Finding 8656 (2023-001)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
H
Questioned Costs
$1
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-01-16

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Organization improperly allocated costs before the award's performance period, violating federal compliance requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Noncompliance with § 2 CFR 200.303 regarding internal controls and the definition of the period of performance.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Update expenditure allocation methods to use incurred dates instead of paid dates to ensure compliance with federal regulations.

Finding Text

Federal Agency: Department of the Treasury and Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Name: • Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds and Block Grants for Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse Assistance Listing Number: • 21.027 and 93.959 Federal Award Identification Number: SLFRP0126 Pass-Through Agency: State of Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), Signal Behavioral Health Network, and City and Country of Broomfield Department of Health and Human Services Pass-Through Number(s): N/A Award Period: 7/1/2022 – 6/30/2023 Type of Finding: • Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: According to § 2 CFR 200.303, Internal Controls, the 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. According to 2 CFR 200.1, Period of Performance is defined as the total estimated time interval between the start of an initial Federal award and the planned end date, which may include one or more funded portions, or budget periods. Condition: 93.959: The Organization began allocating direct salaries, fringe and indirect expenditures prior to the awards period of performance. The Organization allocated expenditures based on the paid date, rather than the incurred period. Total direct salaries and fringe expenditures allocated to the grant prior to the period of performance was $23,543. 21.027: The Organization began allocating direct salaries, fringe and indirect expenditures prior to the awards period of performance. The Organization allocated expenditures based on the paid date, rather than the incurred period. Total direct salaries and fringe expenditures allocated to the grant prior to the period of performance was $1,699. Questioned costs: $25,242. Context: We noted the Organization is not in compliance with requirements related to the period of performance. Cause: The Organization allocated expenditures based on the paid date, rather than the incurred period. Effect: Noncompliance with federal regulations. Repeat Finding: Yes: 2022-002 Recommendation: We recommend the Organization update their method of allocating expenditures to federal awards based on the incurred date, rather than paid date. Views of responsible officials: Management concurs with the audit finding. The previous process for grant salary, fringe, and indirect billings was based on salary paid date and therefore on a cash basis rather than accrual. The policy and process were immediately updated when the issue was identified during the fiscal year 2022 audit to bill based on period incurred rather than paid date, but the issue was identified after the invoices in question were sent. Revised invoices were not sent as total costs incurred during the period of the award, excluding the amounts noted in the finding, were still well over and above the award amount. All questioned costs were allowable but were outside the grant period and there are other eligible expenses during the period of performance which could have been billed to fully draw down on the award.

Corrective Action Plan

Federal Program Name: • Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds – ALN 21.027 • Block Grants for Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse – ALN 93.959 Recommendation: Our auditors recommended the Organization update their method of allocating expenditures to federal awards based on the incurred date, rather than paid date. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: Management concurs with the audit finding. The previous process for grant salary, fringe, and indirect billings was based on salary paid date and therefore on a cash basis rather than accrual. The policy and process were immediately updated when the issue was identified during the fiscal year 2022 audit to bill based on period incurred rather than paid date, but the issue was identified after the invoices in question were sent. Revised invoices were not sent as total costs incurred during the period of the award, excluding the amounts noted in the finding, were still well over and above the award amount. All questioned costs were allowable but were outside the grant period and there are other eligible expenses during the period of performance which could have been billed to fully draw down on the award. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: CFO, Controller, and Grants Manager Planned completion date for corrective action plan: Will implement in fiscal year 2024

Categories

Questioned Costs Cash Management Period of Performance Significant Deficiency Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 8657 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 8658 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 8659 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 8660 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 8661 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 8662 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 8663 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 8664 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 8665 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 8666 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 8667 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 8668 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 8669 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 8670 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 8671 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 585098 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 585099 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 585100 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 585101 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 585102 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 585103 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 585104 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 585105 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 585106 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 585107 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 585108 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 585109 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 585110 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 585111 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 585112 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 585113 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.829 Section 223 Demonstration Programs to Improve Community Mental Health Services $641,866
93.982 Mental Health Disaster Assistance and Emergency Mental Health $480,658
16.321 Antiterrorism Emergency Reserve $379,498
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $278,447
93.958 Block Grants for Community Mental Health Services $250,000
14.267 Continuum of Care Program $226,684
93.243 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services_projects of Regional and National Significance $172,421
93.493 Congressional Directivces $160,387
14.871 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers $123,299
93.575 Child Care and Development Block Grant $100,477
93.788 Opioid Str $82,785
16.575 Crime Victim Assistance $60,696
16.745 Criminal and Juvenile Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program $55,707
93.592 Family Violence Prevention and Services/discretionary $51,510
93.959 Block Grants for Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse $31,261
16.838 Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-Based Program $16,059
93.069 Public Health Emergency Preparedness $7,500
93.645 Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program $834