Finding 573698 (2024-001)

Material Weakness
Requirement
I
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-08-15
Audit: 364339
Organization: Walker Basin Conservancy (CA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: WBC failed to verify the suspension or debarment status of eight vendors before procurement.
  • Impacted Requirements: This violates 2 CFR 200.403(a), which mandates verification for covered transactions.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Strengthen policies to ensure timely verification of vendor status as per procurement guidelines.

Finding Text

Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Interior - BOR Federal Program Name: Providing Water to At-Risk Natural Desert Terminal Lakes Assistance Listing Number: 15.508 Federal Award Identification Year: 2024 Pass-Through Agency: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Award Period: 7/1/19-9/30/24 Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance Criteria: 2 CFR 200.403(a) - When a non-federal entity enters into a covered transaction with an entity at a lower tier, the non-federal entity must verify that the entity, as defined in 2 CFR section 180.995 and agency adopting regulations, is not suspended or debarred or otherwise excluded from participating in the transaction. Condition: For eight procured vendors that were selected, verification of subrecipient's suspension or debarment status was not performed. Context: A nonstatistical sample of 21 out of 173 procured vendors were selected for testing for the above program. The condition noted above was identified during our procedures over WBC's procured vendors. Effect: WBC did not verify suspension or debarment status timely, which could result in procuring a vendor which is potentially suspended or debarred. Cause: WBC did not consistently ensure that Suspension or Debarment status was verified timely before naming procuring the vendor. Repeat Finding: The finding is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that WBC strengthen its current policies and procedures to ensure that Suspension and Debarment Status is verified for each vendor subject to verification of suspension and debarment verification according to WBC's Procurement policy. Management’s Views: See separate corrective action plan.

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Allowable Costs / Cost Principles

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 573697 2024-001
    Material Weakness
  • 573699 2024-001
    Material Weakness
  • 573700 2024-001
    Material Weakness
  • 1150139 2024-001
    Material Weakness
  • 1150140 2024-001
    Material Weakness
  • 1150141 2024-001
    Material Weakness
  • 1150142 2024-001
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
15.508 Providing Water to At-Risk Natural Desert Terminal Lakes $4.06M
94.006 Americorps State and National 94.006 $569,663
15.660 Candidate Species Conservation $102,672
15.245 Plant Conservation and Restoration Management $73,336
15.246 Threatened and Endangered Species $48,653
15.808 U.s. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection $36,066
15.611 Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety $20,251
15.631 Partners for Fish and Wildlife $10,245
15.247 Wildlife Resource Management $8,969
10.890 Rural Development Cooperative Agreement Program $3,800
15.237 Rangeland Resource Management $68