Finding Text
Information on Federal Programs: 93.083 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Prevention of Disease, Disability, and Death through Immunization & Control of Respiratory & Related Diseases.
Criteria or Specific Requirements: According to 2 CFR §200.303, the non-Federal entity must: establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government, issued by the Comptroller General of the United States, or the Internal Control Integrated Framework, issued by COSO.
Additionally, according to 2 CFR §200.214, the non-Federal entity is subject to the non-procurement 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: During our audit, we noted that ATS did not perform checks via SAM.gov to ensure that potential contractors or consultants were not suspended or debarred.
Cause: Management did not have internal control procedures in place to ensure that suspension and debarment checks were being performed prior to entering into contracts with contractors and consultants.
Effect: The failure to screen such parties increases the possibility that U.S. Government funds may inadvertently be provided to individuals or organizations deemed to be suspended or disbarred by the U.S. Government.
Perspective: ATS established a new process where a debarment certification representation paragraph is automatically included on all the contractor agreements. ATS also issued contract modifications which included the debarment certification for all contracts signed prior to the change. Within a random sample of 24 disbursements, 17 disbursements to 3 contractors would have required compliance with the suspension and debarment check.
Questioned Costs: Questioned costs were not identified.
Repeat Finding: Not applicable.
Recommendation: ATS should continue including the debarment certification paragraph on all new contracts to ensure compliance with the Uniform Guidance going forward.