Finding 484622 (2023-001)

Cluster: Research and Development Agency: Department of Human and Health Services Award Names: Safety and Health Risks in Energy Transition for the Commercial Fishing Industry Award Numbers: U01OH012502 Assistance Listing Title: Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Assistance Listing Number: 93.262 Award Year: FY 2023 Criteria 2 CFR 200.332(d) notes that pass-through entity monitoring of the subrecipient must include: 1. Reviewing financial and performance reports required by the pass-through entity. 2. Following-up and ensuring that the subrecipient takes timely and appropriate action on all deficiencies pertaining to the Federal award provided to the subrecipient from the pass-through entity detected through audits, on-site reviews, and written confirmation from the subrecipient, highlighting the status of actions planned or taken to address Single Audit findings related to the particular subaward. 3. Issuing a management decision for applicable audit findings pertaining only to the Federal award provided to the subrecipient from the pass-through entity as required by 2 CFR 200.521. 2 CFR 200.332(f) notes that a pass-through entity must verify that every subrecipient is audited as required by the Uniform Guidance when it is expected that the subrecipient’s Federal awards expended during the respective fiscal year equaled or exceeded the threshold set forth in 2 CFR 200.501. Condition Through our testing of 4 subrecipients out of a total subrecipient population of 10, we were able to obtain a documented initial risk assessment for each subrecipient selected and other evidence of monitoring such as meetings with the subrecipients. However, we were unable to obtain evidence that the Company obtained and reviewed the annual Uniform Guidance report or annual audited financial statements (if the entity was not subject to a Uniform Guidance audit) for 1 out of 4 subrecipients selected for testing. Cause The Company failed to ensure that their subrecipient monitoring process included obtaining and reviewing every subrecipient’s annual Uniform Guidance report or annual audited financial statements during FY 2023. Effect The lack of an annual review of subrecipient audits may result in ineligible subrecipients receiving federal awards, subrecipient findings not being fully remediated and other monitoring procedures (based on risk level) not being performed. Questioned Costs None noted. Recommendation We recommend the Company follow their policy, which includes obtaining and reviewing Uniform Guidance reports (or audited financial statements to the extent Uniform Guidance reports are not available) for every subrecipient on an annual basis and ensure that it is completed for all applicable awards. When reviewing the reports, they should understand the type of opinion(s) expressed and whether there were any findings associated with their awards, document their review and assess whether there is any change in the risk assessment and subsequent monitoring needed of each subrecipient. We also recommend a supervisory review over subrecipient monitoring to be included in the process to ensure it gets completed completely and accurately for all awards. This supervisory review should also be evidenced through documentation. This is a repeat finding of 2022-001, which continued to remain open during FY2023. Management’ Views and Corrective Action Plan Management’s Views and Corrective Action Plan are included at the end of this report.