Finding 597180 (2022-005)

Material Weakness
Requirement
I
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-03-30
Audit: 21205
Organization: Town of Elkton, Maryland (MD)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Town failed to check if a vendor was suspended or debarred before making purchases over $25,000, violating federal regulations.
  • Impacted Requirements: Internal controls were inadequate to ensure compliance with suspension and debarment rules for federal awards.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Improve procedures to verify vendor status and keep documentation of these checks for audits.

Finding Text

Finding Number: 2022-005 Prior Year Finding: No Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Treasury Federal Program: COVID 19 ? Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Relief Fund Assistance Listing: 21.027 Pass-Through Entity: Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Pass-Through Award Number and Period: (7/1/2021 ? 6/30/2022) Compliance Requirement: Suspension and Debarment Type of Finding Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance Criteria or Specific Requirement: Control ? Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a 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 comply with the 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). Condition/Context: The Town did not determine the suspension and debarment status of a vendor with expenditures exceeding $25,000 as required by federal regulations. Questioned Costs: There are no questioned costs related to this finding as the vendor was not federally suspended or debarred. Cause: The Town?s internal controls were not sufficient to ensure federal suspension and debarment regulations were followed for purchases made for the program. Effect: Failure to adhere to suspension and debarment requirements may result in the Town entering into a contract or purchase with a vendor that is suspended or debarred and not authorized to provide goods and services to the program. Draft - March 29, 2023 Subject to Change TOWN OF ELKTON, MARYLAND SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (CONTINUED) JUNE 30, 2022 (16) Section III ? Findings and Questioned Costs ? Major Federal Programs (Continued) Recommendation: We recommend that the Town enhance its procedures and internal controls to ensure that it verifies vendors are not suspended or debarred from business prior to all goods and services charged to the program. The Town should retain documentation of procurement suspension/debarment status verifications for its vendors audit purposes. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding.

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 20737 2022-004
    Material Weakness
  • 20738 2022-005
    Material Weakness
  • 20739 2022-006
    Significant Deficiency
  • 597179 2022-004
    Material Weakness
  • 597181 2022-006
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $762,728
16.738 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program $80,186
93.499 Low Income Household Water Assistance Program $9,772
16.034 Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program $6,900
20.600 State and Community Highway Safety $4,472
20.616 National Priority Safety Programs $1,601