Support that $2,533,377 in costs were reasonable and allowable program expenses in accordance with requirements or repay from non-Federal funds the appropriate programs any amounts they cannot support.
2017-BO-1007 | September 21, 2017
The Housing Authority of the City of Hartford, CT, Did Not Always Comply With Procurement Requirements
Public and Indian Housing
- Status2017-BO-1007-001-AOpenClosed$2,679,580Questioned 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.
- Status2017-BO-1007-001-BOpenClosed$1,625,391Questioned 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.
Repay the appropriate programs from non-Federal funds the $1,524,604 in ineligible funds paid when costs exceeded contract terms.
- Status2017-BO-1007-001-COpenClosed$1,242,154Funds 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.
Determine the appropriateness of the remaining balance of $1,242,154 on unsupported contracts to ensure costs were reasonable, reprocure the subject contracts, or reallocate the funds to the appropriate program.
- Status2017-BO-1007-001-DOpenClosed$375,526Funds 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.
Reprocure expired service contracts to ensure estimated balances of $375,526 are used on eligible contract.
- Status2017-BO-1007-001-EOpenClosed
Reprocure any service contracts necessary and ensure that the contracts are properly awarded in accordance with HUD requirements.
- Status2017-BO-1007-001-FOpenClosed
Strengthen and implement controls and procedures over procurement, including monitoring consultants, to ensure that procurement activities meet HUD requirements.
- Status2017-BO-1007-001-GOpenClosed
Establish and implement an effective system to ensure that payments do not exceed approved contract values.
- Status2017-BO-1007-001-HOpenClosed
Establish and implement an effective system to maintain a complete and accurate contract register to ensure proper contract planning and administration.
- Status2017-BO-1007-001-IOpenClosed
Provide technical assistance to the Authority to ensure that responsible staff and board members receive necessary procurement training.
2017-LA-0005 | September 21, 2017
HUD Did Not Always Follow Applicable Requirements When Forgiving Debts and Terminating Debt Collections
Chief Financial Officer
- Status2017-LA-0005-001-AOpenClosed$1,210,278Questioned 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.
Take appropriate steps to establish eligibility for collection termination or compromise for 10 debts totaling $1,210,278,5 including three debts that were closed without required DOJ approval. For debts that have a remaining appropriate means of collection, such as demand letters, administrative offset, or referral to Treasury, HUD should reinstate the debt and resume collections.
- Status2017-LA-0005-001-BOpenClosed$3,247,078Funds 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.
Conduct a complete analysis of existing procedures to strengthen controls over debt collection, including HUD’s Treasury Reports of Receivables reporting, resulting in funds to be put to better use of $3,247,078. Controls should include additional procedures for ensuring that DOJ approval is obtained when required, that all appropriate means of collection have been pursued (including referral to Treasury when required), and that all closed debts are tracked and were properly authorized for collection termination or forgiveness. The analysis should also include a review of HUD’s Treasury Reports on Receivables, and any other available records to verify that all closed debts were properly approved for collection termination or forgiveness when required. For any identified debts that were not properly approved, the Departmental Claims Collection Officer should coordinate with applicable program offices to obtain appropriate documentation to approve collection termination or reinstate the debt and resume collections.
2017-LA-1801 | September 20, 2017
Venta Financial Group, Inc., Las Vegas, NV, Improperly Originated FHA-Insured Loans With Restrictive Covenants
General Counsel
- Status2017-LA-1801-001-EOpenClosed
Determine legal sufficiency and if legally sufficient, pursue civil and administrative remedies, civil money penalties, or both against Venta, its principals, or both for incorrectly certifying to the eligibility for FHA mortgage insurance or that due diligence was exercised during the origination of FHA loans.
Housing
- Status2017-LA-1801-001-AOpenClosed$423,759Funds 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.
Work with HUD to nullify the restrictions on conveyance that violate HUD policy or indemnify HUD. This action will protect HUD against future losses of $418,277 for the eight loans.
- Status2017-LA-1801-001-BOpenClosed$5,482Questioned 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.
Repay HUD $5,482 for partial claims paid on two FHA loans that contained prohibited restrictive covenants.
- Status2017-LA-1801-001-COpenClosed
Develop and implement policies and procedures to identify prohibited restrictions on conveyance to ensure that it does not originate FHA loans with prohibited restrictive covenants.
- Status2017-LA-1801-001-DOpenClosed
Provide training to its employees regarding HUD’s requirements related to prohibited restrictions on conveyance.
2017-NY-1011 | September 20, 2017
MB Financial Bank, Rosemont, IL, Did Not Always Follow HUD’s Underwriting Requirements but Generally Complied With Quality Control Requirements
Housing
- Status2017-NY-1011-001-AOpenClosed$178,811Funds 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.
We recommend that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Single Family Housing require MB Financial to indemnify HUD against potential losses of $178,811 for the four loans that did not comply with underwriting requirements (appendix C). HUD provided us copies of the four executed indemnification agreements in August and September 2017. Therefore, upon issuance of this report, we will enter a management decision into HUD’s Audit Resolution and Corrective Action Tracking System, along with copies of the indemnification agreements, and close this recommendation.
- Status2017-NY-1011-001-BOpenClosed
We recommend that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Single Family Housing require MB Financial to provide training to its underwriters on HUD’s underwriting requirements for approving and rejecting loans.
- Status2017-NY-1011-001-COpenClosed
We recommend that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Single Family Housing require MB Financial to update its policies and procedures to ensure that its staff understands underwriting requirements and the requirement that loans be manually underwritten when a refer decision is received from automated underwriting systems or when a loan is downgraded to a manual underwrite.
- Status2017-NY-1011-002-AOpenClosed
We recommend that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Single Family Housing require MB Financial to update its quality control plan to include the specific procedures to be used when reviewing rejected loan applications.