Finding 2022-004. Procurement and Suspension and Debarment. (ALN 84.027 Special Education Grants to States and ALN 84.027X IDEA, Part B ARP Grant) CRITERIA: Appendix II to 2 CFR 200, Contract Provisions for Non-Federal Entity Contracts under Federal Awards, requires that all contracts in excess of $10,000 must address termination for cause and for convenience by non-federal entities, including the manner by which it will be affected and the basis for settlement. 2 CFR 200.319 requires that all procurement transactions for the acquisition of property or services required under a federal award must be conducted in a manner providing full and open competition. For small purchase procedures above the micro-purchase threshold, price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources. CONDITION: In securing professional services for special populations, we noted that the district failed to obtain price quotations from more than one vendor in two (2) instances. We also noted that in one (1) instance the contract for professional services did not address termination for cause and for convenience. CAUSE: The district did not fully understand the procurement requirements outlined in 2 CFR 200.319. EFFECT: The effect is noncompliance with federal procurement standards. QUESTIONED COSTS: None RECOMMENDATION: We recommend that the district align its procurement practices with the more stringent of state law or 2 CFR 200.319 when purchasing professional services in connection with these federal award programs. VIEWS OF RESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS: See the school district?s response in the auditee?s corrective action plan in this report.
Finding 2022-004. Procurement and Suspension and Debarment. (ALN 84.027 Special Education Grants to States and ALN 84.027X IDEA, Part B ARP Grant) CRITERIA: Appendix II to 2 CFR 200, Contract Provisions for Non-Federal Entity Contracts under Federal Awards, requires that all contracts in excess of $10,000 must address termination for cause and for convenience by non-federal entities, including the manner by which it will be affected and the basis for settlement. 2 CFR 200.319 requires that all procurement transactions for the acquisition of property or services required under a federal award must be conducted in a manner providing full and open competition. For small purchase procedures above the micro-purchase threshold, price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources. CONDITION: In securing professional services for special populations, we noted that the district failed to obtain price quotations from more than one vendor in two (2) instances. We also noted that in one (1) instance the contract for professional services did not address termination for cause and for convenience. CAUSE: The district did not fully understand the procurement requirements outlined in 2 CFR 200.319. EFFECT: The effect is noncompliance with federal procurement standards. QUESTIONED COSTS: None RECOMMENDATION: We recommend that the district align its procurement practices with the more stringent of state law or 2 CFR 200.319 when purchasing professional services in connection with these federal award programs. VIEWS OF RESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS: See the school district?s response in the auditee?s corrective action plan in this report.
Finding 2022-003. Allowed and Unallowed Costs. (ALN 84.425D ESSER II) CRITERIA: 2 CFR 200.302 requires that a non-federal entity?s financial management systems must be sufficient to permit the preparation of reports required by general and program-specific terms and conditions. This section further requires the tracing of funds to a level of expenditures adequate to establish that such funds have been used according to the federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award, including a comparison of expenditures with budget amounts for each federal award. 2 CFR 200.303 requires that a non-federal entity must establish and maintain effective internal control over a federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-federal entity is managing the federal award in compliance with federal statues, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award. CONDITION: We noted seven (7) line items in the ESSER II grant where actual expenditures exceeded budget expenditures by a total of $27,046.22. The ESSER II grant budgeting software was aligned with the approved budget; however, unfavorable spending variances were not addressed by grant oversight personnel. CAUSE: The school district failed to address unfavorable budgetary variances when actual expenditures exceeded approved budget amounts. EFFECT: The effect is both a breakdown in budgetary controls and unallowable program costs. QUESTIONED COSTS: $27,046.22 RECOMMENDATION: The district should limit expenditures to approved budgeted amounts for this grant. VIEWS OF RESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS: See the school district?s response in the auditee?s corrective action plan in this report.
Finding 2022-004. Procurement and Suspension and Debarment. (ALN 84.027 Special Education Grants to States and ALN 84.027X IDEA, Part B ARP Grant) CRITERIA: Appendix II to 2 CFR 200, Contract Provisions for Non-Federal Entity Contracts under Federal Awards, requires that all contracts in excess of $10,000 must address termination for cause and for convenience by non-federal entities, including the manner by which it will be affected and the basis for settlement. 2 CFR 200.319 requires that all procurement transactions for the acquisition of property or services required under a federal award must be conducted in a manner providing full and open competition. For small purchase procedures above the micro-purchase threshold, price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources. CONDITION: In securing professional services for special populations, we noted that the district failed to obtain price quotations from more than one vendor in two (2) instances. We also noted that in one (1) instance the contract for professional services did not address termination for cause and for convenience. CAUSE: The district did not fully understand the procurement requirements outlined in 2 CFR 200.319. EFFECT: The effect is noncompliance with federal procurement standards. QUESTIONED COSTS: None RECOMMENDATION: We recommend that the district align its procurement practices with the more stringent of state law or 2 CFR 200.319 when purchasing professional services in connection with these federal award programs. VIEWS OF RESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS: See the school district?s response in the auditee?s corrective action plan in this report.
Finding 2022-004. Procurement and Suspension and Debarment. (ALN 84.027 Special Education Grants to States and ALN 84.027X IDEA, Part B ARP Grant) CRITERIA: Appendix II to 2 CFR 200, Contract Provisions for Non-Federal Entity Contracts under Federal Awards, requires that all contracts in excess of $10,000 must address termination for cause and for convenience by non-federal entities, including the manner by which it will be affected and the basis for settlement. 2 CFR 200.319 requires that all procurement transactions for the acquisition of property or services required under a federal award must be conducted in a manner providing full and open competition. For small purchase procedures above the micro-purchase threshold, price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources. CONDITION: In securing professional services for special populations, we noted that the district failed to obtain price quotations from more than one vendor in two (2) instances. We also noted that in one (1) instance the contract for professional services did not address termination for cause and for convenience. CAUSE: The district did not fully understand the procurement requirements outlined in 2 CFR 200.319. EFFECT: The effect is noncompliance with federal procurement standards. QUESTIONED COSTS: None RECOMMENDATION: We recommend that the district align its procurement practices with the more stringent of state law or 2 CFR 200.319 when purchasing professional services in connection with these federal award programs. VIEWS OF RESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS: See the school district?s response in the auditee?s corrective action plan in this report.
Finding 2022-003. Allowed and Unallowed Costs. (ALN 84.425D ESSER II) CRITERIA: 2 CFR 200.302 requires that a non-federal entity?s financial management systems must be sufficient to permit the preparation of reports required by general and program-specific terms and conditions. This section further requires the tracing of funds to a level of expenditures adequate to establish that such funds have been used according to the federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award, including a comparison of expenditures with budget amounts for each federal award. 2 CFR 200.303 requires that a non-federal entity must establish and maintain effective internal control over a federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-federal entity is managing the federal award in compliance with federal statues, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award. CONDITION: We noted seven (7) line items in the ESSER II grant where actual expenditures exceeded budget expenditures by a total of $27,046.22. The ESSER II grant budgeting software was aligned with the approved budget; however, unfavorable spending variances were not addressed by grant oversight personnel. CAUSE: The school district failed to address unfavorable budgetary variances when actual expenditures exceeded approved budget amounts. EFFECT: The effect is both a breakdown in budgetary controls and unallowable program costs. QUESTIONED COSTS: $27,046.22 RECOMMENDATION: The district should limit expenditures to approved budgeted amounts for this grant. VIEWS OF RESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS: See the school district?s response in the auditee?s corrective action plan in this report.