Issue: The City failed to notify the Office of Community Development of a contract award within the required 30 days, submitting it 81 days late.
Requirements Impacted: This delay violates the 2021 LCDBG Grantee Handbook, which mandates timely notification of contract awards.
Follow-Up: Implement proper policies and procedures to ensure future compliance with grant requirements, as confirmed by the City’s corrective action plan.
Finding Text
Criteria: The 2021 Louisiana Community Development Block Grant (LCDBG) Grantee Handbook requires the City to submit a notice of contract award to the Office of Community Development within 30 days after award.
Condition: The City did not notify the Office of Community Development of the contract award until 81 days after the contract award.
Cause: The City did not have appropriate policies and procedures to ensure that all contract awards were submitted to the Office of Community Development within the required time frame.
Effect: The City did not comply with the grant agreement regarding contract awards.
Context: While the LCDBG program was not considered a major program, a monitoring report by the grantor identified issues that were considered to be material weaknesses.
Recommendation: Adequate policies and procedures should be implemented to ensure compliance with the grant agreement regarding contract awards.
Management’s Corrective Action Plan: This compliance finding relates to the previous administration. The City has provided written assurance to the Office of Community Development that it will submit the notice of contract award within thirty days after the contract award date under any future LCDBG program.