(a) Upon receipt of an audit report identifying significant accounting system or related internal control deficiencies, the ACO will-
(1) Provide a copy of the report to the contractor and allow 30 days, or a reasonable extension, for the contractor to respond;
(2) If the contractor agrees with the report, the contractor has 60 days from the date of initial notification to correct any identified deficiencies or submit a corrective action plan showing milestones and actions to eliminate the deficiencies.
(3) If the contractor disagrees, the contractor should provide rationale in its written response.
(4) The ACO will consider whether it is appropriate to suspend a percentage of progress payments or reimbursement of costs proportionate to the estimated cost risk to the Government, considering audit reports or other relevant input, until the contractor submits a corrective action plan acceptable to the ACO and corrects the deficiencies. (See FAR 32.503-6(a) and (b) and FAR 42.302(a)(7)).
