Office of Inspector General

Fiscal Year 2014 Financial Statement 

Management Letter 

A15-01A 

December 2014 

FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION
 
        

  

     

 

FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20573

December 31, 2014 

Office of Inspector General

TO: Chairman Cordero 

Commissioner Dye 

Commissioner Lidinsky 

Commissioner Khouri 

Commissioner Doyle 

FROM: /Jon Hatfield/ 

Jon Hatfield, Inspector General 

SUBJECT: Transmittal of the fiscal year 2014 financial statement audit Management 

Letter 

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) submits to you the fiscal year (FY) 2014 

financial statement audit management letter. When performing the annual audit of the 

agency's financial systems and accounting processes, auditors may detect deficiencies in 

internal controls that do not rise to a level of seriousness to be reported in the annual 

financial statement audit report. Instead, these deficiencies are communicated to the agency 

in a management letter. 

As a result of the recently completed FY 2014 financial statement audit, the auditors 

identified one internal control issue that is explained in the attached management letter. In 

addition, one issue reported in the FY 2013 management letter remains outstanding. FMC 

management has responded to the auditors' management letter, and management’s response 

is included in the attached document. 

In the FY 2014 management letter, the auditors recommend the agency undertake 

steps to improve the process for closing out contract files. Proper contract close-out helps 

ensure oversight of contract funds and identification of possible available funds in excess of 

contract costs. Management generally agreed with the auditors’ recommendation. 

The outstanding FY 2013 management letter recommendation is for the Director of 

the Office of Management Services (OMS) to develop a comprehensive contract database to 

facilitate tracking of open contracts/obligations, for timely de-obligation or closeout. 

Management responded that there are currently no specific plans to develop the database, but 

the agency will continue to track the status of all contract actions using a spreadsheet. 
 

The OIG appreciates the attention and cooperation by FMC management and staff 

during the FY 2014 audit. I am happy to meet with you to discuss these management letter 

issues, and I can be reached at (202) 523-5863. 

Attachment 

Cc: Office of the Managing Director 

Office of Management Services 

Office of Budget and Finance 

Office of General Counsel 
 

 

MANAGEMENT LETTER COMMENTS
 

ON THE GENERAL FUND
 

OF THE FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION
 

SEPTEMBER 30, 2014
 

MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS &
 

CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MANAGEMENT LETTER COMMENTS
 

ON THE GENERAL FUND 

OF THE FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION
 

SEPTEMBER 30, 2014
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 

Independent Auditor’s Management Letter................................................................................... 1
 

Management Letter Comments: 

Status of Prior Year’s Management Comments......................................................................... 2
 

Prior Year Comment - Updated................................................................................................... 3
 

Current Year Comments 

No. 1 – Contract Closing Procedures are not in Compliance with FAR Regulations................. .5
 

Appendix A – Memorandum – Managing Director’s Response to FY 2014 Financial
 

Statement Management Letter ...................................................................................................... 7
 

1400 Eye Street, NW, Suite 425, Washington, DC 20005 Tel 202-296-7101 Fax 202-296-7284 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MANAGEMENTCONSULTANTS&

CERTIFIEDPUBLICACCOUNTANTS

November 12, 2014 

Federal Maritime Commission 

Washington, DC 

In planning and performing our audit of the financial statements of the Federal Maritime 

Commission (FMC), as of, and for the year ended September 30, 2014, in accordance with 

standards that are generally accepted in the United States of America, we considered FMC’s 

internal control over financial reporting (internal control) as a basis for designing audit 

procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, for the purpose of expressing our opinion 

on the financial statements, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness 

of FMC’s internal control. Accordingly, we do not express an opinion on the effectiveness of 

FMC’s internal control. Our report on the financial statements is dated November 12, 2014. 

During our audit, we noted certain matters regarding internal control and operational matters that 

are presented for your consideration. Even though the matters described in this management letter 

are not considered significant deficiencies, as defined by the American Institute of Certified Public 

Accountants, these matters are still important in the overall internal control structure of the 

Commission, and require management’s attention. These comments and recommendations, all of 

which have been discussed with the appropriate members of management, are intended to improve 

internal control, or otherwise improve operating efficiencies. 

Our audit procedures are designed primarily to enable us to form an opinion on the financial 

statements, and therefore, may not bring to light all weaknesses in policies or procedures that may 

exist. Our findings are presented below. 

While this report is intended solely for the information and use of the management of the 

Federal Maritime Commission, it is also a matter of public record; and its distribution is, 

therefore, not restricted. 

Regis & Associates, PC 

Washington, DC 

1400 Eye Street, NW, Suite 425, Washington, DC 20005 Tel 202-296-7101 Fax 202-296-7284 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MANAGEMENT LETTER COMMENTS
 

ON THE GENERAL FUND 

OF THE FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION
 

SEPTEMBER 30, 2014
 

There were four findings and recommendations in the prior year, of which three were 

closed out as of September 30, 2014. There is only one finding that continued into the 

current year. 

Status of Prior Year’s Management Letter Comments 

FY 

2013 

Open/ 

Closed 

FY 

2014 

Open/ 

Closed 

1 

The Commission’s Office of Budget and Finance does not have access to 

the Internet Payment Platform (IPP) in order to monitor invoice and 

payment approval activities of the Contracting Officer’s Representatives 

and Bureau of the Public Debt’s Administrative Resource Center. 

Open Closed 

2 

Penalties and Fines levied by the Commission were recorded as Accounts 

Receivable, rather than Custodial Activity. Open Closed 

3 

A Comprehensive contract database is not maintained to facilitate 

tracking of open contracts/obligations for timely contract/obligation 

closeout. 

Open Open 

4 

The Commission has not developed a contingency plan to ensure 

continuity of operations in cases of emergency. Open Closed 

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MANAGEMENT LETTER COMMENTS
 

ON THE GENERAL FUND 

OF THE FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION
 

SEPTEMBER 30, 2014
 

Prior Year Comments - Updated
 

Finding 3: A Comprehensive contract database is not maintained to facilitate tracking of 

open contracts/obligations for timely contract/obligation closeout. 

Commission Order 112, Procurement, establishes standards and procedures for the 

procurement of materials, equipment, and services for the Commission; and serves as internal 

agency guidance for all applicable Commission acquisitions, in accordance with the Federal 

Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and as set forth in Titles 41 and 48 of the Code of Federal 

Regulations. These standards and procedures are promulgated to ensure that materials, 

equipment, and services are obtained efficiently, economically, and in compliance with the 

provisions of the FAR, and all applicable Federal laws. 

Commission Order 112 also charges the Director, Office of Management Services (OMS), as the 

principal contracting officer for the Commission, with the overall responsibility for managing the 

Commission’s procurement program. Explicit in this responsibility is compliance with FAR. 

FAR, Subchapter A- General, Part 4, Administrative Matters, Subpart 4.6- Contract Reporting, 

requires the head of a contracting activity to develop a monitoring process to ensure timely and 

accurate reporting of contractual actions to the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS). 

Implicit in this requirement is the need for a comprehensive database to track contracts in open, 

completed, or closeout status. The database will also facilitate efficient use of the Commission’s 

resources; since obligated funds remaining on contracts in completed or closeout status can be 

easily identified, de-obligated, and re-programmed, as may be considered necessary. 

During our fieldwork, we noted that OMS did not maintain a database at a level necessary to 

fully support the requirements of FAR, as discussed in the preceding paragraph. Although 

OMS currently tracks open contracts and obligations, manually; the manual process does not 

allow for timely identification of contracts that meet the criteria for funds de-obligation or 

closeout. 

Recommendation: We recommend that the Director of OMS develop a comprehensive contract 

database to facilitate tracking of open contracts/obligations, for timely funds de-obligation or 

closeout. 

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MANAGEMENT LETTER COMMENTS
 

ON THE GENERAL FUND 

OF THE FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION
 

SEPTEMBER 30, 2014
 

Management’s Response: 

This comment continues from FY 2013. No immediate modification to the current system is 

projected. Current acquisitions procedures includes the agency Contract Specialist maintaining a 

status report in the form of an Excel spreadsheet of all contract actions, including purchase 

orders, contracts and interagency agreements, which includes close-out dates and notes on 

OMS/Procurement contact with Contracting Officer's Representatives (CORs) and program 

offices. The current system provides for tracking of open contracts/obligations and allows for 

timely funds de-obligation or closeout. 

The Commission recognizes that, while not specifically required, a comprehensive database 

could facilitate obligation closeouts and enhance the ability to prepare for upcoming obligation 

requirements, such as the exercising of contract options and obligation of additional funds after a 

period of temporary funding, such as a Continuing Resolution. The Commission is currently 

implementing significant IT infrastructure improvements. As the agency further develops and 

implements its Enterprise Content Management system (ECM), an appropriate application will 

be prepared to electronically facilitate and monitor the contracting requirements of the 

Commission. However, until such a database is created, OMS will continue to provide status of 

all contract actions via the spreadsheet. 

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MANAGEMENT LETTER COMMENTS
 

ON THE GENERAL FUND 

OF THE FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION
 

SEPTEMBER 30, 2014
 

Current Year Comments
 

Finding 1: Contract Closing Procedures are not in Compliance with FAR Regulations 

Condition 

During the audit, we noted that contracts are not closed-out in accordance with FAR Part 4.804-

5, Procedures for Closing out Contract Files, which requires that the contract administration 

office review the status of funds within each contract, and notify the contracting officer of any 

excess funds that the contract administration office might de-obligate. In addition, FAR Part 

4.804-5 requires that a Contract Completion Statement must be completed and placed in each 

contract file. 

During the audit, we reviewed 18 contract files to determine whether they contained the 

documentation required by FAR, Section 4.804-5; such as the contract, justifications and 

approvals; determinations and findings; purchase orders or requisitions evidencing the 

availability of funds; bills and invoices; and other relevant documents. We also examined the 

documentation in the files for required approvals and the level of authorized funding. In addition, 

we reviewed the files for correspondence between the contracting officer(s) and other parties, to 

determine whether modifications to the contracts or other actions were properly supported. We 

noted that none of the 18 closed contract files reviewed, included a Contract Completion 

Statement, or any documentation indicating that the contract had been closed. Furthermore, we 

determined that the contracting officers did not perform subsequent reviews of the closed-out 

contract files to determine whether they were properly closed out. 

Criteria 

Pursuant to FAR, Part 4.804-5, Procedures for Closing out Contract Files:
 

“(a) The contract administration office is responsible for initiating (automated or manual) administrative 

closeout of the contract after receiving evidence of its physical completion. At the outset of this process, 

the contract administration office must review the contract funds status and notify the contracting office
 

of any excess funds the contract administration office might de-obligate. When complete, the 

administrative closeout procedures must ensure that...—
	

(11) Termination docket is completed; 

(12) Contract audit is completed; 

(13) Contractor’s closing statement is completed; 

(14) Contractor’s final invoice has been submitted; and 

(15) Contract funds review is completed and excess funds de-obligated. 

(b) When the actions in paragraph (a) of this subsection have been verified, the contracting officer 

administering the contract must ensure that a contract completion statement, containing the following 

information, is prepared: 

(1) Contract administration office name and address (if different from the contracting office). 

(2) Contracting office name and address. 

(3) Contract number. 

(4) Last modification number. 

(5) Last call or order number. 

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MANAGEMENT LETTER COMMENTS
 

ON THE GENERAL FUND 

OF THE FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION
 

SEPTEMBER 30, 2014
 

(6) Contractor name and address. 

(7) Dollar amount of excess funds, if any. 

(8) Voucher number and date, if final payment has been made. 

(9) Invoice number and date, if the final approved invoice has been forwarded to a disbursing office 

of another agency or activity and the status of the payment is unknown. 

(10) A statement that all required contract administration actions have been fully and satisfactorily 

accomplished. 

(11) Name and signature of the contracting officer. 

(12) Date. 

(c) When the statement is completed, the contracting officer must ensure that— 

(1) The signed original is placed in the contracting office contract file (or forwarded to the 

contracting office for placement in the files if the contract administration office is different from 

the contracting office); and 

(2) A signed copy is placed in the appropriate contract administration file if administration is 

performed by a contract administration office.” 

Cause 

The condition noted above was the result of FMC not following the contract close-out process 

outlined in FAR Part 4.804-5. It was also the result of inadequate internal control over the 

contract administration process. 

Effect 

As a result of this condition, there is increased risk of goods and services being requested by 

FMC; and invoices being submitted by contractors and vendors, and paid by FMC, in excess of 

contract amounts. There is also the risk that the Commission may be in material noncompliance 

with FAR and other applicable regulations. 

Recommendations 

We recommend that the management of FMC undertake steps to ensure that FMC complies with 

the requirements of FAR Part 4.804-5, Procedures for Closing out Contract Files. We also 

recommend that the management of FMC implement adequate internal control policies and 

procedures to monitor the contract closeout process. This should include active supervisory 

review of the closeout tasks performed by its employees. 

Management’s Response: 

The Commission will continue to improve its recordkeeping and internal policies to ensure compliance 

with Federal Acquisition Regulations and its internal procedures in Commission Order 112. In addition 

to FAR Part 4.804-5, the Commission is also utilizing Quick-Closeout Procedures, per FAR Part 42.708. 

The agency also relies upon documentation that is kept by the COR, which is also reflected in the 

Purchase Requisition (PR). Furthermore, CORs also keep files, which provide additional documentation 

and are readily accessible. 

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MANAGEMENT LETTER COMMENTS
 

ON THE GENERAL FUND 

OF THE FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION
 

SEPTEMBER 30, 2014
 

APPENDIX A 

Memorandum – Managing Director’s Response to FY 2014 Financial Statement Management 

Letter 

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UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION
 

Memorandum
 

TO: Inspector General DATE: December 17, 2014 

FROM: Managing Director 

SUBJECT: FY 2014 Financial Statement Management Letter 

I have reviewed the comments contained in the Management Letter on the FY 2014 Financial 

Statement Audit of Federal Maritime Commission dated November 12, 2014. As noted in the 

letter, the below comments "are not considered significant deficiencies, but are still important in 

the overall internal control structure of the Commission, and require management's attention." 

Commission management responds to the comments as outlined below. 

Comment 1. (Finding 3, FY 13): The OIG recommends that the Director of OMS develop a 

comprehensive contract database to facilitate tracking of open contracts/obligations, for timely 

funds de-obligation or closeout. 

Response: This comment continues from FY 2013. No immediate modification to the current 

system is projected. Current acquisitions procedures includes the agency Contract Specialist 

maintaining a status report in the form of an Excel spreadsheet of all contract actions, including 

purchase orders, contracts and interagency agreements, which includes close-out dates and notes 

on OMS/Procurement contact with Contracting Officer's Representatives (CORs) and program 

offices. The current system provides for tracking of open contracts/obligations and allows for 

timely funds de-obligation or closeout. 

The Commission recognizes that, while not specifically required, a comprehensive database 

could facilitate obligation closeouts and enhance the ability to prepare for upcoming obligation 

requirements, such as the exercising of contract options and obligation of additional funds after a 

period of temporary funding, such as a Continuing Resolution. The Commission is currently 

implementing significant IT infrastructure improvements. As the agency further develops and 

implements its Enterprise Content Management system (ECM), an appropriate application will be 

prepared to electronically facilitate and monitor the contracting requirements of the Commission. 

However, until such a database is created, OMS will continue to provide status of all contract 

actions via the spreadsheet. 

Comment 2. (Finding 1, FY 14): The OIG recommends that the management of FMC undertake 

steps to ensure that FMC complies with the requirements of FAR Part 4.804-5, Procedures for 

Closing out Contract Files. We also recommend that the management of FMC implement 

adequate internal control policies and procedures to monitor the contract closeout process. This 

should include active supervisory review of the closeout tasks performed by its employees. 

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1 

Response: The Commission will continue to improve its recordkeeping and internal policies to 

ensure compliance with federal acquisition regulations and its internal procedures in Commission 

Order 112. In addition to FAR Part 4.804-5, the Commission is also utilizing Quick-Closeout 

Procedures, per FAR Part 42.708.1 The agency also relies upon documentation that is kept by the 

COR, which is also reflected in the Purchase Requisition (PR). Furthermore, CORs also keep files, 

which provide additional documentation and are readily accessible. 

Vern W. Hill 

cc:	 Office of Budget and Finance 

Office of Management Services 

Office of information Technology 

Office of the Chairman 

FAR 42.708 -- Quick-Closeout Procedure 

(a) The contracting officer responsible for contract closeout shall negotiate the 

settlement of direct and indirect costs for a specific contract, task order, or delivery order to be closed, in advance 

of the determination of final indirect rates set forth in 42.705, if —

(1) The contract, task order, or delivery order is physically complete; 

(2) The amount of unsettled direct costs and indirect costs to be allocated to the contract, task order, or 

delivery order is relatively insignificant. Cost amounts will be considered relatively insignificant when 

the total unsettled direct costs and indirect costs to be allocated to any one contract, task order, or 

delivery order does not exceed the lesser of-

(i) $1,000,000; or 

(ii) 10 percent of the total contract, task order, or delivery order amount; 

(3) The contracting officer performs a risk assessment and determines that the use of the quickcloseout procedure is appropriate. The risk assessment shall include-

(i) Consideration of the contractor's accounting, estimating, and purchasing sr.tetns; 

(ii) Other concerns of the cognizant contract auditors; and 

(iii) Any other pertinent information, such as, documented history of Federal Government 

approved indirect cost rate agreements, changes to contractor's rate structure, volatility of rate 

fluctuations during affected periods, mergers or acquisitions, special contract provisions limiting 

contractor's recovery of otherwise allowable indirect costs under cost reimbursement or time-and 

materials contracts; and 

(4) Agreement can be reached on a reasonable estimate of allocable dollars. 

(b) Determinations of final indirect costs under the quick-closeout procedure provided for by the Allowable Cost 

and Payment clause at 52.216-7 shall be final for the contract it covers and no adjustment shall be made to other 

contracts for over- or under-recoveries of costs allocated or allocable to the contract covered by the agreement. 

(c) Indirect cost rates used in the quick closeout of a contract shall not be considered a binding precedent when 

establishing the final indirect cost rates for other contracts. 

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