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Audit of the Administration for Children and Families Awarding and Monitoring of Unaccompanied Children Program Contracts for Emergency Intake Sites

Announced on  | Last Modified on  | Project Number: A-06-22-07000
Status
Completed
Agency
Administration for Children and Families

OBJECTIVE

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), a program office of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) within HHS, manages the Unaccompanied Children Program. In fiscal year 2021, an influx of unaccompanied children began arriving at the U.S. southern border, coinciding with the Nation's ongoing efforts to control the spread of COVID-19. As a result, ACF identified a need to increase the number of shelter beds in its provider network and entered into contracts for shelter and related services for unaccompanied children. In addition, ACF opened a new type of provider facility known as an emergency intake site (EIS). We will determine whether ACF awarded, monitored, and terminated contracts for EISs in accordance with Federal statutes and regulations, as well as HHS policies and procedures.

TIMELINE

  • March 1, 2022
    Announced
  • September 3, 2025
    Complete

    Audit of the Administration for Children and Families Awarding and Monitoring of Unaccompanied Children Program Contracts for Emergency Intake Sites has been marked as complete. This audit resulted in 4 recommendations.

REPORT PUBLISHED

ACF Did Not Award, Monitor, and Close Selected Contracts for the Unaccompanied Alien Children Program in Accordance With Federal Requirements (A-06-22-07000)

ACF did not comply with Federal requirements when awarding, monitoring, and closing out the five contracts as shown below.

25-A-06-115.01 to ACF - Open Unimplemented
Update expected on 03/02/2026
We recommend that the Administration for Children and Families develop action plans to consider the use of advance contracts so that contracting officers can provide for full and open competition; adequately evaluate proposed prices; and confirm that contracts contain a detailed statement of work, all of the required clauses, and a quality assurance surveillance plan.

25-A-06-115.02 to ACF - Open Unimplemented
Update expected on 03/02/2026
We recommend that the Administration for Children and Families develop action plans to verify that contracts contain measurable performance standards.

25-A-06-115.03 to ACF - Open Unimplemented
Update expected on 03/02/2026
We recommend that the Administration for Children and Families develop action plans to implement policies and procedures for COR file management.

25-A-06-115.04 to ACF - Open Unimplemented
Update expected on 03/02/2026
We recommend that the Administration for Children and Families develop action plans to train contracting officers to improve the contract closeout process by deobligating excess funds within 30 days after completion of the contract and obtaining a release of all liabilities, obligations, and claims arising from the contract before issuing the final payment.

View in Recommendation Tracker
Work Plan Type
Office of Audit Services
HHS Agencies
Administration for Children and Families
Issue Areas
Contracts Emergency Preparedness and Response
Target Groups
Children and Families
Financial Groups
Other Funding