disallow

We determined that Downe Township did not always follow Federal procurement standards in awarding contracts for disaster work.  We recommended that FEMA disallow $832,040 of $2.5 million in grant funds awarded to the Township.  The Township did not have support for $445,385 of the questioned costs.  We also recommended that the Administrator, FEMA Region II, deobligate unused project costs, and withhold $2.3 million in funds requested for additional project work until New Jersey provides assurance that the Township complies with all Federal procurement standards for FEMA funded work.  FEMA Region II concurred with all of our recommendations.

We determined that the City followed Federal regulations and FEMA guidelines when accounting for FEMA funds; however, FEMA mistakenly obligated $587,538 of ineligible funding because of a mathematical error.  We made two recommendations to the Regional Administrator, FEMA Region IV, to disallow $587,538 as ineligible costs.  FEMA agreed with our finding and recommendations, and has taken corrective action to resolve both recommendations.  Therefore, we consider these recommendations resolved and closed with no further action required from FEMA.