Finding 46192 (2022-002)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
I
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-04-12
Audit: 40828
Organization: Town of Westport, Conencticut (CT)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Town lacks a policy to verify that vendors are not suspended or debarred before entering into contracts.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with federal guidelines requiring verification of vendor eligibility prior to subawards and contracts.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Update policies to include a review process for vendor suspension and debarment checks.

Finding Text

Finding No. 2022-002 Suspension and Debarment Federal Agency: Department of the Treasury Federal Program Name: COVID-19 American Rescue Plan Act Local Fiscal Recovery Assistance Listing Number: 21.027 Pass-Through Agency: State of Connecticut Office of Policy Management Pass-Through Number(s): 12060-OPM20600-29669 Award Period: July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency of Internal Control over Compliance Criteria or Specific Requirement: Prior to entering into subawards and contracts with award funds, recipients must verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. Condition: The Town does not have a policy in place indicating a review over vendors to ensure they are not suspended and debarred. Questioned Costs: None noted. Context: Although the Town did not have a policy in place in conformity with the federal Uniform Guidance criteria, the entities for which the Town made purchases from were not debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded. Cause: Lack of a policy and controls to ensure vendors are not suspended and debarred. Effect: None noted. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend that the policies be updated to include that vendors will be reviewed to ensure they are not suspended and debarred. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the auditors? recommendations.

Corrective Action Plan

FINDING - FEDERAL AWARD PROGRAMS AUDIT United States Department of the Treasury 2022-002 COVID-19 American Rescue Plan Act Local Fiscal Recovery ? AL No. 21.027 Recommendation: We recommend that the policies be updated to include that vendors will be reviewed to ensure they are not suspended and debarred. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: Management agrees with this finding. Management further notes that it will review all vendors through the Sam website to verify that the vendor has not been debarred or ineligible from receiving Federal Government funds. Name of the contact person responsible for corrective action: Sheila Carey Planned completion date for corrective action plan: March 30, 2023.

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Subrecipient Monitoring

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 46191 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 622633 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 622634 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $1.50M
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $843,814
14.228 Community Development Block Grants/state's Program and Non-Entitlement Grants in Hawaii $290,788
20.205 Highway Planning and Construction $144,148
97.029 Flood Mitigation Assistance $102,673
97.042 Emergency Management Performance Grants $27,435
21.019 Coronavirus Relief Fund $24,002
84.027 Special Education_grants to States $20,003
84.173 Special Education_preschool Grants $14,112
16.738 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program $7,500
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $2,000
20.600 State and Community Highway Safety $896
20.616 National Priority Safety Programs $620
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $600
84.048 Career and Technical Education -- Basic Grants to States $420
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $272
84.367 Improving Teacher Quality State Grants $191