Finding 559879 (2024-003)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
I
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-05-08
Audit: 355815
Organization: Firstfollowers (IL)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Organization failed to check vendors for suspension and debarment, violating federal compliance requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Noncompliance with § 200.214 and 2 CFR part 180, which mandates checks on vendors to ensure they are not debarred from federal assistance.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Revise internal controls to ensure compliance with suspension and debarment checks and enhance documentation procedures.

Finding Text

Federal agency: U.S. Treasury Federal program title: Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Assistance Listing Number: 21.027 Pass-Through Agency: City of Champaign, Illinois; Champaign County, Illinois; City of Urbana, Illinois Pass-Through Number(s): 20220245; 02220246; 2224-FF-CO Award Period: 7/1/2023-12/31/2026; 3/1/2023-12/30/2023; 12/15/2023-12/31/2024; 3/1/2022-12/31/2023; 3/1/2022-12/31/2024 Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material Noncompliance Criteria or Specific Requirement: § 200.214 Suspension and debarment indicates nonfederal entities are subject to the nonprocurement debarment and suspension regulations implementing Executive Orders 12549 and 12689, 2 CFR part 180. The regulations in 2 CFR part 180 restrict awards, subawards, and contracts with certain parties that are debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded from or ineligible for participation in Federal assistance programs or activities. Condition: The Organization did not perform the search of suspension and debarment, so it did not meet the requirements of the Uniform Guidance. As a result, the Organization could not provide supporting documentation showing that engaged vendors had gone through an appropriate suspension and debarment process. Questioned costs: N/A Context: 4 of 4 vendors selected for testing suspension and debarment, did not have documentation showing that suspension and debarment had been checked prior to entering into a contract. Cause: Error by management in understanding Uniform Guidance requirements. Effect: Lack of appropriate suspension and debarment policies could result in the Organization engaging vendors who are debarred from doing business with the United States Government and/or using federal funds in manner that is not the most efficient or economical. Repeat Finding: Repeat Finding of 2023-004. Recommendation: We recommend the Organization revised its internal controls related to suspension and debarment such that they align with the requirements of the Uniform Guidance. Views of responsible officials: The Organization has added a Procurement, Suspension and Debarment policy and will continue to verify contractors as required. The Organization will improve on documentation procedures for these verifications.

Corrective Action Plan

Suspension and Debarment – Assistance Listing No. 21.027 Recommendation: We recommend the Organization revised its internal controls related to suspension and debarment such that they align with the requirements of the Uniform Guidance. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: The Organization has added a Procurement, Suspension and Debarment policy and will continue to verify contractors as required. The Organization will improve on documentation procedures for these verifications. Name of the contact person responsible for corrective action: Marlon Mitchell Planned completion date for corrective action plan: June 30, 2025

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 559878 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 559880 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 559881 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 559882 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 559883 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 559884 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 559885 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 559886 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 559887 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 559888 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 559889 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 559890 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 559891 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 559892 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 559893 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1136320 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1136321 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1136322 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1136323 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1136324 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1136325 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1136326 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1136327 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1136328 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1136329 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1136330 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1136331 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1136332 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1136333 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1136334 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1136335 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.239 Home Investment Partnerships Program $55,600
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $54,900