This subpart prescribes standards for resolution of audit findings, including, but not limited to, questioned costs and administrative deficiencies, identified as a result of the audit of grant agreements, contracts, and other agreements awarded by or on behalf of DOL. In cases where these standards conflict with statutes or other DOL regulations, the latter shall be controlling. The DOL Office of Inspector General (OIG) is available to assist agencies in the audit resolution process.

(a) Submission of reports. Recipients and subrecipients of DOL funds that are audited in accordance with the requirements of subpart A shall comply in all respects with the report submission requirements of 29 CFR part 99. Failure to submit a complete audit package will result in the return of the submitted package by the Clearinghouse, which will assign a delinquency classification until the completed package is submitted.

(b) Quality control. The Office of Inspector General, in conjunction with other Federal agencies, will implement an audit quality program which may include random, planned, or directed reviews of audits submitted in compliance with OMB Circular A-133. When audits are found not to be performed in compliance with the requirements, the OIG may share the findings with the auditor, the auditee, and the funding agencies, and may work with the local licensing authorities to achieve corrective action.

The DOL official(s) responsible for audit resolution shall promptly evaluate findings and recommendations reported by auditors and the corrective action plan developed by the recipient to determine proper actions in response to audit findings and recommendations. The process of audit resolution includes at a minimum an initial determination, an informal resolution period, and a final determination.

(a) Initial determination. After the conclusion of any comment period for audits provided the recipient/contractor, the responsible DOL official(s) shall make an initial determination on the allowability of questioned costs or activities, administrative or systemic findings, and the corrective actions outlined by the recipient. Such determination shall be based on applicable statutes, regulations, administrative directives, or terms and conditions of the grant/contract award instrument.

(b) Informal resolution. The recipient/contractor shall have a reasonable period of time (as determined by the DOL official(s) responsible for audit resolution) from the date of issuance of the initial determination to informally resolve those matters in which the recipient/contractor disagrees with the decisions of the responsible DOL official(s).

(c) Final determination. After the conclusion of the informal resolution period, the responsible DOL official(s) shall issue a final determination that:

(1) As appropriate, indicate that efforts to informally resolve matters contained in the initial determination have either been successful or unsuccessful;

(2) Lists those matters upon which the parties continue to disagree;

(3) Lists any modifications to the factual findings and conclusions set forth in the initial determination;

(4) Lists any sanctions and required corrective actions; and

(5) Sets forth any appeal rights.

(d) Time limit. Insofar as possible, the requirements of this section should be met within 180 days of the date the final approved audit report is received by the DOL official(s) responsible for audit resolution.

Recipients of Federal assistance from DOL are responsible for ensuring that subrecipient organizations who expend $300,000 or more in a fiscal year or $500,000 for fiscal years ending after December 31, 2003 are audited and that any audit findings are resolved in accordance with this part. The recipient shall:

(a) Determine whether appropriate audit requirements outlined in subpart A have been met;

(b) Determine whether the subrecipient spent Federal assistance funds provided in accordance with applicable laws and regulations;

(c) Ensure that appropriate corrective action is taken within six months after receipt of the audit report in instances of non-compliance with Federal law and regulations;

(d) Consider whether subrecipient audits necessitate adjustment of the recipient's own records; and

(e) Require that each subrecipient permit independent auditors to have access to the records and financial statements necessary to comply with this part.