Develop and implement an action plan that includes sufficient policies, procedures, and controls that address households living in assisted units having a sufficient supply of safe drinking water. Such policies, procedures, and controls should include but not be limited to (1) developing and implementing internal procedures to be notified, and share with public housing agencies, when the public water systems’ water exceeds the Environmental Protection Agency’s lead action level and (2) revising HUD’s applicable regulations, providing guidance to public housing agencies and Housing Choice Voucher Program landlords, and taking appropriate actions so that households living in assisted units have a sufficient supply of safe drinking water.

Evaluate the risk that employee benefit contributions expensed at PHAs may be unreasonable and, if determined necessary, establish and implement controls to reduce or eliminate the evaluated risk.

Develop and implement additional guidance to ensure that PHAs enter accurate employee benefit data into FASS-PH.

Provide documentation to show that the proposal of the vendor that it selected and paid $860,132 was the most advantageous or reimburse its program from non-Federal funds for any amounts that it cannot support.

Develop and implement controls to monitor its agent to ensure that it procures products and services in accordance with applicable Federal procurement requirements.

Reimburse its program $156,675 from non-Federal funds for the ineligible payments it made due to the conflict-of-interest situation identified by the audit.

Develop and implement controls to ensure that it obtains waivers from HUD before entering into agreements that create conflict-of-interest situations.

Provide training and technical assistance to the Authority to ensure that it understands the proper use of intergovernmental agreements in accordance with HUD requirements.

Support that $916,132 spent on contracts was fair and reasonable in accordance with Federal requirements or repay the Operating Fund or Capital Fund program from non-Federal funds any amount that cannot be supported.

Support that $408,968 in funds not yet spent on contracts would be fair and reasonable or reallocate the funds to ensure that they will be put to their intended use.

Reprocure any contracts for which cost reasonableness cannot be supported and contracts were not properly awarded to ensure compliance with HUD requirements.

Ensure that all Authority staff members working with procurements and contract administration receive Federal procurement training.

Establish and implement adequate record-keeping procedures to comply with Federal procurement requirements, including a checklist for the file to ensure that they complete all procurement requirements and receive all required documents.

Ensure that all architectural and engineering contracts or task orders awarded during our audit period are reviewed for cost reasonableness.

Repay the Operating Fund program from non-Federal funds for the $37,941 in ineligible costs when the amount paid exceeded the contract value.

Establish and implement adequate controls so the Authority does not exceed the contract amount without appropriate contract amendments and written approvals.

Establish and implement adequate controls to obtain all of the required project completion documentation prior to final payment.

Ensure that its staff appropriately determines exemptions from the Lead Safe Housing Rule and documents support of the determinations.

Corrective Action Taken

In June 2023, HUD publicly issued Notice 2023-16, Implementation of National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) Administrative Procedures, providing guidance covering the process and operational requirements for HUD’s public housing programs that clarifies for its staff (1) actions that should be taken by the PHA and (2) documentation that must be provided to support that a housing unit is exempt from the Lead Safe Housing Rule. The guidance describes the process that a PHA or property owners and/or agents must take when a NSPIRE inspection identifies deteriorated paint in a property or housing unit. Specifically, the PHA or property owners and/or agents should first verify that the property or housing unit is considered “target housing,” and if so, determine whether it is exempt from the Lead Safe Housing Rule. If an exemption applies, documentation such as, a lease or other residency agreement that affirms that the property is designated exclusively for occupancy by the elderly or persons with disabilities must be provided to HUD. Other residency agreements could include a HUD-approved designated housing plan, property deed or charter, or occupancy restrictions approved by HUD or the PHA’s board of commissioners. The PHA or property owners and/or agency must also affirm whether children under the age of 6 years reside in the property.

Ensure that its staff determines whether a child under 6 years of age resides in an exempted development. If a child is determined to reside in an exempted development take appropriate actions in accordance with its internal policies

Corrective Action Taken

The Office of Field Operations (OFO) updated the Lead-Based Paint Response Tracker’s Standard Protocol and Roles and Responsibilities to identify the roles and responsibilities of HUD’s headquarters and field office level staff in ensuring PHAs’ compliance with the Lead Safe Housing Rule (LSHR). The protocol provides that the OFO field office staff work directly with PHAs to resolve issues of noncompliance with the LSHR and other Lead-based paint (LBP) guidance by responding to or escalating questions/issues to the headquarters team, directing PHAs to available training and resources on HUD.gov or HUD Exchange, and working with PHAs to obtain sufficient documentation to close an LBP case in the LBP tracker promptly. In regards to a child under 6 years of age residing in an exempted development, staff from the field offices must upload supporting documentation determining whether a pregnant lady or child six years old or younger lives in the development, collect missing information, if applicable, coordinate with OFO team to close cases in the LBP response tracker, indicate in the LBP response tracker if the PHA has provided the documents or if the property is exempt and upload supporting documents.

Ensure that the 55 developments without sufficient support for an exemption either support the exemption status or complete the required lead-based paint inspections and provide the documentation to the appropriate field office.