Finding 553997 (2022-010)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
B
Questioned Costs
$1
Year
2022
Accepted
2025-04-03

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: CFSC used an indirect cost rate without a proper agreement from USDA, violating federal guidelines.
  • Impacted Requirements: Non-compliance with 2 CFR 200.414(c), 2 CFR 200.403(d), and 2 CFR 200.302(b)(3) regarding indirect cost rates and documentation.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: CFSC should enhance policies to ensure proper review of indirect cost rates before invoicing the grantor.

Finding Text

Federal Agency: United States Department of Commerce Federal Program Name: Office for Coastal Management Assistance Listing Number: 11.473 Federal Award Identification Year: 2020 Pass-Through Agency: National Fish and Wildlife Grant Agreement Award Period: 9/1/20-08/31/23 Type of Finding: Other Matters – Material Weakness in Internal Control Criteria: 2 CFR 200.414(c) - Federal award recipients must negotiate an indirect cost rate with the cognizant agency for indirect costs, which is typically the federal agency that provides the most funding to the recipient.2 CFR 200.403(d) - The negotiated rate must be applied consistently across all federal awards to ensure uniformity in cost allocation. 2 CFR 200.302(b)(3) - Recipients must maintain adequate documentation to support the indirect costs charged to federal awards, ensuring compliance with the cost principles outlined in the regulation. Condition: For two reimbursement requests from the grantor, an indirect cost rate was used, for which CSFC did not have a provisional or final rate agreement from the USDA. Context: Of the 2 reimbursements invoiced, 2 were selected for testing for the Office for Coastal Management program. The condition noted above was identified during our procedures over CFSC’s subrecipients. Effect: CFSC did not identify the error to be able to make the appropriate corrections before receiving reimbursement for incorrect indirect cost rate invoiced. Cause: CFSC’s procedures did not ensure that the negotiated provisional rate was invoiced properly. Repeat Finding: The finding is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that CFSC modify and strengthen its current policies and procedures to perform review over the indirect cost rate utilized when submitting invoices to the grantor. Management’s Views: See separate corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Management agrees with the finding and is implementing the accompanying corrective action plan. Views of Responsible Officials: Jacy Hyde, Executive Director Joel Rusco, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer Jessica Martinez, Deputy Director Contact Person: Jessica Martinez, Deputy Director Joel Rusco, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer Corrective Action Plan: In response to FY21 Corrective Action Plan, CFSC implemented an updated Reporting Policy in June 2024 to strengthen internal controls prior to review and submission of invoices and drawdown/payment requests to funders. To ensure further compliance with 2 CFR 200.414(c), 2 CFR 200.403(d), and 2 CFR 200.302(b)(3), CFSC will implement the following corrective actions: 1.Verification of Indirect Cost Rate Before Submission: a.CFSC will require that all invoices, including indirect costs, be reviewed by the CFAO to confirm that the rate used is in accordance with an approved provisional or final NICRA agreement. b.Any invoice for federal funding lacking an approved indirect cost rate will be flagged and returned for correction before submission. 2.Pre-Submission Approval Process for Invoicing Indirect Costs: a.All invoice requests containing indirect costs must be reviewed and approved by the CFAO prior to submission. b.The Finance Department will verify and document that the rate applied is consistent across all federal awards and matches the NICRA. 3.Indirect Cost Rate Agreement Tracking & Documentation: a.CFSC Finance will establish an Indirect Cost Rate Agreement tracker to ensure that: i.All provisional and final indirect cost rate agreements are maintained on file. ii.Indirect cost rates used on invoices are consistently aligned with approved agreements. 4.Quarterly Internal Audits of Indirect Cost Rate Compliance: CFSC Finance Department will conduct quarterly reviews of a sample of drawdown/payment request invoices to confirm: a.The correct indirect cost rate was applied b.The rate was consistently applied across all federal awards Anticipated Completion Date: These corrective actions will be fully implemented by the end of Quarter 2 of FY25

Categories

Questioned Costs Allowable Costs / Cost Principles

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 553991 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 553992 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 553993 2022-006
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 553994 2022-007
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 553995 2022-008
    Material Weakness
  • 553996 2022-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1130433 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1130434 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1130435 2022-006
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1130436 2022-007
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1130437 2022-008
    Material Weakness
  • 1130438 2022-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1130439 2022-010
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
11.473 Office for Coastal Management $685,222
10.698 State & Private Forestry Cooperative Fire Assistance $1,249
10.664 Cooperative Forestry Assistance $-86,652