Finding 561390 (2024-001)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
$1
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-05-22
Audit: 356950
Organization: Opp City Board of Education (AL)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Controls were inadequate for ensuring timely certified payrolls from contractors on federally funded construction projects.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with federal wage rate requirements and submission of weekly certified payrolls as mandated by 2 CFR 200.303 and 29 CFR Part 5.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Strengthen communication and controls to ensure all certified payrolls are received weekly to avoid potential disallowed costs.

Finding Text

Item 2024‐001 Special Tests and Provisions – Wage Rate Requirements (Repeat) Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) ALN# 84.425U U.S. Department of Education Passed through the State Department of Education Grant period beginning during fiscal year ended September 30, 2021 (84.425U) Criteria – Grantees should have controls in place to ensure that contractors and subcontractors are notified of the requirement to pay prevailing wage rates to all laborers and mechanics employed on construction contracts in excess of $2,000 financed by federal assistance funds and to submit weekly certified payrolls for each week in which contract work is performed. 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.” 2 CFR 200.326 and 29 CFR Part 5, Labor Standards Provisions Applicable to Contracts Governing Federally Financed and Assisted Construction (DOL Regulations) require the contractor or subcontractor to submit to the nonfederal entity weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, a copy of the payroll and a statement of compliance (certified payrolls). Condition – Adequate controls were not in place to ensure that contractors and subcontractors provided timely certified payrolls throughout the construction projects. Cause –There was a lack of sufficient controls over the communication of this requirement to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the certified payrolls being provided to the Board. Effect – Lack of supporting documentation could lead to disallowed costs. However, our audit disclosed no instances of unallowable costs. Questioned Costs – $27,406. Recommendation – We recommend the strengthening of controls to ensure certified payrolls are received for each week in which construction work is performed. Management’s Response – The Board will strengthen the controls in place to provide assurance that all certified payrolls are received each week in which construction work is performed.

Corrective Action Plan

Item 2024‐001 – Special Tests and Provisions – Wage Rate Requirements (Repeat) Recommendation: 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.” 2 CFR 200.326 and 29 CFR Part 5, Labor Standards Provisions Applicable to Contracts Governing Federally Financed and Assisted Construction (DOL Regulations) require the contractor or subcontractor to submit to the nonfederal entity weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, a copy of the payroll and a statement of compliance (certified payrolls). We recommend the strengthening of controls to ensure the prevailing wage rate clauses are included in the contracts and that certified payrolls are received for each week in which construction work is performed. The Chief School Financial Officer, Linda Harper, should review documentation for inclusion of the prevailing wage rate clauses in construction contracts as part of the bid process prior to expenditures being made. She should also review all invoices received from contractors and subcontractors to ensure that the certified payroll information is received for all weeks for which construction work is performed. Action Taken: Management has reviewed the requirements of 2 CFR Section 200.303 and 2 CFR 200.326 relating to wage rate requirements and agrees with the recommendation. Management has already communicated with all current contractors and subcontractors regarding the wage rate requirements for contracts in progress and has implemented additional procedures for future projects effective October 1, 2024. These additional procedures include the Chief School Financial Officer (CSFO), Linda Harper, reviewing all proposed construction contracts for inclusion of the prevailing wage rate clause as part of the bid process prior to expenditures being made. The CSFO will also review all invoices received from contractors and subcontractors to ensure that the certified payroll information is received for all weeks for which construction work is performed.

Categories

Questioned Costs Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Special Tests & Provisions

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1137832 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.425 Covid-19 - American Rescue Plan - Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (arp Esser) $1.16M
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $526,764
84.027 Special Education Grants to States $405,094
10.553 School Breakfast Program $181,433
10.555 National School Lunch Program $59,914
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $43,809
10.555 Covid-19 - National School Lunch Program $37,674
84.367 Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants (formerly Improving Teacher Quality State Grants) $35,354
84.358 Rural Education $31,342
84.048 Career and Technical Education -- Basic Grants to States $25,826
84.173 Special Education Preschool Grants $19,551
96.001 Social Security Disability Insurance $680