Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 250 - Department of Environmental Management › Chapter 90 - Marine Fisheries › Subchapter 00 - N/A › Part 20 - Regulations Governing the Administration of the Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant Provided to the State of Rhode Island by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service Under Title VII, Subtitle B, Section 751 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Pub. Law 116-260 (H.R. 133) in Response to the Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic › Section 250-RICR-90-00-20.11 - Audit Procedures

Current through June 14, 2024
A. The Department
				  will conduct random audits on a subset of applications received in accordance
				  with the following provisions. The purpose of the audits is for the Department
				  to confirm that applicants have retained the records they are required to
				  provide pursuant to §
										20.9(E)(1) 
				  herein, and to confirm that the information contained in those documents is
				  accurate.
1. The Department will randomly
				  target for audit ten percent (10%) of all applications received.
2. To randomly select the applications to be
				  audited, the Department will use computer software to randomly generate numbers
				  that will identify applications for audit.
3. For all applications subject to audit:
a. The Department will notify the applicant
				  in writing via certified mail and email that their application has been subject
				  to audit and, pursuant thereto, the applicant must provide to the Department
				  copies of records/documentation that verify the eligible expenses for which the
				  applicant is seeking reimbursement.
b. Applicants must respond to the request for
				  copies of records/documentation within fifteen (15) calendar days following the
				  applicant's receipt of the written notification from the Department. The
				  records/documentation must be submitted in hard copy (i.e., hand delivered)
				  Monday through Friday, 8:30 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. to either of the three (3) offices
				  set forth below. Neither mailed submission nor electronic submissions of
				  records/documentation will be accepted.
(1)
				  The Department's Division of Coastal Resources, 301 Great Island Road,
				  Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882;
(2) The Department's Division of Marine
				  Fisheries, 3 Fort Wetherill Road, Jamestown, Rhode Island 02835; or
(3) The Department's Office of Technical and
				  Customer Assistance, 235 Promenade Street, Providence, Rhode Island
				  02908.
c. Failure to
				  respond to the Department's written request for records/documentation within
				  fifteen (15) calendar days following receipt of the request will result in the
				  denial of the application.
d. An
				  audited application found to have sufficient records/documentation that verify
				  the eligible expenses for which the applicant is seeking reimbursement will be
				  processed along with all other applications pursuant to §
												20.12 of this
				  Part.
e. An audited application
				  found to have insufficient records/documentation that fail to verify the
				  expenses for which the applicant is seeking reimbursement will be issued a
				  letter of denial, and the applicant will be referred to the Department's Office
				  of Law Enforcement for investigation. Those receiving letters of denial may
				  file an appeal to the finding no later than fifteen (15) calendar days
				  following receipt of the letter, in accordance with §
												20.13 of this
				  Part.
f. All applicants subject to
				  audit will be notified in writing regarding the results of the audit.