) (42 USC 5301), 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E, Appendices III-V11, and sections 200.330, .331, and .501(h), 31 USC 1552, Section III.B.7 of CDBG-CV Notice, Section 110(a) of the HCD Act, federal awarding agency regulations, and the terms and conditions of the award. Condition: Internal controls related to review of certain invoices, including construction payments and payments to subrecipients, did not have evidence of all required approvals necessary to ensure compliance with allowable costs, cost principles, and period of performance requirements or such approvals were not documented in a manner that is reperformable. Weekly payroll reports were not reviewed as part of the special tests and provisions – wage rate requirements compliance requirement, resulting in material noncompliance. Cause: Internal controls over certain payments, including payments requiring review of contractor and subcontractor wage rates were not evidenced with clear documentation. Effect: Allowable costs, cost principles, and period of performance compliance requirements may not be met due to lack of reperformable internal controls. Wage rate requirements were not complied with. Recommendation: We recommend that the City ensure wage rate requirement compliance is prioritized when applicable. We recommend that the City ensure that all controls for grants be documented in written procedures which should include the name or title of the positions responsible for each control (preparation, review, reconciliation, etc.) and that the performance of the controls be documented in a clear, reperformable manner including the name and date of each responsible individual and which specific control they performed over compliance for the grant.