Finding 980558 (2023-002)

Internal Controls Over Disbursements Federal Program Information Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Cluster/Program: Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program; VA Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program; Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevent Grant Program AL Number: 17.805, 64.033, 64.055 Award Year: 2020 - 2023 Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Type of Finding Internal Control over Compliance – Significant Deficiency Criteria or Specific Requirement Grantees must provide reasonable assurance that federal awards are expended only for allowable activities and that the costs of goods and services charged to federal awards are allowable and in accordance with the applicable cost principles. Management of the Organization is also responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over compliance with federal requirements that have a direct and material effect on a federal program. A deficiency in internal control over compliance exists when the design or operation of a control over compliance does not allow management or employees, in the normal course of performing their assigned functions, to prevent, or detect and correct, noncompliance with a type of compliance requirement of a federal program on a timely basis. Condition and Context Control deficiencies related to disbursements were noted as a result of the testing of internal controls over compliance. Samples of both vendor and payroll disbursements charged to major programs were tested in order to determine internal control over and compliance with allowable costs/cost principles. As a result of testing of vendor and payroll disbursements, we noted no documented evidence that employee reimbursements charged to the grants were approved by a knowledgeable individual. Further, we noted no documented evidence of an overall review of detailed payroll charges to the grants by a knowledgeable individual. Cause No formal documentation of internal controls was evident. Effect or Potential Effect Due to the items noted above, there is a risk that amounts charged to federal awards could not be allowable or in accordance with applicable cost principles. Questioned Costs There are no questioned costs as a result of this finding, as there were no costs identified that were not in compliance with the requirements of the Uniform Guidance. Recommendation The Organization should enhance internal controls to provide evidence of review that federal awards are expended only for allowable activities, and that the costs of goods and services charged to federal awards are allowable and in accordance with the applicable cost principles. View of Responsible Official Management’s corrective action plan is included at the end of this report after the Schedule of Prior Year Findings.