Congregation Iched Anash

Finding: 2024-001 ALN 10.559, USDA Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Known/Likely Questioned Costs: $151,099.42 Criteria: Federal regulations require that costs charged to the program be necessary, reasonable, and properly documented (2 CFR 200.403–200.404). In addition, procurement must follow open and competitive bidding procedures (2 CFR 200.318), and contracts must be executed and approved before charging costs to the program. Deviation/Condition: The Organization paid $151,099.42 of SFSP program funds to UTA of Boro Park for outsourced payroll services without following federal procurement requirements and without an executed, approved contract. Cause: Inadequate internal controls over procurement and contract approval. Effect: Use of program funds for unallowable costs, resulting in questioned costs of $151,099.42. Perspective: The issue represents a material exception, as the entire amount of outsourced payroll services ($151,099.42) charged to the SFSP was deemed unallowable due to noncompliance with procurement and contract approval requirements. Reporting Period: 1/1/2024-12/31/2024 Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: The Organization should reimburse the SFSP program fund in the amount of $151,099.42 from its non-federal operating funds. In addition, the Organization should establish procedures to ensure all future service contracts are competitively procured, executed in writing, and approved by the State agency before being charged to the program. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan: Management agrees with the finding, has reimbursed $151,099.42 to the SFSP account, and will strengthen procurement controls through competitive bidding and contract approvals to ensure compliance.

Corrective Action Taken Management concurs with the finding. The Organization transferred $151,099.42 from its operating funds back into the SFSP program account prior to the financial statements being available to be issued, thereby restoring the unallowable charge. Additionally, to prevent recurrence, the Organization obtained competitive bids and received approval for a written payroll services contract before June 2025, in advance of the start of the camp season (i.e. the Organization’s operating period). This process was conducted in accordance with federal procurement requirements. Planned Ongoing Corrective Action: The Organization has strengthened its procurement and contract approval procedures to ensure all future contracts funded by the SFSP are subject to competitive bidding, documented in writing, and approved by the State agency prior to charging costs to the program. Responsible Official: Chaim Mendel Friedman, Camp Program Administrator, is responsible for overseeing corrective actions and ensuring compliance with procurement standards and cost allowability requirements. Completion Date of Corrective Actions: Corrective actions were completed prior to the date the financial statements were available to be issued, with continuing oversight in subsequent program years.