Audit 11008

FY End
2023-06-30
Total Expended
$54.35M
Findings
4
Programs
22
Year: 2023 Accepted: 2024-01-11

Organization Exclusion Status:

Checking exclusion status...

Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
8280 2023-001 Material Weakness - I
8281 2023-001 Material Weakness - I
584722 2023-001 Material Weakness - I
584723 2023-001 Material Weakness - I

Contacts

Name Title Type
H5NPA6BV2363 David Brandenburg Auditee
3017662831 Jeff Weiss Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Title: NOTE 3: ACCRUED AND UNEARNED REIMBURSEMENT Accounting Policies: The Single Audit is the performance of a uniform audit of all the School System’s federal grants in conjunction with the annual audit of the basic financial statements. The adoption of such a procedure was formalized by Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements of Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance). The Single Audit fulfills all the Federal agencies’ audit requirements, which include financial, compliance and the adequacy of internal control. The programs tested as major programs are indicated by an asterisk, placed at the total expenditures of the applicable program, on the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards and on the Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs. The accompanying Schedule of Expenditure of Federal Awards has been prepared on the modified accrual basis of accounting. Grant revenues are recorded for financial reporting purposes when expenditures are made in accordance with the requirements of the respective grants. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The School System’s indirect cost rate is approved annually by the Maryland State Department of Education. For the year ended June 30, 2023, the indirect cost rate was 3.14%. Various reimbursement procedures are used for federal awards received by the School System. Consequently, timing differences between expenditures and program reimbursements can exist at the beginning and end of the fiscal year. Accrued balances at year-end represent an excess of reimbursable expenditures over cash receipts to date. Unearned balances at year-end represent an excess of cash receipts over reimbursable expenditures to date. Generally, accrued or unearned balances caused by differences in the timing of cash receipts and expenditures will be reversed in the remaining grant period or subsequent fiscal year.
Title: NOTE 4: CLUSTER PROGRAMS Accounting Policies: The Single Audit is the performance of a uniform audit of all the School System’s federal grants in conjunction with the annual audit of the basic financial statements. The adoption of such a procedure was formalized by Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements of Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance). The Single Audit fulfills all the Federal agencies’ audit requirements, which include financial, compliance and the adequacy of internal control. The programs tested as major programs are indicated by an asterisk, placed at the total expenditures of the applicable program, on the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards and on the Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs. The accompanying Schedule of Expenditure of Federal Awards has been prepared on the modified accrual basis of accounting. Grant revenues are recorded for financial reporting purposes when expenditures are made in accordance with the requirements of the respective grants. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The School System’s indirect cost rate is approved annually by the Maryland State Department of Education. For the year ended June 30, 2023, the indirect cost rate was 3.14%. The following Assistance Listing Numbers (ALN’s) have been deemed a cluster program by the Office of Management and Budget, and therefore are treated as one program in determining major programs to be audited:
Title: NOTE 5: PROGRAM EXCLUSIONS Accounting Policies: The Single Audit is the performance of a uniform audit of all the School System’s federal grants in conjunction with the annual audit of the basic financial statements. The adoption of such a procedure was formalized by Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements of Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance). The Single Audit fulfills all the Federal agencies’ audit requirements, which include financial, compliance and the adequacy of internal control. The programs tested as major programs are indicated by an asterisk, placed at the total expenditures of the applicable program, on the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards and on the Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs. The accompanying Schedule of Expenditure of Federal Awards has been prepared on the modified accrual basis of accounting. Grant revenues are recorded for financial reporting purposes when expenditures are made in accordance with the requirements of the respective grants. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The School System’s indirect cost rate is approved annually by the Maryland State Department of Education. For the year ended June 30, 2023, the indirect cost rate was 3.14%. Medical assistance received under ALN 93.778 has not been included in the accompanying Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards and is not subject to single audit testing since funding is received under a contractor-type relationship.

Finding Details

ALN 84.027 and 84.173 Special Education Cluster (IDEA)Criteria: In accordance with 2 CFR 180.30, the School System is required to perform procedures to ensure that contractors are neither suspended nor debarred prior to entering into a contract to procure goods and services. This may be accomplished by checking the System for Award Management Exclusions, collecting a certification from the entity, or adding a clause or condition to the contract with the entity. Condition: For 2 out of 3 service contracts tested, we noted that the School System entered into a contract without performing procedures to ensure that the entity was not suspended or debarred when service contracts are contracted outside the competitive bidding process. Cause: The School System does not have adequate procedures in place to ensure controls over Federal Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirements are operating effectively. Effect: Adequate internal controls are not in place over Federal Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirements.Questioned Costs: None. Recommendation: Procedures should be implemented to ensure that contractors are neither suspended nor debarred prior to entering into a contract. School System’s Response: The School System currently has a system in place to ensure contractors are not suspended or debarred for all purchases made through the competitive bidding process. Although not required to solicit bids for service contracts, the School System chooses to do so whenever possible. The contracts tested involve service contracts that were not run though the competitive bidding process to fulfill a need beyond what could be met by then-awarded providers. The School System will update its procurement procedures to ensure that a service provider is neither suspended nor debarred prior to entering into any contract that is not subject to the competitive bidding process. The School System will ensure that all required components are included within the contract. The Supervisor of Purchasing, or his designee, will use the System for Award Management Exclusions to verify that the provider is not suspended, debarred or otherwise excluded from doing business with the government and will require an affirmation from the provider regarding non-suspension or debarment. The School System will have this in place before the June 30, 2024 audit.
ALN 84.027 and 84.173 Special Education Cluster (IDEA)Criteria: In accordance with 2 CFR 180.30, the School System is required to perform procedures to ensure that contractors are neither suspended nor debarred prior to entering into a contract to procure goods and services. This may be accomplished by checking the System for Award Management Exclusions, collecting a certification from the entity, or adding a clause or condition to the contract with the entity. Condition: For 2 out of 3 service contracts tested, we noted that the School System entered into a contract without performing procedures to ensure that the entity was not suspended or debarred when service contracts are contracted outside the competitive bidding process. Cause: The School System does not have adequate procedures in place to ensure controls over Federal Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirements are operating effectively. Effect: Adequate internal controls are not in place over Federal Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirements.Questioned Costs: None. Recommendation: Procedures should be implemented to ensure that contractors are neither suspended nor debarred prior to entering into a contract. School System’s Response: The School System currently has a system in place to ensure contractors are not suspended or debarred for all purchases made through the competitive bidding process. Although not required to solicit bids for service contracts, the School System chooses to do so whenever possible. The contracts tested involve service contracts that were not run though the competitive bidding process to fulfill a need beyond what could be met by then-awarded providers. The School System will update its procurement procedures to ensure that a service provider is neither suspended nor debarred prior to entering into any contract that is not subject to the competitive bidding process. The School System will ensure that all required components are included within the contract. The Supervisor of Purchasing, or his designee, will use the System for Award Management Exclusions to verify that the provider is not suspended, debarred or otherwise excluded from doing business with the government and will require an affirmation from the provider regarding non-suspension or debarment. The School System will have this in place before the June 30, 2024 audit.
ALN 84.027 and 84.173 Special Education Cluster (IDEA)Criteria: In accordance with 2 CFR 180.30, the School System is required to perform procedures to ensure that contractors are neither suspended nor debarred prior to entering into a contract to procure goods and services. This may be accomplished by checking the System for Award Management Exclusions, collecting a certification from the entity, or adding a clause or condition to the contract with the entity. Condition: For 2 out of 3 service contracts tested, we noted that the School System entered into a contract without performing procedures to ensure that the entity was not suspended or debarred when service contracts are contracted outside the competitive bidding process. Cause: The School System does not have adequate procedures in place to ensure controls over Federal Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirements are operating effectively. Effect: Adequate internal controls are not in place over Federal Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirements.Questioned Costs: None. Recommendation: Procedures should be implemented to ensure that contractors are neither suspended nor debarred prior to entering into a contract. School System’s Response: The School System currently has a system in place to ensure contractors are not suspended or debarred for all purchases made through the competitive bidding process. Although not required to solicit bids for service contracts, the School System chooses to do so whenever possible. The contracts tested involve service contracts that were not run though the competitive bidding process to fulfill a need beyond what could be met by then-awarded providers. The School System will update its procurement procedures to ensure that a service provider is neither suspended nor debarred prior to entering into any contract that is not subject to the competitive bidding process. The School System will ensure that all required components are included within the contract. The Supervisor of Purchasing, or his designee, will use the System for Award Management Exclusions to verify that the provider is not suspended, debarred or otherwise excluded from doing business with the government and will require an affirmation from the provider regarding non-suspension or debarment. The School System will have this in place before the June 30, 2024 audit.
ALN 84.027 and 84.173 Special Education Cluster (IDEA)Criteria: In accordance with 2 CFR 180.30, the School System is required to perform procedures to ensure that contractors are neither suspended nor debarred prior to entering into a contract to procure goods and services. This may be accomplished by checking the System for Award Management Exclusions, collecting a certification from the entity, or adding a clause or condition to the contract with the entity. Condition: For 2 out of 3 service contracts tested, we noted that the School System entered into a contract without performing procedures to ensure that the entity was not suspended or debarred when service contracts are contracted outside the competitive bidding process. Cause: The School System does not have adequate procedures in place to ensure controls over Federal Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirements are operating effectively. Effect: Adequate internal controls are not in place over Federal Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirements.Questioned Costs: None. Recommendation: Procedures should be implemented to ensure that contractors are neither suspended nor debarred prior to entering into a contract. School System’s Response: The School System currently has a system in place to ensure contractors are not suspended or debarred for all purchases made through the competitive bidding process. Although not required to solicit bids for service contracts, the School System chooses to do so whenever possible. The contracts tested involve service contracts that were not run though the competitive bidding process to fulfill a need beyond what could be met by then-awarded providers. The School System will update its procurement procedures to ensure that a service provider is neither suspended nor debarred prior to entering into any contract that is not subject to the competitive bidding process. The School System will ensure that all required components are included within the contract. The Supervisor of Purchasing, or his designee, will use the System for Award Management Exclusions to verify that the provider is not suspended, debarred or otherwise excluded from doing business with the government and will require an affirmation from the provider regarding non-suspension or debarment. The School System will have this in place before the June 30, 2024 audit.