Audit of Costs Normally Treated as Administrative and Clerical Costs but Charged Directly to HHS Awards at the University of Louisville

The University of Louisville did not always claim selected costs charged directly to HHS awards in accordance with Federal regulations and, where appropriate, NIH guidelines. In our sample of 120 salary transactions, 102 were allowable but 18 were not. In addition, in our sample of 100 nonsalary transactions, 61 were allowable but 39 were not. These unallowable transactions occurred because the University did not provide adequate oversight to ensure consistent compliance with Federal regulations.

We recommended that the University refund $1.3 million to the Federal Government and enhance oversight of charges to Federal awards to ensure consistent compliance with Federal regulations.