Finding 58406 (2022-003)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
I
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-03-30
Audit: 54126
Organization: Town of Easton (MD)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Town failed to maintain documentation verifying that vendors were not suspended or debarred before disbursing federal funds.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR section 180.995, which mandates verification of vendor eligibility in covered transactions.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Update policies to ensure proper documentation is kept for vendor verification prior to payment with federal funds.

Finding Text

Federal agency: U.S. Department of Treasury Federal program title: Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Assistance Listing Number: 21.027 Compliance Requirement: Suspension and Debarment Federal Award Identification Number and Year: MD0044 and 2021 Award Period: March 11, 2021 through December 31, 2024, liquidated by December 31, 2026 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance Criteria or specific requirement: 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. Questioned Costs: None Condition/Context: Four of four vendors tested did not have proper documentation maintained to support suspension and debarment verification was performed prior to them being paid with federal funds. Per sam.gov, there was no history of the vendor being suspended or debarred. Cause: The Town?s policies and procedures did not require documentation be maintained to verify vendors are not suspended or debarred prior to paying with Federal grant funds. Effect: The Town could make a disbursement to a vendor that is suspended or debarred. Repeat Finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend the Town review its policies and procedures to require documentation be maintained to verify vendors are not suspended or debarred prior to being paid with federal funds. Views of responsible officials: Management agrees with the finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds ? Assistance Listing No. 21.027 Recommendation: We recommend the Town review its policies and procedures to require documentation be maintained to verify vendors are not suspended or debarred prior to being paid with federal funds. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: All vendors in our system will be verified to confirm that they are not suspended or debarred. All new vendors will be verified upon entering into our accounting system. No vendors that the Town has used either during the current or prior audit periods have been suspended or debarred. Name of the contact person responsible for corrective action: Donald Richardson Planned completion date for corrective action plan: June 30, 2023

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 58405 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 634847 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 634848 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $3.45M
11.300 Investments for Public Works and Economic Development Facilities $393,774
16.607 Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program $3,038