Finding 49758 (2022-005)

Material Weakness
Requirement
I
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-05-18
Audit: 51491
Organization: City of Ozark (AL)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The City did not have adequate controls to review covered transactions for suspension and debarment, risking unallowable expenditures.
  • Impacted Requirements: 2 CFR 200.303 mandates effective internal controls for managing federal awards, including compliance checks for suspended or debarred vendors.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement stronger monitoring and documentation controls for vendor compliance, with the Financial Officer overseeing corrective actions by September 30, 2023.

Finding Text

Item 2022-005 ? Suspension and Debarment Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds ? ALN # 21.027 U.S. Department of Treasury Passed through the State of Alabama Federal Award Year - 2022 Criteria ? 2 CFR 200.303 requires the non-Federal entity to ?(a) establish and maintain effective internal controls over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award.? Non-Federal entities are prohibited from contracting with or making subawards under covered transactions to parties that are suspended or debarred. ?Covered transactions? include those procurement contracts for goods and services awarded under a nonprocurement transaction (e.g., grant or cooperative agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000 or meet certain other criteria as specified in 2 CFR section 180.220. All nonprocurement transactions entered into by a recipient (i.e., subawards to subrecipients), irrespective of award amount, are considered covered transactions, unless they are exempt as provided in 2 CFR section 180.215. Condition ? Adequate controls were not in place to provide for proper review of covered transactions for suspension and debarment. Covered transactions, over $25,000 paid with grant funding were not reviewed for suspension and debarment. Cause ? The City lacked sufficient controls to ensure evidence of compliance with suspension and debarment. Questioned Costs ? Not determinable Effect ? Failure to properly verify that a potential vendor has not been suspended or debarred could result in unallowable expenditures and disallowed costs. Recommendation ? We recommend that controls should be put into place to better monitor and document the compliance of vendors for suspension and debarment. Management?s Response ? The City will implement additional controls to ensure there is evidence of review of covered transactions over $25,000 for suspension and debarment prior to payment. City?s Financial Officer will be responsible for the corrective action and anticipates completion of corrective action will be taken before September 30, 2023.

Corrective Action Plan

Item 2022-005 ? Suspension and Debarment Contact person: Chris Peters, City of Ozark Finance Officer Management?s Response ? The City will implement additional controls to ensure there is evidence of review of covered transactions over $25,000 for suspension and debarment prior to payment. City?s Financial Officer will be responsible for the corrective action and anticipates completion of corrective action will be taken before September 30, 2023.

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Subrecipient Monitoring

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 626200 2022-005
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 Covid-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $1.89M
20.205 Highway Planning and Construction $260,446
14.228 Covid-19 Community Development Block Grants/state's Program and Non-Entitlement Grants in Hawaii $90,348
10.559 Summer Food Service Program for Children $66,599
20.600 State and Community Highway Safety $47,446
14.228 Community Development Block Grants/state's Program and Non-Entitlement Grants in Hawaii $36,995
20.106 Covid-19 Airport Improvement Program $32,000
20.106 Airport Improvement Program $30,451
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $17,996