Finding 560415 (2024-004)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
I
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-05-15

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Foundation is not documenting the dates of vendor screenings for suspension and debarment, risking non-compliance with federal regulations.
  • Impacted Requirements: This violates 2 CFR §200.213, which mandates that entities verify vendors are not excluded from federal assistance before contracts or payments.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Revise policies to ensure all vendor screenings include a documented date to confirm compliance with federal requirements.

Finding Text

Finding 2024-004: Non-Compliance with Suspension and Debarment (Significant Deficiency) Information on the Federal Program: 93.368 Criteria: 2 CFR §200.213 non-Federal entities are subject to the non-procurement debarment and suspension regulations implementing Executive Orders 12549 and 12689, 2 CFR part 180. These regulations 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. The non-Federal entity must verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or disqualified, by (a) Checking SAM Exclusions; or (b) Collecting a certification from that person; or (c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person. Condition: We noted that while the Foundation does conduct screenings on all vendors, suppliers and consultants, the date that the screening is conducted is not documented. As such, we are unable to determine if the screening was conducted prior to payment or signing of the contract. Cause: The Foundation does not require that the date the screening is conducted be documented. Effect or Potential Effect: Failure to screen potential and current vendors, suppliers or contractors prior to payment or contract signing increases the potential that Federal funds be inadvertently provided to parties deemed to be suspended or disbarred by the United States Government. Questioned Costs: None noted. Context: Our audit procedures consisted of testwork completed on individual expenditures charged to the Federal awards. The report in which samples were selected was generated directly from the Foundation's general ledger (accounting system). We consider our sample to be representative of the population. The condition appeared to be systematic in nature. Identification as a Repeat Finding: Not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that the Foundation revise their policy regarding suspension and debarment to require that all screenings are accompanied by the documented date in which they were conducted.

Corrective Action Plan

Views of Responsible Officials: Working diligently with NIH team to put policies and procedures in place to conduct the proper screenings for vendors, suppliers and consultants.

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 560416 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 560417 2024-006
    Significant Deficiency
  • 560418 2024-007
    Material Weakness
  • 1136857 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1136858 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1136859 2024-006
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1136860 2024-007
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.368 21st Century Cures Act - Precision Medicine Initiative $1.26M