Finding 7802 (2023-003)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
I
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-01-08
Audit: 10136
Organization: Town of Westport, Conencticut (CT)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Town lacks a policy to verify that vendors are not suspended or debarred before entering into contracts.
  • Impacted Requirements: This finding relates to compliance with federal guidelines requiring verification of vendor eligibility for federal funds.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Update policies to include vendor reviews for suspension and debarment status to ensure compliance.

Finding Text

Federal Agency: Department of the Treasury Federal Program Name: COVID-19 American Rescue Plan Act Local Fiscal Recovery Assistance Listing Number: 21.027 Pass-Through Agency: State of Connecticut Office of Policy Management Pass-Through Number(s): 12060-OPM20600-29669 Award Period: July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 Federal Agency: Department of the Transportation Federal Program Name: Highway Planning and Construction Assistance Listing Number: 20.205 Pass-Through Agency: State of Connecticut Department of Transportation Pass-Through Number(s): 12062-DOT57191-22108 Award Period: July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency of Internal Control over Compliance Section III – Findings and Questioned Costs – Major Federal Programs (Continued) Criteria or Specific Requirement: Prior to entering into subawards and contracts with award funds, recipients must verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. Condition: The Town does not have a policy in place indicating a review over vendors to ensure they are not suspended and debarred. Questioned Costs: None noted. Context: Although the Town did not have a policy in place in conformity with the federal Uniform Guidance criteria, the entities for which the Town made purchases from were not debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded. Cause: Lack of a policy and controls to ensure vendors are not suspended and debarred. Effect: None noted. Repeat Finding: This was reported in the prior year as finding 2022-002 for ALN 21.027. Recommendation: We recommend that the policies be updated to include that vendors will be reviewed to ensure they are not suspended and debarred. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the auditors’ recommendations.

Corrective Action Plan

United States Department of the Treasury 2023-003 COVID-19 American Rescue Plan Act Local Fiscal Recovery – AL No. 21.027 United States Department of Transportation 2023-003 Highway Planning and Construction – AL No. 21.205 Recommendation: We recommend that the policies be updated to include that vendors will be reviewed to ensure they are not suspended and debarred. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: Management agrees with this finding. Management further notes that a policy was put in place in March 2023 to review all vendors through the Sam website to verify that the vendor has not been debarred or ineligible from receiving Federal Government funds. Name of the contact person responsible for corrective action: Sheila Carey

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Subrecipient Monitoring Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 7803 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 7804 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 7805 2023-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 7806 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 7807 2023-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 7808 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 7809 2023-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 7810 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 7811 2023-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 7812 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 7813 2023-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 7814 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 584244 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 584245 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 584246 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 584247 2023-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 584248 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 584249 2023-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 584250 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 584251 2023-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 584252 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 584253 2023-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 584254 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 584255 2023-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 584256 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $1.27M
14.228 Community Development Block Grants/state's Program and Non-Entitlement Grants in Hawaii $653,215
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $310,596
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $219,521
97.039 Hazard Mitigation Grant $100,000
84.367 Improving Teacher Quality State Grants $84,102
84.048 Career and Technical Education -- Basic Grants to States $46,600
84.173 Special Education_preschool Grants $22,797
20.616 National Priority Safety Programs $17,704
84.027 Special Education_grants to States $15,000
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $14,920
97.042 Emergency Management Performance Grants $13,950
84.365 English Language Acquisition State Grants $8,306
16.738 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program $6,353
16.607 Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program $5,557
90.401 Help America Vote Act Requirements Payments $4,871
20.205 Highway Planning and Construction $4,290
20.607 Alcohol Open Container Requirements $1,226
20.600 State and Community Highway Safety $315