Finding Text
Program - AL 21.027 – COVID-19 – Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds – Suspension & Debarment
Grant Number & Year - SLFRP3090, March 3, 2021, through December 31, 2024
Federal Grantor Agency - U.S. Department of the Treasury
Criteria - Title 2 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 200.303 (January 1, 2023) states the following, in relevant part:
The non-Federal entity must:
(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).
The U.S. Department of the Treasury adopted the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR § 1000.10 (January 1, 2023), which states the following:
Except for the deviations set forth elsewhere in this Part, the Department of the Treasury adopts the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, set forth at 2 CFR part 200.
2 CFR § 200.214 (January 1, 2023) states the following:
Non-Federal entities are 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.
2 CFR § 180.300 (January 1, 2023) requires non-Federal entities to verify that an entity is not excluded or disqualified prior to entering into a covered transaction by: "(a) Checking SAM Exclusions; or (b) Collecting a certification from that . . . [entity]; or (c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that . . . [entity]."
A good internal control plan requires the County to have proper procedures in place to verify that contractors paid with Federal funds are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded from or ineligible for participation in Federal programs or activities.
Condition - Knox County could not provide documentation to support that the County implemented effective internal controls to ensure that suspension and debarment requirements were followed and adequately documented.
We noted the County used Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to pay three vendors over $25,000, totaling $633,021, during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023. The County failed to ensure that these vendors were not excluded or disqualified prior to entering into these covered transactions.
We reviewed SAM.gov, and noted that none of these vendors were suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded from participation in Federal programs or activities as of the date testing was performed.
Repeat Finding - No
Questioned Costs - None
Statistical Sample - No
Context - The following table provides details of the covered transactions noted:
Cause - Lack of procedures and knowledge regarding suspension and debarment requirements
Effect - Without adequate procedures to ensure contractors are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded from or ineligible for participation in Federal programs or activities, there is an increased risk for the misuse of Federal funds and noncompliance with Federal regulations, leading to possible Federal sanctions.
Recommendation - We recommend the County implement procedures to ensure, prior to entering into a covered transaction, that a contractor is not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded from or ineligible for participation in Federal programs or activities, and those procedures are adequately documented.
View of Officials - The County has discussed checking the SAM (System for Award Management formerly Excluded Parties Listing System (EPLS), which is maintained by the General Services Administration to ensure vendors are not suspended or debarred before entering a transaction.