Certify and provide supporting documentation showing that the identified deficiencies have been corrected for the 8 of 109 properties cited in this audit report.
Publication Report
2017-CH-1011 | September 30, 2017
BLM Companies LLC, Hurricane, UT, Did Not Provide Property Preservation and Protection Services in Accordance With Its Contract With HUD and Its Own Requirements
We audited BLM Companies LLC, a contracted field service manager in HUD’s real estate-owned Management and Marketing III program, as part of the activities included in our 2017 annual audit plan and because it was the sole contractor performing property… moreRelated Recommendations
Housing
- Status2017-CH-1011-001-BOpenClosedClosed on September 25, 2020$19,280.00Questioned Costs
Recommendations with questioned costs identify costs: (A] resulting from an alleged violation of a law, regulation, contract, grant, or other document or agreement governing the use of Federal funds; (B] that are not supported by adequate documentation (also known as an unsupported cost]; or (C] that appear unnecessary or unreasonable.
Reimburse HUD $19,280 in ineligible management fees for 20 properties for which initial services were improperly performed before promotion to ready-to-show status.
- Status2017-CH-1011-001-COpenClosedClosed on September 25, 2020$6,525.00Questioned Costs
Recommendations with questioned costs identify costs: (A] resulting from an alleged violation of a law, regulation, contract, grant, or other document or agreement governing the use of Federal funds; (B] that are not supported by adequate documentation (also known as an unsupported cost]; or (C] that appear unnecessary or unreasonable.
Reimburse HUD $6,525 in ineligible routine inspection fees for 93 properties that contained property preservation and protection deficiencies.
- Status2017-CH-1011-001-DOpenClosedClosed on September 03, 2019$594,000.00Funds Put to Better Use
Recommendations that funds be put to better use estimate funds that could be used more efficiently. For example, recommendations that funds be put to better use could result in reductions in spending, deobligation of funds, or avoidance of unnecessary spending.
Improve its quality control procedures to accurately track and conduct reviews in a manner that ensures all properties in its active inventory comply with HUD’s and its own requirements to prevent $594,000 in monthly routine inspection fees from being spent over the next year for properties that are not adequately maintained. The quality control procedures should include but not limited to continued training of BLM’s staff and subcontractors on properly identifying and addressing property deficiencies; maintaining sufficient documentation of its monthly quality control reviews and corrective actions; verifying that the datestamped photographs were for the corresponding inspection dates; and regularly updating its tracking mechanism for desktop reviews of inspections to ensure that it conducts desktop reviews for properties that are still in its inventory.
Assess BLM’s performance under the area 4P contract at least quarterly to determine whether it has improved its performance. If its performance does not improve, HUD in coordination with the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer should determine whether BLM has defaulted on its contract and take the appropriate actions.