Finding Text
2022-004 Unallowable Costs Federal Agency: US Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Name: Child Care and Development Funds Block Grant (CCDF) - CRRSA (Coronavirus Response and Relieve Supplemental Act) Assistance Listing Number: 93.575 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: 2102NMCCC5 Award Period: 12/27/2020-09/30/2023 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Other Matters Criteria or Specific Requirement: 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E: 200.403 (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles. 200.403 (b) Conform to any limitations or exclusions set forth in these principles or in the Federal award as to types or amount of cost items. 200.405 Allocable to a particular Federal award or other cost objective if the goods or services involved are chargeable or assignable to that Federal award or cost objective in accordance with relative benefits received Condition: Out of 40 transactions tested, we identified 3 where the underlying support identified payments made to entities for teachers and staff that participate in HeadStart activities. Questioned Costs: $354,000 Context: We sampled 40 transactions. After bringing this to the Department's attention, the Grants Managers did perform a thorough assessment and accumulated all payments under this additional funding for this purpose. Cause: Program staff were allocating this additional funding to entities that have CCDF and Headstart programs. However, there was not appropriate tracking to separate the transactions and ensure they were charged to the correct federal programs. Effect: Costs associated with another federal program were charged to CCDF. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend the program work closely with ASD to ensure expenditures are tracked and mapped to the appropriate federal award. Views of Responsible Officials: The Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) agrees with this audit finding and the ASD Director, CFO and Grants Manager will work with The Federal Program Team to develop formal policies and procedures for grant management to ensure compliance with programmatic grant requirements and track expenditures to ensure costs charged to grants are allowable, necessary, and reasonable. This will be completed by June 30, 2023.