Finding 570548 (2024-001)

FINDING 2024-001 Subject: COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds - Suspension and Debarment Federal Agency: Department of the Treasury Federal Program: COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Assistance Listings Number: 21.027 Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): FY 2024 Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 13 WHITLEY COUNTY SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Repeat Finding This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2023-003. Condition and Context The County received a total COVID-19 - State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) allocation of $6,597,109 and chose to calculate its own revenue loss amount, which exceeded the County's full allocation amount, thus, enabling them to use up to the full amount for government services. All SLFRF program funds expended to date have been expended under the revenue loss eligible use category. The U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) determined that there are no subawards under this eligible use category, and that recipients' use of revenue loss funds would not give rise to subrecipient relationships given that there is no federal program or purpose to carry out in the case of the revenue loss portion of the award. Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with SLFRF award funds, recipients are required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods and services awarded under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be done by checking the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS), collecting a certification from that person or entity, or adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person or entity. Due to the Treasury's determination that the revenue loss eligible use category does not give rise to subawards, the County was only required to comply with suspension and debarment requirements related to covered transactions. Upon inquiry of the County's policies and procedures related to suspension and debarment requirements, the County disclosed its process is for the County Attorney to review agreements or contracts to ensure that they include language related to suspension and debarment but that there were no processes in place during the audit period to verify the suspension and debarment status of vendors which did not have written contracts in place with the County. Two covered transactions for goods or services that equaled or exceeded $25,000 that were paid from SLFRF funds during the audit period were selected for testing. The two covered transactions selected totaled $60,210. Each transaction was examined to determine whether the County verified the suspension and debarment status of the vendor prior to payment. Based on inquiry with the County, we determined that neither vendor had a written contract in place. The County did not otherwise verify vendors were neither suspended nor debarred or excluded or disqualified from participating in federal assistance programs or activities prior to payment. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 14 WHITLEY COUNTY SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) (a) 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 the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 31 CFR 19.300 states: "When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must verify that the person with whom you do business is not excluded or disqualified. You do this by: (a) Checking the EPLS; or (b) Collecting a certification from that person if allowed by this rule; or (c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person." Cause After a previous Indiana State Board of Accounts audit, the County established procedures to include a suspension and debarment clause in agreements or contracts; however, it did not establish procedures to verify the suspension and debarment status of vendors which did not have written contracts in place with the County because the County was unaware of this requirement. Effect Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the County cannot ensure the contractors paid with federal funds are eligible to participate in federal programs. Any program funds the County used to pay contractors that have been suspended or debarred would be unallowable, and the funding agency could potentially recover them. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that management of the County strengthen its system of internal controls to ensure that all covered transactions exceeding $25,000 or more, all or in part with federal funds, are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded from participating in federal programs prior to entering into any contracts. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.