Finding 565059 (2020-010)

Material Weakness
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2020
Accepted
2025-06-17
Audit: 358984
Organization: Virgin Islands Port Authority (VI)
Auditor: Bdo USA PC

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Authority failed to submit all required reports and lacked evidence of review and approval for those submitted.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with reporting obligations under the U.S. Department of Transportation guidelines and 2 CFR Section 200.303 on internal controls.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Authority should improve its policies and procedures for monitoring and reviewing reports to ensure timely and accurate submissions.

Finding Text

Finding Number: 2020-010 Prior Year Finding Number: N/A Compliance Requirement: Reporting Program: U.S. Department of Transportation National Infrastructure Investments CFDA: 20.933 Award #: DTMA91G1600010 Award Year: 02/01/2017 - 03/31/2022 Criteria – Each State or Territory must file various financial, programmatic, and special reports. Additionally, the requirements necessitate that all submitted reports should be supported by the underlying performance records and presented in accordance with program requirements. Further, the Uniform Guidance in 2 CFR Section 200.303, Internal Controls, requires that non-federal entities receiving Federal awards (i.e., auditee management) establish and maintain internal control designed to ensure compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Condition – We reviewed 4 out of the 9 special reports required to be submitted during the fiscal year and noted the following: • 2 reports were submitted to the Federal Agency; however, they did not contain evidence of review, approval, and submission. • 2 reports were not submitted to the Federal Agency. Cause – It appears that policies and procedures, including review over reporting procedures were not functioning as intended. Effect or Potential Effect – The Authority is not in compliance with the stated provisions and inaccurate information may have been reported to the Federal government. Failure to submit required reports could result in reduction or disallowance of Federal funding. Questioned Costs – None. Context – This is a condition identified per review of the Authority’s compliance with the specified requirements. Recommendation – We recommend that the Authority reevaluate its policies and procedures to ensure proper monitoring and review of the required reports by an appropriate official who would ensure the information submitted is complete, accurate, consistent, and submitted within the required timeframe. Views of Responsible Officials - The Authority concurs with the auditor’s findings and recommendations. The Authority will implement measures to ensure proper monitoring and review of the required reports by an appropriate official. The planned corrective actions are presented in the Authority’s Corrective Action Plan which is attached as Appendix B.

Corrective Action Plan

The Director of Engineering will sign reports submitted to the FAA as validation that the items have been reviewed. The Senior Compliance Officer serves as the record keeper for documents filed between VIPA, the FAA, and other institutions, ensuring that VIPA submits the required filings and maintains a working spreadsheet of items sent. Additionally, a tickler system has been implemented in Accounting as a reminder to submit financial reports to Engineering or the grantor.

Categories

Subrecipient Monitoring Reporting Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Special Tests & Provisions

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 565056 2020-007
    Material Weakness
  • 565057 2020-008
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 565058 2020-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1141498 2020-007
    Material Weakness
  • 1141499 2020-008
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1141500 2020-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1141501 2020-010
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
20.106 Airport Improvement Program, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Programs, and Covid-19 Airports Programs $17.48M
20.933 National Infrastructure Investments $4.65M
11.307 Economic Adjustment Assistance $1.69M
97.090 Law Enforcement Officer Reimbursement Agreement Program $276,407
16.738 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program $153,146
97.072 National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program $138,909
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $11,340