Finding Text
Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture Federal Program: Child Nutrition Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 10.553, 10.555 Pass-Through Agency: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education Pass-Through Number(s): 09-344 Award Period: July 1, 2021 ? June 30, 2022 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance Compliance Requirement: Suspension and Debarment Criteria or Specific Requirement: The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 2 Part 200.214 states that nonfederal entities are subject to the nonprocurement debarment and suspension regulations implementing Executive Orders 12549 and 12689, 2 CFR part 180. These regulations 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. Nonfederal entities must verify that contracts with certain parties are not debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded from or ineligible for participation in Federal assistance programs or activities. Condition and Context: For the one vendor in our statistically valid sample, the Town received a certification of suspension and debarment status dated November 1, 2021. The previous certification received from the vendor was dated January 21, 2020. Certifications (or other methods of verification) should be received/performed every 12 months at a minimum. Questioned Costs: None. Cause: Procedures were not in place to timely document the verification that all vendors were not suspended or debarred from participation in Federal assistance programs or activities. Effect: While this did not occur in the instance identified in this finding, lack of verification of vendors? debarment or suspension status could cause federal grant funds to be expended with vendors that are excluded from participation in Federal assistance programs or activities. Repeat Finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend procedures be implemented to annually (at a minimum) document the verification that all vendors are not suspended or debarred from participation in Federal assistance programs or activities. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding.