Questioned Cost/Improper Payments
Costs that could not be validated during the VAYGo review process.
What is Questioned Cost
An award provided by a pass-through entity to a Subrecipient for the Subrecipient to carry out part of a federal award received by the pass-through entity.
What is a Subaward
Randomly selected based on disasters declared in a Fiscal Year and quarterly time frames.
What is how VAYGo Testing Samples are created?
Number of days FEMA has from the receipt of Appeal to provide a response to the applicant.
What is 90 days
Has the principal responsibility of providing the documentation necessary to demonstrate that funding associated with a tested drawdown was properly disbursed .
Who are the Recipients
The primary goal of VAYGo.
What is to test for ineligible costs
The entity that receives a subaward from a pass-through entity. Depending on the program, subrecipients of hazard mitigation assistance subawards can be a state agency, local government, private nonprofit organization, or Indian Tribal government.
What is a Subrecipient
Notifies the State, of which transactions will be sampled
Who is VAYGo
When identified discrepancies remain unresolved a subrecipient can do one of two things:
1.Appeal or
What is Recoupment.
•Usage logs and/or work orders
•Type of equipment and attachments used, including year, make, and model
•Locations
•Size/capacity (e.g., horsepower, wattage)
•Operator name (if applicable)
•Equipment rates or mileage costs and associated code
•Record of operator hours
What are documents needed for Force Account Equipment
Payments that should not have been made or were made in an incorrect amount under statutory, contractual, administrative, or other legally applicable requirements.
What is Improper Payments
A transfer of funding from FEMA to a recipient based on an obligated amount/subaward.
What is a Drawdown
The number of cycles, a recipient must test at or below the 1.5 percent error rate to qualify for the closeout benefit
What is two consecutive testing cycles (two total years)
A subrecipient has the right to dispute if they disagree with the discrepancies of the VAYGo testing cycle.
What is appeal.
Historical Cost Records
Inventory Records
Types of Supplies and Quantities Used, with Support Documentation
What is required documentation for Force Account Materials
Requires federal agencies to develop actions to remediate root causes of error rates.
What is Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 (PIAA 2019)
Allows FEMA to identify ineligible costs and procurement issues more efficiently.
What is VAYGo Testing
Allows FEMA to identify ineligible costs and procurement issues more efficiently.
What is the VAYGo Testing Process
Is the official communication that FEMA issues to the subrecipient regarding unresolved improper payments (questioned costs).
What is a Determination Memo.
Provides the opportunity to discuss and possibly eliminate the need for pending RFIs and provide clarification on outstanding RFIs
What is Regularly Scheduled Status Calls
The contact for corruption, waste, fraud, abuse, mismanagement or misconduct
Who is the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General
Serves as the pass-through entity for communication between FEMA and the subrecipient.
Who is the Recipient
Collaborates with DHS Risk Management and Assurance (RM&A) to establish the sample population for the testing cycle.
Who is FEMA’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer staff (VAYGO HQ)?
The Number of days the state has to review and send appeal letter to FEMA.
What is 60 days
Submits required documentation to recipient.
Who is the Subrecipient