Finding Text
Finding 2022-002 ? Lack of Subrecipient Monitoring, Assistance Listing 10.309, Specialty Crop Research Initiative - Cash Management Criteria: 2 CFR Section 200.305(b)(1) Pass through entities must monitor cash drawdowns by their subrecipients to ensure that the time elapsing between the transfer of federal funds to the subrecipient and their disbursement for program purposes is minimized as required by the applicable cash management requirements in the federal award to the recipient. Pass through entities are also required to monitor the activities of the subrecipients as necessary to ensure that the subaward is used for authorized purposes, complies with the terms and conditions of the subaward, and achieves the performance goals. Condition: Subrecipients were advanced funds according to an approved budget with semi-annual reporting requirements per their subaward agreements. Of the about $359,700 at December 31, 2022 in outstanding advances made to sub-recipients during the year, a significant amount of approximately $223,500 remains unspent as of July 2023. Cause of Condition: Sub-award agreements only require semi-annual reporting which does not provide the Organization the ability to adequately monitor and determine if funds have been expended timely on allowable costs and activities by the sub-recipients. Due to the impact of COVID-19 on the labor force, and difficulties of hiring qualified persons, funds advanced for salary expenses remain unspent. Potential Effect: As a result of the condition above, use of funds passed to subrecipients cannot be monitored timely which could result in unallowable costs, waste and abuse. These conditions may provide opportunities for errors, fraud or waste and abuse to occur and cause material misstatements of the financial statements and SEFA. Questioned Costs: None Context: Management lacks a full understanding of all federal compliance requirements. Recommendation: Recommend Management include in subaward agreements and conduct regular monitoring of subrecipients for timely spending of federal awards and adherence with federal cost principles and compliance requirements. We further recommend one of the reporting periods coincide with the Organization?s fiscal year end to ensure a complete and accurate schedule of expenditures of federal awards.