3.14 Subrecipient Management and Monitoring
Best Practices
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Subrecipient Pre-Award and Monitoring Procedures
Remedies for Subrecipient Noncompliance
Listed below are best practices that pass-through entities may consider in developing policies and procedures around subrecipient monitoring.
Subrecipient Pre-Award and Monitoring Procedures
- Develop a request for applications (proposals) that clearly defines the work to be accomplished in furtherance of the Federal award purpose(s).
- Require subrecipients to include in their applications a time-phased milestone plan of action based on clearly-stated accomplishments defined in the proposal.
- Integrate budget line items into the performance plan.
- Require performance/progress reports and supporting documentation with monthly invoices. Performance reports should discuss:
- Milestones achieved/to be achieved;
- Any significant problem, issues, or concerns;
- Timely accomplishments and delays, and
- Actual cost incurred compared to each budget line item with variances explained.
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Remedies for Subrecipient Noncompliance
If a subrecipient fails to comply with Federal statutes, regulations, or the terms and conditions of a Federal award, the pass-through entity may impose additional conditions. However, if it is determined that noncompliance cannot be remedied by imposing additional conditions, the pass-through entity may take one or more of the following actions:
- Withholding of disbursements or further awards;
- Disallowance of cost;
- Suspension/termination of award;
- Suspension/Debarment;
- Civil lawsuit, or
- Criminal prosecution.
Financial Management Tip
To proactively monitor subrecipients:
- Read award/contract documents carefully.
- Ask for explanation and clarity; don???t assume.
- Document transactions, agency guidance, performance evaluations, etc., in writing.
- Keep documentation on hand.
- Document, document, document! If it isn???t documented, it doesn???t exist!
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