[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 88 (Monday, May 7, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19905-19915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09501]



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 Rules and Regulations
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 88 / Monday, May 7, 2018 / Rules and 
Regulations  

[[Page 19905]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

7 CFR Part 1773

RIN 0572-AC33


Policy on Audits of RUS Borrowers and Grantees

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule with request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is amending its regulations 
regarding its Policy on Audits to incorporate 2011 revisions to the 
Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS) issued by the 
Government Accountability Office (GAO), the clarified audit standards 
issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants 
(AICPA) in 2011, and Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost 
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, Subpart F, Audit 
Requirements, issued by the Office of Management and Budget on December 
26, 2013, and adopted by USDA on December 26, 2014. RUS is also 
expanding and clarifying its regulations to: include grant recipients, 
amend its peer review requirements, amend its reporting requirements, 
expand the options for the electronic filing of audits, and clarify a 
number of existing audit requirements, and is amending the title to 
reflect this change.

DATES: Effective Date: Rule will become effective on July 6, 2018 and 
is applicable for financial audits for periods ending on or after 
December 15, 2018.
    Comment Date: Comments must be received by RUS on or before June 6, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov/. Follow instructions for submitting comments.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send your comments 
addressed to Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director, Program Development 
and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1522, Room 5164-S, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522.
    Additional information about Rural Development and its programs is 
available on the internet at https://www.rd.usda.gov/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Chris Colberg, Acting Chief, 
Technical Accounting and Auditing Staff, Program Accounting Services 
Division, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1523, Washington, DC 20250-1523. 
Telephone: (202) 720-1905.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Order 12866

    This final rule has been determined to be not significant for the 
purposes of Executive Order 12866 and, therefore, has not been reviewed 
by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Executive Order 12372

    This final rule is excluded from the scope of Executive Order 
12372, Intergovernmental Consultation, which may require consultation 
with state and local officials. See the final rule related notice 
entitled, ``Department Programs and Activities Excluded from Executive 
Order 12372'' (50 FR 47034) advising that RUS loans and loan guarantees 
were not covered by Executive Order 12372.

Executive Order 12988

    This final rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, 
Civil Justice Reform. RUS has determined that this final rule meets the 
applicable standards provided in section 3 of the Executive Order. In 
addition, all state and local laws and regulations that are in conflict 
with this rule will be preempted, no retroactive effect will be given 
to this rule, and, in accordance with section 212(e) of the Department 
of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6912(e)), 
administrative appeal procedures, if any, must be exhausted before an 
action against the Department or its agencies may be initiated.

Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification

    RUS has determined that this final rule will not have significant 
impact on a substantial number of small entities defined in the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). The RUS loan 
programs provide borrowers with loans at interest rates and terms that 
are more favorable than those generally available from the private 
sector. Borrowers, as a result of obtaining federal financing, receive 
economic benefits that exceed any direct cost associated with RUS 
regulations and requirements.

National Environmental Policy Act Certification

    RUS has determined that this final rule will not significantly 
affect the quality of the human environment as defined by the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). Therefore, 
this action does not require an environmental impact statement or 
assessment.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

    The programs described by this final rule are listed in the Catalog 
of Federal Domestic Assistance under Numbers CFDA 10.751, Rural Energy 
Savings Program; CFDA 10.787, Broadband Initiatives Program; CFDA 
10.850, Rural Electrification Loans and Loan Guarantees; CFDA 10.851, 
Rural Telephone Loans and Loan Guarantees; CFDA 10.855, Distance 
Learning and Telemedicine Loans and Grants; CFDA 10.857, Bulk Fuel 
Revolving Fund Grants; CFDA 10.858, Denali Commission Grants and Loans; 
CFDA 10.859, Assistance to High Energy Cost Rural Communities; CFDA 
10.861, Public Television Station Digital Transition Grant Program; 
and, CFDA 10.863, Community Connect Grant Program. The General Services 
Administration (GSA) website at http://www.cfda.gov contains a PDF file 
version of the CFDA catalog. The print edition of the catalog may be 
purchased from the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) by calling 
(202) 512-1800 or toll free at 1-866-512-1800, or by ordering it online 
at http://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Information Collection and Recordkeeping Requirements

    The reporting and recordkeeping requirements contained in this 
final rule have been approved by the Office of

[[Page 19906]]

Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB Control Number 0572-0095, 
pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C Chapter 35). 
This final rule contains no new reporting or recordkeeping burdens 
under OMB Control Number 0572-0095 that would require approval under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act.
    Send questions or comments regarding this burden or any other 
aspect of these collections of information, including suggestions for 
reducing the burden, to Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director, Program 
Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 1522, Room 
5164-S, Washington, DC 20250-1522.

Unfunded Mandates

    This final rule contains no Federal mandates (under the regulatory 
provision of title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995) for 
state, local, and tribal governments or the private sector. Thus, this 
final rule is not subject to the requirements of sections 202 and 205 
of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.

Comments

    We invite you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting 
written comments, data, or views before the noted deadline. We will 
consider the comments we received and may conduct additional rulemaking 
based on the comments.

Background

    7 CFR part 1773, Policy on Audits of RUS Borrowers and Grantees 
(Part 1773), implements the standard RUS security instrument provision 
requiring RUS electric and telecommunications borrowers and grantees to 
prepare and furnish to RUS, at least once during each 12-month period, 
a full and complete report of its financial condition, operations, and 
cash flows, in form and substance satisfactory to RUS; audited and 
certified by an independent audit organization, satisfactory to RUS, 
and accompanied by a report of such audit, in form and substance 
satisfactory to RUS. This rule is amended to include coverage of all 
grantees and the title of Part 1773 is revised to reflect this change.
    This rule amends Part 1773 to incorporate the 2011 revisions to 
GAGAS by the GAO issued in December 2011. The 2011 revision contains 
major changes that reinforce the principles of transparency and 
accountability and provide the framework for high-quality government 
audits that add value. This revision to GAGAS incorporates the AICPA 
Statements on Auditing Standards. The 2011 revisions to GAGAS were 
effective for financial audits for periods ending on or after December 
15, 2012.
    The professional standards and guidance contained in GAGAS provide 
a framework for conducting high quality audits with competence, 
integrity, objectivity, and independence. These standards are used by 
auditors of entities that receive government awards and audit 
organizations performing GAGAS audits. GAGAS contains standards for 
audits as well as requirements and guidance dealing with ethics, 
independence, auditors' professional judgment and competence, quality 
control, performance of the audit, and reporting.
    This rule amends Part 1773 to incorporate the clarified audit 
standards issued by the AICPA in October 2011. The purpose of 
redrafting the auditing standards was for clarity and convergence 
although there were some changes and additions in terms of 
requirements. The clarified standards also introduced new terminology 
and new audit reports by adding extra paragraphs and segregating 
sections of the report under subheadings.
    In 2013, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) revised uniform 
administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements 
for Federal awards by issuing 2 CFR part 200, which served to 
consolidate and replace OMB Circulars A-21, A-87, A-89, A-102, A-110, 
A-122, and A-133. 2 CFR part 200 was adopted by USDA in December 2014. 
The portion of this CFR applicable to audits, Subpart F, is recognized 
and adopted by this revision to Part 1773.
    This rule revises all subparts to encompass grantees, to remove 
most references to Rural Telephone Bank (RTB), to conform the language 
used to generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS) issued by the 
AICPA and GAGAS. This rule adds, changes or deletes definitions as 
appropriate to clarify certain existing information. Perhaps most 
importantly, this rule replaces the RUS management letter with a report 
on compliance with aspects of contractual agreements and regulatory 
requirements based on the requirements found in AU-C 806 of GAAS. This 
rule also provides information on the electronic filing of annual 
audits in Sec.  1773.21. RUS is also adding a requirement to the 
reporting package for a schedule of findings and recommendations in 
Sec.  1773.34.
    Due to the state boards of accountancy having now adopted peer 
review requirements as part of the CPA licensing requirements for 
performing attestation services, this amended rule significantly 
streamlines the RUS peer review monitoring included in Sec.  1773.5 by 
removing much of the guidance previously provided with regard to 
auditor participation in an approved peer review program. RUS will no 
longer require that all auditors submit copies of their peer review 
reports but reserves the right to request said reports on a case by 
case basis. It also removes the option of requesting a waiver of the 
peer review requirement, relying instead on the requirements of the 
state boards of accountancy and the guidance provided within the peer 
review programs themselves.
    Due to the scope and pervasiveness of the revisions being 
implemented, Part 1773 as revised is being published in its entirety in 
this final rule.
    In this revision to Part 1773, all sample reports and financial 
statements will be combined into four appendices which will be 
available in RUS Bulletin 1773-1, Policy on Audits of RUS Borrowers and 
Grantees. Appendix A of RUS Bulletin 1773-1 contains the sample 
reports, financial statements and schedule of findings and 
recommendations for electric borrowers; Appendix B contains similar 
samples for telecommunications borrowers; Appendix C for broadband 
borrowers; and Appendix D contains sample reports for grantees. 
Appendices A through D will not be printed in the Code of Federal 
Regulations; however, these appendices are available at https://www.regulations.gov/ for review and comment in conjunction with the 
comment period for this final rule. Only Subparts A through E will be 
published in the Code of Federal Regulations. The appendices are 
included in RUS Bulletin 1773-1, Policy on Audits of RUS Borrowers and 
Grantees, which contains all of Part 1773, including subparts A through 
E and the appendices. Publishing Part 1773 in bulletin form provides 
the RUS audit policy in an easy to read format. This publication is 
available on RUS' website at https://www.rd.usda.gov/publications/regulations-guidelines/rural-utilities-service-audit.

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

    In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its 
Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or 
administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on 
race, color, national origin, religion, sex,

[[Page 19907]]

gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, 
disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived 
from public assistance programs, political beliefs, or reprisal or 
retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity 
conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). 
Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of 
communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, 
audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible 
Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or 
contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. 
Additionally, program information may be made available in languages 
other than English.
    To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA 
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at https://www.ascr.usda.gov/filing-program-discrimination-complaint-usda-customer and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and 
provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To 
request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your 
completed form or letter to USDA by:
    (1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 
20250-9410;
    (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or
    (3) email: [email protected].
    USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1773

    Accounting, Auditing, Electric power, Grants, Loan programs--
broadband, Loan programs--communications, Loan programs--energy, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Rural areas, Telephone.

0
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, RUS revises 7 CFR part 1773 
to read as follows:

PART 1773--POLICY ON AUDITS OF RUS BORROWERS AND GRANTEES

Subpart A--General Provisions
Sec.
1773.1 General.
1773.2 Definitions.
Subpart B--RUS Audit Requirements
1773.3 Annual audit.
1773.4 Auditee's responsibilities.
1773.5 Qualifications of an auditor.
1773.6 Auditor communication.
1773.7 Audit standards.
1773.8 Audit date.
1773.9 Disclosure of fraud and noncompliance with provisions of 
laws, regulations, contracts, and loan and grant agreements.
1773.10 Access to audit-documentation.
1773.11-1773.19 [Reserved]
Subpart C--RUS Requirements for the Submission and Review of the 
Reporting Package
1773.20 The auditor's submission of the reporting package.
1773.21 Auditee's review and submission of the reporting package.
1773.22-1773.29 [Reserved]
Subpart D--RUS Reporting Requirements
1773.30 [Reserved]
1773.31 Auditor's report on the financial statements.
1773.32 Report on internal control over financial reporting and on 
compliance and other matters.
1773.33 Report on compliance with aspects of contractual agreements 
and regulatory requirements.
1773.34 Schedule of findings and recommendations.
1773.35-1773.37 [Reserved]
Subpart E--RUS Audit Requirements and Documentation
1773.38 Scope of engagement.
1773.39 Utility plant and accumulated depreciation.
1773.40 Regulatory assets.
1773.41 Extraordinary retirement losses.
1773.42 Clearing accounts.
1773.43 Capital and equity accounts.
1773.44 Long-term debt.
1773.45 Regulatory liabilities.
1773.46-1773.48 [Reserved]
1773.49 OMB Control Number.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., 7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq., 7 U.S.C. 
6941 et seq.

Subpart A--General Provisions


Sec.  1773.1  General.

    (a) This part implements the standards for audits required by the 
loan and grant agreements of Rural Utilities Service (RUS) electric and 
telecommunications borrowers and grantees. The provisions require 
auditees to prepare and furnish to RUS, at least once during each 12-
month period, a full and complete report of its financial condition, 
operations, and cash flows, in form and substance satisfactory to RUS, 
audited and certified by an independent auditor, satisfactory to RUS, 
and accompanied by a report of such audit, in form and substance 
satisfactory to RUS.
    (b) This part is based on the requirements of GAGAS in effect at 
the time of the audit and applicable RUS regulations and subpart F 
(Audit Requirements) of 2 CFR part 200 (Uniform Administrative 
Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal 
Awards) (2 CFR 200.500-200.521).
    (c) This part further sets forth the criteria for selecting 
auditors satisfactory to RUS and certain audit procedures and audit 
documentation that must be performed and prepared before an audit 
report will be accepted by RUS.
    (d) Failure to provide an audit in compliance with this part is a 
serious violation of the RUS Security Agreement. RUS relies on audited 
financial statements in order to assess and monitor the financial 
condition of its borrowers and grantees and to fulfill its fiduciary 
responsibilities.
    (e) RUS reserves the right to suspend its acceptance of audits 
performed by auditors who, in the opinion of RUS, are not meeting the 
requirements of this part or with unresolved disputes or issues until 
such time that the matter can be resolved to RUS' satisfaction.


Sec.  1773.2   Definitions.

    As used in this part:
    2 CFR part 200, subpart F means 2 CFR part 200, Uniform 
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for 
Federal Awards, subpart F, Audit Requirements, as adopted by USDA in 2 
CFR part 400.
    AA-PARA means RUS Assistant Administrator, Program Accounting and 
Regulatory Analysis.
    Administrator means the Administrator of RUS.
    Affiliated company means a company that directly or indirectly 
through one or more intermediaries, control or are controlled by, or 
are under common control with, the auditee.
    AICPA means the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
    ASC means the Accounting Standards Codification issued by the 
Financial Accounting Standards Board.
    Audit means an examination of financial statements by an 
independent auditor for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the 
fairness with which those statements present financial position, 
results of operations, and changes in cash flows in accordance with 
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of 
America (GAAP) and for determining whether the auditee has complied 
with applicable laws, regulations, and provisions of loan or grant 
contracts and grant agreements that could have a material effect on the 
financial statements.
    Audit date means the ``as of'' date established by the auditee.
    Audit documentation has the same meaning as defined in the AICPA's 
professional auditing standards.

[[Page 19908]]

    Auditee means an RUS borrower and/or grantee that is required to 
submit an annual audit as a condition of the award.
    Auditor means government auditors as well as certified public 
accounting firms that perform audits using generally accepted 
government auditing standards (GAGAS).
    BCAS means Broadband Collection and Analysis System (or successor 
system).
    Borrower means an entity that has an outstanding RUS or Federal 
Financing Bank (FFB) loan or loan guarantee.
    CPA means a Certified Public Accountant.
    DCS means the Data Collection System (or successor system).
    FASB means Financial Accounting Standards Board.
    FFB means the Federal Financing Bank, a body corporate and 
instrumentality of the United States of America under the general 
supervision of the Secretary of the Department of the Treasury.
    Fraud has the same meaning as defined in the AICPA's professional 
auditing standards.
    GAAP has the same meaning as defined in accounting standards issued 
by the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and the Financial 
Accounting Standards Board (FASB).
    GAGAS means generally accepted government auditing standards as set 
forth in Government Auditing Standards, issued by the Comptroller 
General of the United States, Government Accountability Office.
    GAO means the United States Government Accountability Office.
    GASB means Government Accounting Standards Board.
    Governance board means the auditee's board of directors, managing 
members, or other official body charged with governance.
    Grantee means an entity that has a continuing responsibility under 
a grant agreement with RUS.
    Illegal act has the same meaning as defined by the Public Company 
Accounting Oversight Board.
    Material weakness has the same meaning as defined in the AICPA's 
professional auditing standards.
    OIG means the Office of the Inspector General, United States 
Department of Agriculture.
    OMB means The Office of Management and Budget.
    Regulatory asset means an asset resulting from an action of a 
regulator as defined by FASB.
    Regulatory liability means a liability imposed on a regulated 
enterprise by an action of a regulator as defined by FASB.
    Related party has the same meaning as defined by FASB.
    Reporting package means:
    (1) The auditor's report on the financial statements;
    (2) The report on internal control over financial reporting and on 
compliance and other matters;
    (3) The report on compliance with aspects of contractual agreements 
and regulatory requirements;
    (4) The schedule of findings and recommendations; and
    (5) All supplemental schedules and information required by this 
part.
    RUS means the Rural Utilities Service, an agency of the United 
States Department of Agriculture.
    RUS Bulletin 1773-1, Policy on Audits of RUS Borrowers and 
Grantees, is a publication prepared by RUS that contains the RUS 
regulation 7 CFR part 1773 and exhibits of sample audit reports, 
financial statements, reports on internal control over financial 
reporting and on compliance and other matters, report on compliance 
with aspects of contractual agreements and regulatory requirements, and 
schedule of findings and recommendations used in preparing audits of 
RUS borrowers and grantees. This bulletin is available on the internet 
at https://www.rd.usda.gov/publications/regulations-guidelines/bulletins/program-accounting.
    RUS security agreement means a loan agreement, grant agreement, 
mortgage, security agreement, or other form of agreement that governs 
the terms and conditions of, or provides security for, loan and/or 
grant funds provided by RUS to the auditee.
    Significant deficiency has the same meaning as defined in the 
AICPA's professional auditing standards.
    Single Audit Act means Single Audit Act of 1984 (31 U.S.C. 7501 et 
seq.) as implemented by 2 CFR part 200, subpart F.
    State means any state or territory of the United States, or the 
District of Columbia.
    Uniform System of Accounts means, for telecommunications borrowers, 
Bulletin 1770B-1, Accounting Requirements for RUS Telecommunications 
Borrowers (https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/UTP_Bulletins_1770B-1.pdf), 
and for electric borrowers, as contained in 7 CFR part 1767, Accounting 
Requirements for RUS Electric Borrowers, subpart B--Uniform System of 
Accounts, Bulletin 1767B-1, (https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/UPA_Bulletin_1767B-1.pdf).

Subpart B--RUS Audit Requirements


Sec.  1773.3  Annual audit.

    (a) Each auditee must have its financial statements audited 
annually by an auditor selected by the auditee and approved by RUS as 
set forth in Sec.  1773.4. All auditees must submit audited financial 
statements on a comparative basis covering two consecutive 12 month 
periods, unless the entity has not been in existence for two 
consecutive 12-month audit periods. Consolidated statements of the 
parent are not an acceptable replacement for an audit of the auditee.
    (b) Each auditee must establish an annual audit date within 12 
months of the date of the first advance and must prepare annual 
financial statements for the audit date established. Each auditee must 
notify the AA-PARA of the audit date at least 90 days prior to the 
selected audit date.
    (c) Auditees must furnish a reporting package to RUS within 120 
days of the audit date. (See Sec.  1773.21). Until all loans made or 
guaranteed by RUS are repaid and unliquidated obligations rescinded, 
auditees that are borrowers must continue to provide annual audited 
financial statements. Auditees that are grantees must furnish annual 
audited financial statements in the year of the first advance and until 
all funds have been advanced or rescinded, and all financial compliance 
requirements have been fully satisfied.
    (d) In addition to the requirements of this part, certain auditees 
may be subject to the Single Audit Act. An auditee that is defined as a 
Non-Federal Entity as defined in 2 CFR 200.69 means a state, local 
government, Indian tribe, institution of higher education (IHE), or 
nonprofit organization that carries out a Federal award as a recipient 
or subrecipient and is required to meet the requirements of this part 
as follows:
    (1) Borrowers and/or grantees expending the threshold established 
for the Single Audit Act (currently $750,000) or more in Federal awards 
during the year must have an audit performed in accordance with the 
Single Audit Act. See 2 CFR 200.502, Basis For Determining Federal 
Awards Expended, for guidance in determining annual expenditures. The 
audited financial statements must be submitted to RUS and to the 
Federal Audit Clearinghouse.
    (2) For auditees expending less than the threshold for expenditure 
in Federal awards during the year, RUS reserves its right under 2 CFR 
200.503, Relationship to other audit requirements, to arrange for an 
audit performed in accordance with this part.

[[Page 19909]]

    (3) Within 30 days of the audit date, auditees must notify the AA-
PARA, in writing, of the total Federal awards expended during the year 
and must state whether the audit will be performed in accordance with 
the Single Audit Act, or this part.
    (i) An auditee electing to comply with this part must select an 
auditor that meets the qualifications set forth in Sec.  1773.5.
    (ii) If an audit is performed in accordance with the Single Audit 
Act, the auditor's reporting on the financial statements that meet the 
requirements of the Single Audit Act, will be sufficient to satisfy the 
auditee's obligations under this part.
    (e) Subpart F of 2 CFR part 200 does not apply to audits of RUS 
electric and telecommunications cooperatives and for-profit 
telecommunications borrowers unless the borrower has contractually 
agreed with another Federal agency (e.g. Federal Emergency Management 
Agency) to provide a financial audit performed in accordance with 2 CFR 
part 200, subpart F. In no circumstance will an auditee be required to 
submit separate audits performed in accordance with this part and 2 CFR 
part 200, subpart F.


Sec.  1773.4  Auditee's responsibilities.

    (a) Selection of a qualified auditor. The auditee's governance 
board is responsible for the selection of a qualified auditor that 
meets the requirements set forth in Sec.  1773.5. When selecting an 
auditor, the auditee should consider, among other matters:
    (1) The qualifications of auditors available to do the work;
    (2) The auditor's experience in performing audits of utilities, 
related industries, or in the case of grantees, experience in auditing 
entities comparable to the grantee; and
    (3) The auditor's ability to complete the audit and submit the 
reporting package within 90 days of the audit date.
    (b) Board approval of selection. The board's approval of an auditor 
must be recorded by a board resolution that states:
    (1) The auditor represents that it meets RUS qualifications to 
perform an audit; and
    (2) The auditee and auditor will enter into an audit engagement in 
accordance with Sec.  1773.6.
    (c) Notification of selection. When the initial selection or 
subsequent change of an auditor has been made, the auditee must notify 
the AA-PARA, in writing, at least 90 days prior to the audit date.
    (1) Within 30 days of the date of receipt of such notice, RUS will 
notify the auditee, in writing, if the selection or change in auditor 
is not satisfactory.
    (2) Notification to RUS that the same auditor has been selected for 
succeeding audits of the auditee's financial statements is not 
required; however, the procedures outlined in this part must be 
followed for each new auditor selected, even though such auditor may 
previously have been approved by RUS to audit records of other RUS 
auditees. Changes in the name of an auditor are considered to be a 
change in the auditor.
    (d) Audit engagement letter. The auditee must enter into an audit 
agreement with the auditor that complies with Sec.  1773.6 prior to the 
initiation of the audit.
    (e) Debarment certification. The auditee must obtain, from the 
selected auditor, a lower tier covered transaction certification (Form 
AD-1048, Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility 
and Voluntary Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered Transactions), as required 
by Executive Orders 12549 and 12689, Debarment and Suspension, and any 
rules or regulations issued thereunder.
    (f) Peer review report. The auditee must obtain, from the selected 
auditor, a copy of the auditor's current approved peer review report.
    (g) Preparation of schedules. The auditee must prepare any 
schedules that are required by the auditor to perform the audit, 
including a schedule of deferred debits and deferred credits and a 
detailed schedule of investments in subsidiary and affiliated companies 
accounted for on the cost, equity, or consolidated basis. The detailed 
schedule of investments can be included in the notes to the financial 
statements or as a separate schedule as long as all information 
required is adequately disclosed. Samples of these schedules can be 
found in Appendices A-D, of RUS Bulletin 1773-1.
    (1) The schedule of deferred debits and deferred credits must 
include a description of the deferral and a notation as to whether the 
deferral has received written approval from RUS. If a determination is 
made that prior written approval is not required, cite the specific 
authority for the deferral.
    (2) The schedule of investments must include investments in 
subsidiary and affiliated companies, corporations, limited liability 
corporations and partnerships, joint ventures, etc. accounted for on 
either the cost, equity or on a consolidated basis. For all 
investments, the auditee must list the name of the entity, ownership 
percentage, and the principal business in which the entity is engaged. 
For investments recorded on the cost basis, the auditee must include 
the original investment, advances, dividends declared or paid in the 
current and prior years and the net investment. For investments 
recorded on the equity or consolidated basis, the auditee must include 
the ownership percentage, original investment, advances, dividends 
declared or paid in the current and prior years, and current and prior 
years' earnings and losses, including accumulated losses in excess of 
the original investment.
    (h) Scope limitations. The auditee will not limit the scope of the 
audit to the extent that the auditor is unable to provide an 
unqualified opinion that the financial statements are presented fairly 
in conformity with GAAP due to the scope limitation.
    (i) Submission of reporting package. The auditee must submit to RUS 
the required reporting package as set forth in Sec.  1773.21.
    (1) A reporting package that fails to meet the requirements 
detailed in this part will be returned to the auditee with a written 
explanation of noncompliance.
    (2) The auditee must, within 30 days of the date of the letter or 
email detailing the noncompliance, submit a corrected reporting package 
to RUS.
    (3) If a corrected reporting package is not received within 30 days 
of the date of the letter or email detailing the noncompliance, RUS 
will take appropriate action, depending on the severity of the 
noncompliance.
    (j) Submission of a plan of corrective action. If the auditor's 
report contains findings and recommendations but does not include the 
auditee's response, the auditee must submit written responses to RUS 
within 180 days of the audit date. The written responses must address:
    (1) The corrective action already taken or planned, or the reason 
the auditee believes no action is necessary; and
    (2) The status of corrective action taken on previously reported 
findings and recommendations.


Sec.  1773.5  Qualifications of the auditor.

    Auditors that meet the qualifications criteria of this section and 
enter into an audit engagement with the auditee that complies with 
Sec.  1773.6, will be considered satisfactory to RUS.
    (a) Licensing. Auditors that audit the financial statements of an 
RUS auditee must be licensed to perform attestation engagements in the 
United States of America. Auditors do not have to be licensed by the 
state in which the auditee is located; however, auditors must abide by 
the rules and regulations of professional conduct promulgated by

[[Page 19910]]

the accountancy board of the state in which the auditee is located.
    (b) Independence. Auditors must be independent as determined by the 
standards for independence in the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct 
and in GAGAS in effect at the time of the audit.
    (c) Peer review requirement. Auditors must be enrolled and 
participating in a peer review program, and must have undergone a 
satisfactory peer review of their accounting and audit practice. The 
peer review must be in effect at the date of the audit report opinion.
    (1) Peer review reports. RUS reserves the right to request peer 
review reports from selected auditors.
    (2) Peer review requirements for new auditors. New auditing firms 
must meet the requirements of their state board of accountancy with 
regard to enrolling in a peer review program, timing of the first peer 
review, and any other peer review requirements.


Sec.  1773.6  Auditor communication.

    (a) GAGAS and AICPA standards require that the auditor communicate 
with the auditee the auditor's understanding of the services to be 
performed and document that understanding through a written 
communication to those charged with governance. To be acceptable to 
RUS, the auditor's communication must take the form of an audit 
engagement letter prepared by the auditor and must be formally accepted 
by the governance board or an audit committee representing the 
governance board. In addition to the requirements of the AICPA's 
professional auditing standards and GAGAS, the engagement letter must 
also include the following:
    (1) The nature of planned work and level of assurance to be 
provided related to internal control over financial reporting and 
compliance with laws, regulation, and provision of contracts or grant 
agreements;
    (2) That the auditee and auditor acknowledge that the audit is 
being performed and that the reporting package is being issued to 
enable the auditee to comply with the provisions of RUS's security 
instrument which requires compliance with this part;
    (3) That the auditor acknowledges the mandatory reporting 
requirements for fraud, illegal acts, or noncompliance with provisions 
of laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements in Sec.  1773.9. 
Acceptance of the engagement letter by the auditee is required, thus 
granting the auditor permission to directly notify the appropriate 
officials which may include but is not limited to the governance board, 
RUS, and OIG;
    (4) That the auditor acknowledges that it is required under Sec.  
1773.7 to contact RUS if the auditor is unable to resolve scope 
limitations imposed by the auditee, or if such limitations in scope 
violate this part. Acceptance of the engagement letter by the auditee 
is required, thus granting the auditor permission to directly notify 
the AA-PARA as needed;
    (5) That the auditee and auditor acknowledge that RUS will consider 
the auditee to be in violation of its RUS Security Agreement and this 
part if the auditee fails to have an audit performed and documented in 
compliance with GAGAS and this part;
    (6) That the auditor represents that it meets the requirements 
under this part to perform the audit;
    (7) That the auditor will perform the audit and will prepare the 
reporting package in accordance with the requirements of this part;
    (8) That the auditor will document the audit work performed in 
accordance with GAGAS, and the requirements of this part; and
    (9) That the auditor will make all audit documentation, including 
the reporting package available to RUS or its representatives 
(including but not limited to OIG and GAO), upon request, and will 
permit the photocopying of all such audit documentation.
    (b) A copy of the audit engagement letter must be available at the 
auditee's office for inspection by RUS personnel. One copy of the 
current audit engagement letter must be maintained in the auditor's 
audit documentation.


Sec.  1773.7  Audit standards.

    (a) The audit of the financial statements must be performed in 
accordance with GAGAS and this part in effect at the audit date unless 
the auditee is directed otherwise, in writing, by RUS.
    (b) The audit of the financial statements must include such tests 
of the accounting records and such other auditing procedures that are 
sufficient to enable the auditor to express an opinion on the financial 
statements and to issue the required reporting package.
    (c)(1) The auditee will not limit the scope of the audit to the 
extent that the auditor is unable to meet RUS audit requirements 
without prior written approval of the AA-PARA.
    (2) If the auditor determines during the audit that an unqualified 
opinion cannot be issued due to a scope limitation imposed by the 
auditee, the auditor should use professional judgment to determine what 
levels of the auditee's management and/or those charged with governance 
should be informed.
    (3) After informing the auditee's management and/or those charged 
with governance, if the scope limitation is not adequately resolved, 
the auditor should immediately contact the AA-PARA.


Sec.  1773.8  Audit date.

    (a) The annual audit must be performed as of the end of the same 
calendar month each year unless prior approval to change the audit date 
is obtained, in writing, from RUS.
    (1) An auditee may request a change in the audit date by writing to 
the AA-PARA at least 60 days prior to the currently approved audit 
date, providing justification for the change.
    (2) The time period between the prior audit date and the newly 
requested audit date must be no longer than twenty-three months.
    (3) Comparative financial statements must be prepared and audited 
for the 12 months ending as of the new audit date and for the 12 months 
immediately preceding that period.


Sec.  1773.9  Disclosure of fraud, and noncompliance with provisions of 
laws, regulations, contracts, and loan and grant agreements.

    (a) In accordance with GAGAS, the auditor is responsible for 
planning and performing the audit to provide reasonable assurance about 
whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement due 
to error or fraud. The auditor must also plan the audit to provide 
reasonable assurance of detecting material misstatements resulting from 
violations of provisions of laws, regulations, contracts or loan and 
grant agreements that could have a direct and material effect on the 
financial statements.
    (b) If specific information comes to the auditor's attention that 
provides evidence concerning the existence of possible violations of 
provisions of laws, regulations, contracts or loan and grant agreements 
that could have a material indirect effect on the financial statements, 
the auditor should apply audit procedures specifically directed to 
ascertaining whether a violation of provisions of laws, regulations, 
contract or grant agreements has occurred.
    (c) Pursuant to the terms of its audit engagement letter with the 
auditee, the auditor must immediately report, in writing, all instances 
of fraud, illegal acts, and all indications or instances of 
noncompliance with laws, whether material or not, to:
    (1) The president of the auditee's governance board;

[[Page 19911]]

    (2) AA-PARA; and
    (3) OIG, as follows:
    (i) For all audits performed in accordance with Sec.  1773.3(d) 
(audits conducted in accordance with 2 CFR part 200 ``Uniform 
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements 
for Federal Awards''), report to the USDA-OIG-Audit, National Single 
Audit Coordinator for USDA, 401 W. Peachtree St NW, Room 2328, Atlanta, 
GA 30308,
    (ii) For all other audits conducted in accordance with Sec.  1773.3 
report to the appropriate office based on location. See https://www.usda.gov/oig/national.htm to determine the correct reporting 
location.


Sec.  1773.10  Access to audit documentation.

    Pursuant to the terms of this part and the audit engagement letter, 
the auditor must make all audit documentation available to RUS, or its 
designated representative, upon request and must permit RUS, or its 
designated representative, to photocopy all audit documentation.


Sec. Sec.  1773.11-1773.19  [Reserved]

Subpart C--RUS Requirements for the Submission and Review of the 
Reporting Package


Sec.  1773.20  The auditor's submission of the reporting package.

    (a) Time limit. Within 90 days of the audit date, the auditor must 
deliver the reporting package to the auditee's governance board. At a 
minimum, copies should be provided for each member of the governance 
board and the manager. The auditor must also provide an electronic copy 
of the audit which meets the requirements of Sec.  1773.21 for 
subsequent transmittal to RUS.
    (b) Communication with the governance board. In addition to 
providing sufficient copies of the reporting package for each member of 
the auditee's governance board, RUS requires that the auditor report 
all audit findings to the auditee's governance board. RUS recommends 
that audit findings also be communicated orally unless oral 
communication would not be adequate. If the information is communicated 
orally, the auditor must document the communication by appropriate 
memoranda or notations in the audit documentation. If the auditor 
communicates in writing, a copy of the written communication must be 
included in the auditor's audit documentation.
    (c) Matters to be communicated. Matters communicated to those 
charged with governance must include, but are not limited to the 
matters to be communicated as prescribed in the AICPA's professional 
standards AU-C Section 260, ``The Auditor's Communication with Those 
Charged with Governance''.


Sec.  1773.21  Auditee's review and submission of the reporting 
package.

    (a) The auditee's governance board should note and record receipt 
of the reporting package and any action taken in response to the 
reporting package in the minutes of the board meeting at which such 
reporting package is presented.
    (b) The auditee must furnish RUS with an electronic copy of the 
reporting package within 120 days of the audit date as provided for in 
Sec.  1773.3.
    (c) The auditee must furnish AA-PARA with a copy of its plan for 
corrective action, if any, within 180 days of the audit date.
    (d) The auditee must include in the reporting package a copy of 
each special report, summary of recommendations or similar 
communications, if any, received from the auditor as a result of the 
audit.
    (e) All required submissions to RUS described in paragraphs (b) 
through (d) of this section should be furnished electronically. The 
electronic copy must be provided in a Portable Document Format (PDF). 
Auditees with a designation from 0001 through 0199 in the Electric 
program and 500 through 699 in the Telecommunications programs shall 
upload the reporting package to the DCS or its successor system. 
Borrowers and/or grantees with a designation from 1100 through 1199, 
1300 through 1399, and 1400 through 1499 in the Broadband program shall 
upload the reporting package to the BCAS or its successor system. All 
other borrowers and/or grantees may upload their reporting package 
through DCS or its successor system. Specific instructions for 
submission are available from the Technical Accounting and Auditing 
Staff.


Sec. Sec.  1773.22-1773.29  [Reserved]

Subpart D--RUS Reporting Requirements


Sec.  1773.30   [Reserved]


Sec.  1773.31  Auditor's report on the financial statements.

    The auditor must prepare a written report on comparative balance 
sheets, statements of revenue and patronage capital (or statement of 
operations customary to the type of entity reporting) and statements of 
cash flows. The report must include the manual or printed signature of 
the auditor, cover all statements presented, and refer to the separate 
report on internal controls over financial reporting and on compliance 
and other matters and the report on compliance with aspects of 
contractual agreements and regulatory requirements issued in 
conjunction with the auditor's report on the financial statements. The 
auditor's report on the financial statements should also state that the 
report on internal controls over financial reporting and on compliance 
and other matters is an integral part of a GAGAS audit, and in 
considering the results of the audit, that this report should be read 
along with the auditor's report on the financial statements.


Sec.  1773.32  Report on internal control over financial reporting and 
on compliance and other matters.

    (a) As required by GAGAS, the auditor must prepare a written report 
describing the scope of the auditor's testing of internal control over 
financial reporting and of compliance with provisions of laws, 
regulations, contracts, and loan and grant agreements, and that the 
tests provided sufficient, appropriate evidence to support opinions on 
the effectiveness of internal control and on compliance with provisions 
of laws, regulations, contracts, and loan and grant agreements. This 
report must include the manual or printed signature of the auditor and 
must include the following items as appropriate:
    (1) Significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in internal 
control;
    (2) Instances of fraud and noncompliance with provisions of laws or 
regulations that have a material effect on the audit and any other 
instances that warrant the attention of those charged with governance;
    (3) Noncompliance with provisions of contracts or grant agreements 
that have a material effect on the audit; and
    (4) Abuse that has a material effect on the audit.
    (b) When the auditor detects instances of noncompliance or abuse 
that have an effect on the financial statements that are less than 
material but warrant the attention of those charged with governance, 
they should communicate those findings in writing to those charged with 
governance in a separate communication. If the auditor has issued a 
separate communication detailing immaterial instances of noncompliance 
or abuse, the report on internal controls over financial reporting and 
on compliance and other matters must be modified to include a statement 
such as:

[[Page 19912]]

    ``We noted certain immaterial instances of noncompliance [and/or 
abuse], which we have reported to the management of (auditee's name) in 
a separate letter dated (month, day, 20XX).''
    (c) If the auditor has issued a separate letter to management to 
communicate other matters involving the design and operation of the 
internal control over financial reporting, the report on internal 
controls over financial reporting and on compliance and other matters 
must be modified to include a statement such as:
    ``However, we noted other matters involving the internal control 
over financial reporting that we have reported to the management of 
(auditee's name) in a separate letter dated (month, day, 20XX).''
    (d) The report must contain the status of known but uncorrected 
deficiencies from prior audits that affect the current audit objective.


Sec.  1773.33  Report on compliance with aspects of contractual 
agreements and regulatory requirements.

    The auditor must prepare a report on compliance with aspects of 
contractual agreements and regulatory requirements that includes, at a 
minimum, comments on:
    (a) Audit procedures. State whether the audit has been performed in 
accordance with this part;
    (b) Special reports. State whether any special reports, summaries 
of recommendations, or similar communications were furnished to the 
auditee's management during the course of the audit or during interim 
audit work, and provide a description of the information furnished;
    (c) Accounting and records. Comment on whether, during the course 
of the audit, anything came to the auditor's attention to indicate that 
the auditee did not maintain adequate and effective accounting 
procedures and records and utilize adequate and fair methods for 
accumulating and recording labor, material, and overhead costs, and for 
distributing these costs to construction, retirement, and maintenance 
or other expense accounts. Where appropriate, comment on whether 
anything came to the auditor's attention to indicate that the auditee 
did not:
    (1) Establish continuing property records (CPRs) that are updated 
on a current basis, at least annually, and are reconciled with the 
controlling general ledger plant accounts;
    (2) Promptly clear construction clearing accounts of costs of 
completed construction to the proper classified plant accounts and 
accrue depreciation on such completed construction from the date the 
plant was placed in service;
    (3) Currently and systematically record and properly price 
retirements of plant;
    (4) Properly account for the accumulated provision for depreciation 
accounts associated with retirements of plant or properly disclose any 
unusual charges or credits to such accounts; and
    (5) Obtain RUS approval for the sale, lease or transfer of capital 
assets secured under the RUS security agreement when approval is 
required, and properly handle any proceeds from the sale or lease of 
plant, material or scrap in conformance with RUS requirements.
    (d) Materials control. Comment on whether, during the course of the 
audit, anything came to the auditor's attention to indicate that the 
control over materials and supplies was not adequate.
    (e) Compliance with RUS loan and security instrument provisions. 
Comment on whether, during the course of the audit, anything came to 
the auditor's attention to indicate that the following provisions of 
RUS' loan and security instruments have not been complied with:
    (1) For electric auditees, provisions related to:
    (i) The requirements for an auditee to obtain written approval of 
mortgagees to enter into any contract for the management, operation, or 
maintenance of the auditee's system if the contract covers all or 
substantially all of the electric system. For purposes of this part, 
the following contracts shall be deemed as requiring RUS approval:
    (A) Management contracts in which the auditee has contracted to 
have another auditee or other entity manage its affairs;
    (B) Operations and maintenance contracts in which the auditee has 
contracted to have another auditee or other entity operate and/or 
maintain all or substantially all of the physical plant facilities of 
the auditee.
    (C) Operations and maintenance contracts in which the auditee has 
contracted to operate and maintain the physical plant facilities of 
another auditee or other utility system;
    (ii) The requirement for an auditee to prepare and furnish 
mortgagees annual or periodic financial and operating reports on the 
auditee's financial condition and operations accurately and within the 
required deadlines. The auditor shall comment on whether, during the 
course of the audit, anything came to the auditor's attention to 
indicate that the information represented by the auditee as having been 
submitted to RUS in its most recent December 31 Financial and Operating 
Report Electric Distribution or Financial and Operating Report Electric 
Power Supply was not in agreement with the auditee's audited records. 
If the auditee represents that an amended report has been filed as of 
December 31, the comments must relate to the amended report; and
    (iii) The requirement for an auditee to use depreciation rates that 
are within the ranges established by RUS for each primary plant account 
(See RUS Bulletin 183-1, Depreciation Rates and Procedures at https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/UPA_Bulletin_183-1.pdf), or with the requirements 
of the state regulatory body having jurisdiction over the auditee's 
depreciation rates in computing monthly accruals.
    (2) For telecommunications auditees, provisions related to:
    (i) The requirement for an auditee to obtain written approval of 
the mortgagees to enter into any contract, agreement or lease between 
the auditee and an affiliate other than as allowed under 7 CFR part 
1744, subpart E; and
    (ii) The requirement for an auditee to prepare and furnish 
mortgagees annual or periodic financial and operating reports on the 
auditee's financial condition and operations accurately and within the 
required deadlines. The auditor shall comment on whether, during the 
course of the audit, anything came to the auditor's attention to 
indicate that the information represented by the auditee as having been 
submitted to RUS in its most recent December 31 Operating Report for 
Telecommunications Borrowers was not in agreement with the auditee's 
audited records. If the auditee represents that an amended report has 
been filed as of December 31, the comments must be related to the 
amended report.
    (3) For Broadband auditees, provisions relating to the requirement 
for an auditee to prepare and furnish mortgagee quarterly or periodic 
financial and operating reports on the auditee's financial condition 
and operations accurately and within the required deadlines. The 
auditor shall comment on whether, during the course of the audit, 
anything came to the auditor's attention to indicate that the 
information represented by the auditee as having been submitted to RUS 
in its most recent BCAS filing was not in agreement with the auditee's 
audited records. If the auditee represents that an amended report has 
been filed, the comments must be related to the amended report.
    (4) For grantees, provisions related to:

[[Page 19913]]

    (i) Recipients of Broadband Initiatives Program loans and grants, 
the requirement for the recipient to prepare and furnish RUS quarterly 
and annual financial and operating reports on the financial condition 
and operations of the auditee accurately and within the required 
deadlines. The auditor shall comment on whether, during the course of 
the audit, anything came to the auditor's attention to indicate that 
the information represented by the auditee as having been submitted to 
RUS in its most recent BCAS filing was not in agreement with the 
audited records of the auditee. If the auditee represents that an 
amended report has been filed, the comments must relate to the amended 
report. The auditor must state whether the Annual Compliance 
Certificate required by the RUS Security Agreement has been filed in a 
timely manner with RUS.
    (ii) Recipients of all other grant programs within the electric and 
telecommunications programs, the requirements to prepare and furnish 
RUS with any required financial reporting accurately and within 
required deadlines, as appropriate for that specific program. The 
auditor shall comment on whether, during the course of the audit, 
anything came to the auditor's attention to indicate that the 
information represented by the grantee as having been submitted to RUS 
in its most recent filing was not in agreement with the audited records 
of the grantee. If the grantee represents that an amended report has 
been filed, the comments must relate to the amended report.
    (f) Related party transactions. Comment on whether, during the 
course of the audit, anything came to the attention of the auditor to 
indicate that all material related party transactions have not been 
disclosed in the notes to the financial statements in accordance with 
ASC 850, entitled ``Related Party Disclosures''.
    (g) Deferred debits and deferred credits. For electric auditees, 
comment on whether, during the course of the audit anything came to the 
attention of the auditor to indicate that the auditee provided detailed 
schedule of deferred debits and deferred credits, including, but not 
limited to, margin stabilization plans, revenue deferral plans, and 
expense deferrals is not accurately presented. This schedule must be 
included as supplemental information or within the notes to the 
financial statements; and
    (h) Investments. For electric and telecommunications auditees, 
comment on whether, during the course of the audit, anything came to 
the auditor's attention to indicate that the auditee provided detailed 
schedule of investments is not accurately presented. This schedule must 
be included as supplemental information or within the notes to the 
financial statements. The auditor must state that the audit did not 
disclose any investments in subsidiary or affiliated companies.


Sec.  1773.34  Schedule of findings and recommendations.

    The auditor must prepare a schedule of findings and recommendations 
to be included with the audited financial statements. The schedule of 
findings and recommendations shall be developed and presented utilizing 
the elements of a finding discussed in GAGAS and shall include 
recommendations for remediation. If the schedule does not include 
responses from management, as well as any planned corrective actions, 
those items must be submitted directly to the AA-PARA by management in 
accordance with Sec.  1773.4(j).


Sec. Sec.  1773.35-1773.37   [Reserved]

Subpart E--RUS Audit Requirements and Documentation


Sec.  1773.38  Scope of engagement.

    The audit requirements set forth in Sec.  1773.39 through 1773.45 
must be met annually by the auditor during the audit of the RUS 
auditee's financial statements. The auditor must exercise professional 
judgment in determining whether any auditing procedures in addition to 
those mandated by GAGAS or this part should be performed on the 
auditee's financial records in order to afford a reasonable basis for 
rendering the auditor's report on the financial statements, report on 
internal controls over financial reporting and on compliance and other 
matters, report on compliance with aspects of contractual agreements 
and regulatory requirements, and schedule of findings and 
recommendations.


Sec.  1773.39  Utility plant and accumulated depreciation.

    (a) General. The audit of these accounts shall include tests of 
additions, replacements, retirements, and changes. The auditor's audit 
documentation shall support that the auditor:
    (1) Examined direct labor and material transactions to determine 
whether the auditee's accounting records reflect a complete 
accumulation of costs;
    (2) Examined indirect costs and overhead charges to determine if 
they conform to the Uniform System of Accounts or the Federal 
Acquisitions Regulations as required under the RUS Security Agreement;
    (3) Reviewed the costs of completed construction and retirement 
projects to determine if they were cleared promptly from the work in 
progress accounts to the classified plant in service accounts and the 
related depreciation accounts;
    (4) Examined direct purchases of special equipment and general 
plant;
    (5) Determined the degree of accuracy and control of costing 
retirements, including tests of salvage and removal costs;
    (6) Reviewed the auditee's work order procedures; and
    (7) Reviewed depreciation rates for adequate support, and compared 
them to RUS guidelines to determine that they were in compliance.
    (b) Construction work in progress. (1) The audit documentation 
shall include a summary of open work orders reconciled to the general 
ledger and note on the summary any unusual or atypical projects.
    (2) The auditor's audit documentation shall support that the 
auditor:
    (i) Reviewed equipment purchases charged to work orders, including 
payments and receiving reports;
    (ii) Reviewed contracts showing the scope of the work, the nature 
of the contract, the contract amount, and scheduled payments and 
reviewed supporting documents to determine that services contracted for 
were in fact rendered;
    (iii) Reviewed time cards and pay rates for a sample of employees 
who allocate their time to work orders;
    (iv) Reviewed the nature of material and supplies issued to the 
project, traced amounts and quantities to supporting documents, and 
reviewed the reasonableness of clearing rates for assignment of stores 
expense to the work order;
    (v) Reviewed the accuracy of the computation of overheads applied 
to the work order; and
    (vi) Reviewed other costs charged to the work order for support and 
propriety.
    (3) The auditor's audit documentation shall support that the 
auditor:
    (i) Scheduled payments to contractors and traced to verify payments 
and supporting invoices;
    (ii) Traced contract costs to final closeout documents, to the 
general ledger, and to the continuing property records; and
    (iii) Verified the costs of owner furnished materials, if 
applicable.
    (4) The auditor shall review the auditee's procedures for 
unitization and classification of work order and contract

[[Page 19914]]

costs. The auditor's audit documentation shall support that the 
auditor:
    (i) Reviewed the tabulation of record units for construction from 
the work order staking sheets to the tabulation of record units, to the 
unitization sheets, and to the continuing property records;
    (ii) Reviewed the procedures for unitizing and distributing costs 
of completed construction to the plant accounts;
    (iii) Verified that standard costs were being used;
    (iv) Evaluated the basis for development of standard costs; and
    (v) Determined that costs of completed construction were cleared 
promptly from work in progress accounts.
    (c) Continuing property records. The auditor's audit documentation 
shall support that the auditor:
    (1) Determined whether the subsidiary plant records agree with the 
controlling general ledger plant accounts;
    (2) Noted differences in the audit documentation; and
    (3) Commented, in the report on compliance with aspects of 
contractual agreements and regulatory requirements, on any 
discrepancies.
    (d) Retirement work-in-progress. The auditor's audit documentation 
shall support that the auditor:
    (1) Determined that plant retirements are currently and 
systematically recorded and priced on the basis of the continuing 
property records, and determined that costs of removal have been 
properly accounted for;
    (2) Explained the method used in computing the cost of units of 
plant retired if continuing property records have not been established 
and determined whether costs appeared reasonable; and
    (3) Determined the manner in which net losses due to retirements 
were accounted for and traced clearing entries to the depreciation 
reserve, the plant accounts, and the continuing property records.
    (e) Provision for accumulated depreciation. The auditor's audit 
documentation shall support that the auditor:
    (1) Verified the depreciation accruals for the period, including 
the depreciation base;
    (2) Reviewed the basis of the depreciation rates, any change in 
rates and the reason for the change, and, if appropriate, determined 
whether the rates are in compliance with RUS requirements or with the 
requirements of the state regulatory body having jurisdiction over the 
auditee's depreciation rates;
    (3) Reviewed salvage and removal costs; and
    (4) Searched for unrecorded retirements.
    (f) Other reserves. The auditor's audit documentation shall include 
an account analysis for all other material plant reserves, such as the 
reserve for the amortization of plant acquisition adjustments. The 
auditor's audit documentation shall support that appropriate tests of 
transactions were performed.
    (g) Narrative. The auditor shall include in the audit documentation 
a comprehensive narrative on the scope of work performed, observations 
made, and conclusions reached. Matters covered in this narrative shall 
include:
    (1) The nature of construction and other additions;
    (2) The control over, and the accuracy of pricing retirements;
    (3) The accuracy of distributing costs to classified utility plant 
accounts;
    (4) An evaluation of the method of:
    (i) Capitalizing the direct loadings on labor and material costs;
    (ii) Distributing transportation costs and other expense clearing 
accounts; and
    (iii) Capitalizing overhead costs;
    (5) The tests of depreciation;
    (6) A review of agreements such as those relating to acquisitions, 
property sales, and leases which affect the plant accounts; and
    (7) Notations, if applicable, of RUS approval of property sales and 
the propriety of the disposition of the proceeds.


Sec.  1773.40  Regulatory assets.

    The auditor's audit documentation shall support that the auditor 
tested whether all regulatory assets comply with the requirements of 
ASC 980. For Electric auditees only, the auditor's audit documentation 
shall support that all regulatory assets have received RUS approval.


Sec.  1773.41  Extraordinary retirement losses.

    The auditor's audit documentation shall support that the auditor 
tested retirement losses, including any required approval by a 
regulatory commission with jurisdiction in the matter, or RUS, in the 
absence of commission jurisdiction.


Sec.  1773.42  Clearing accounts.

    The auditor's audit documentation shall support that the auditor 
tested all clearing accounts and that transactions selected for testing 
were reviewed for proper allocation between expense and capital 
accounts.


Sec.  1773.43  Capital and equity accounts.

    (a) Capital stock. For privately owned companies, the audit 
documentation shall include analyses of all stock transactions during 
the audit period. The auditor's audit documentation shall support that 
the auditor:
    (1) Reviewed the subsidiary records and reconciled them to the 
general ledger control account;
    (2) Reviewed authorizations and issuances or redemptions of capital 
stock for proper approvals by the governance board, stockholders, 
regulatory commissions and RUS, as required;
    (3) Determined that transactions were made in accordance with the 
appropriate provisions of the articles of incorporation, bylaws, and 
RUS loan documents; and
    (4) Determined that transactions were recorded in accordance with 
the Uniform System of Accounts.
    (b) Memberships. For cooperative organizations, the audit 
documentation shall include an analysis of the membership transactions 
during the audit period. The auditor's audit documentation shall 
support that the auditor:
    (1) Reviewed the subsidiary records and reconciled them to the 
general ledger control account; and
    (2) Determined that transactions were made in accordance with the 
appropriate provisions of the articles of incorporation, bylaws, and 
RUS loan documents.
    (c) Patronage capital, retained earnings, margins, and other 
equities. The audit documentation shall include an analysis of the 
patronage capital, retained earnings, margins and other equities, and 
any related reserve accounts. The auditor's audit documentation shall 
support that the auditor:
    (1) Determined that the transactions were made in accordance with 
the appropriate provisions of the articles of incorporation, bylaws, 
RUS loan documents, Uniform System of Accounts, or orders of regulatory 
commissions;
    (2) Traced payments to underlying support; and
    (3) Determined whether, under the terms of the RUS security 
instrument, restrictions of retained earnings or margins are required 
and, if so, whether they have been properly recorded.


Sec.  1773.44  Long-term debt.

    The auditor's audit documentation shall support that the auditor:
    (a) Confirmed RUS, FFB, and RTB debt to the appropriate 
confirmation schedule (RUS Form 690, Confirmation

[[Page 19915]]

Schedule Obligation to the FFB; Form 614, Confirmation Schedule--Long-
term Obligation to RUS; or, Confirmation Schedule for RTB Debt);
    (b) Confirmed other long-term debt directly with the lender;
    (c) Examined notes executed or cancelled during the audit period; 
and
    (d) Tested accrued interest computations.


Sec.  1773.45  Regulatory liabilities.

    The auditor's audit documentation shall support that all regulatory 
liabilities comply with the requirements of ASC 980. For electric 
auditees only, the auditor's audit documentation shall document whether 
all regulatory liabilities have received RUS approval.


Sec. Sec.  1773.46-1773.48  [Reserved]


Sec.  1773.49   OMB Control Number.

    The information collection requirements in this part are approved 
by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and assigned the OMB 
Control Number 0572-0095.

    Date: April 30, 2018.
Kenneth L. Johnson,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-09501 Filed 5-4-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE P