FINDING 2024-003
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Eligibility
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22-23, FY23-24
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Eligibility
Audit Finding: Material Weakness
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system, which would include segregation of duties, was not in place at
the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement
and the Eligibility compliance requirement.
Information from free and reduced-price applications was entered into the School Corporation's
school nutrition software by the Food Service Director. The software system calculated students' eligibility
for free and reduced-price meals based on the parameters within the system. There was no documented
oversight, review, or approval process in place to ensure information from the applications was entered into
the system correctly.
The system parameters were updated at the beginning of each school year by the School
Corporation's IT Department, without a documented review or oversight process to ensure the parameters
entered were accurate. Additionally, there was no review process in place to ensure that the eligibility
determinations made by the software system complied with the requirements of the programs.
The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
Cause
The School Corporation's management had not developed a system of internal controls to ensure
the information from the free and reduced-price applications were entered into the software system
correctly, that the updated software system parameters for eligibility were accurate, and that the eligibility
determination made by the software complied with the program requirements.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls related to
the free and reduced-price applications and the eligibility determination process, the internal control system
cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance related to
the Eligibility compliance requirement.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation design and implement a proper
system of internal controls, including policies and procedures that would provide segregation of duties to
ensure appropriate reviews, approvals, and oversight are taking place.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-004
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22-23, FY23-24
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirements: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Audit Finding: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was
2022-001.
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system, which would include segregation of duties, was not in place at
the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement
and the Procurement and Suspension and the Debarment compliance requirement.
Procurement
Federal regulations allow for informal procurement methods when the value of the procurement
for goods or services does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, which is customarily
set at $250,000. However, Indiana Code 5-22-8 has a more restrictive threshold of $150,000
or less for when small purchase procedures may be used. The informal process allows for
methods other than the formal bid process. The informal process is divided between two
methods based on thresholds: micro-purchases, typically for those purchases $10,000 or
under, and small purchase procedures for those purchases above the micro-purchase
threshold, but below the simplified acquisition threshold. Micro-purchases may be awarded
without soliciting competitive price rate quotations. If small purchase procedures are used,
then price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources.
The School Corporation did not have effective controls in place to ensure that an adequate
number of price or rate quotations were obtained for all small purchases.
The School Corporation did not obtain price or rate quotations from an adequate number of
sources for all three vendors that were tested that met the small purchase threshold.
Suspension and Debarment
Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with the Child Nutrition Cluster
(CNC) award funds, recipients are required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients
are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are
not limited to, contracts for goods and services awarded under a non-procurement transaction
(i.e., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be
done by checking the SAM exclusions, collecting a certification from that vendor, or adding a
clause or condition to the covered transactions with that vendor. The School Corporation did
not have effective controls in place to ensure that the verification was completed for all
contractors prior to entering into covered transactions.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.318 states in part:
"(a) The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures,
consistent with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards of this section,
for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or subaward. The
non-Federal entity's documented procurement procedures must conform to the procurement
standards identified in §§ 200.317 through 200.327. . . .
(i) The non-Federal entity must maintain records sufficient to detail the history of
procurement. These records will include, but are not necessarily limited to, the
following: Rationale for the method of procurement, selection of contract type,
contractor selection or rejection, and the basis for the contract price. . . ."
2 CFR 200.320 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent
with the standards of this section and §§ 200.317, 200.318, and 200.319 for any of the following
methods of procurement used for the acquisition of property or services required under a
Federal award or sub-award.
(a) Informal procurement methods. When the value of the procurement for property or
services under a Federal award does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT),
as defined in § 200.1, or a lower threshold established by a non-Federal entity, formal
procurement methods are not required. The non-Federal entity may use informal
procurement methods to expedite the completion of its transactions and minimize the
associated administrative burden and cost. The informal methods used for procurement
of property or services at or below the SAT include: . . .
(2) Small purchases —
(i) Small purchase procedures. The acquisition of property or services, the aggregate
dollar amount of which is higher than the micro-purchase threshold but does not
exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. If small purchase procedures are used,
price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified
sources as determined appropriate by the non-Federal entity. . . .
Cause
Management had not established a system of internal controls to ensure documentation was
obtained and retained to demonstrate they had properly procured all small purchases.
Management had not established a system of internal controls to ensure that the School
Corporation's procedures for verifying a contractor's suspension and debarment status was followed for all
contractors.
Effect
Without a proper design or implementation of internal controls, the internal control system cannot
be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance. This could result
in the School Corporation overpaying for goods or services or paying a contractor who has been suspended
or debarred, which would be unallowable.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that the School Corporation's management strengthen its system of internal
controls to ensure that an adequate number of price or rate quotations are obtained for all small purchases
and that suspension and debarment is verified for all covered transaction of $25,000 or more.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-003
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Eligibility
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22-23, FY23-24
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Eligibility
Audit Finding: Material Weakness
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system, which would include segregation of duties, was not in place at
the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement
and the Eligibility compliance requirement.
Information from free and reduced-price applications was entered into the School Corporation's
school nutrition software by the Food Service Director. The software system calculated students' eligibility
for free and reduced-price meals based on the parameters within the system. There was no documented
oversight, review, or approval process in place to ensure information from the applications was entered into
the system correctly.
The system parameters were updated at the beginning of each school year by the School
Corporation's IT Department, without a documented review or oversight process to ensure the parameters
entered were accurate. Additionally, there was no review process in place to ensure that the eligibility
determinations made by the software system complied with the requirements of the programs.
The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
Cause
The School Corporation's management had not developed a system of internal controls to ensure
the information from the free and reduced-price applications were entered into the software system
correctly, that the updated software system parameters for eligibility were accurate, and that the eligibility
determination made by the software complied with the program requirements.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls related to
the free and reduced-price applications and the eligibility determination process, the internal control system
cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance related to
the Eligibility compliance requirement.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation design and implement a proper
system of internal controls, including policies and procedures that would provide segregation of duties to
ensure appropriate reviews, approvals, and oversight are taking place.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-004
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22-23, FY23-24
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirements: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Audit Finding: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was
2022-001.
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system, which would include segregation of duties, was not in place at
the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement
and the Procurement and Suspension and the Debarment compliance requirement.
Procurement
Federal regulations allow for informal procurement methods when the value of the procurement
for goods or services does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, which is customarily
set at $250,000. However, Indiana Code 5-22-8 has a more restrictive threshold of $150,000
or less for when small purchase procedures may be used. The informal process allows for
methods other than the formal bid process. The informal process is divided between two
methods based on thresholds: micro-purchases, typically for those purchases $10,000 or
under, and small purchase procedures for those purchases above the micro-purchase
threshold, but below the simplified acquisition threshold. Micro-purchases may be awarded
without soliciting competitive price rate quotations. If small purchase procedures are used,
then price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources.
The School Corporation did not have effective controls in place to ensure that an adequate
number of price or rate quotations were obtained for all small purchases.
The School Corporation did not obtain price or rate quotations from an adequate number of
sources for all three vendors that were tested that met the small purchase threshold.
Suspension and Debarment
Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with the Child Nutrition Cluster
(CNC) award funds, recipients are required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients
are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are
not limited to, contracts for goods and services awarded under a non-procurement transaction
(i.e., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be
done by checking the SAM exclusions, collecting a certification from that vendor, or adding a
clause or condition to the covered transactions with that vendor. The School Corporation did
not have effective controls in place to ensure that the verification was completed for all
contractors prior to entering into covered transactions.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.318 states in part:
"(a) The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures,
consistent with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards of this section,
for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or subaward. The
non-Federal entity's documented procurement procedures must conform to the procurement
standards identified in §§ 200.317 through 200.327. . . .
(i) The non-Federal entity must maintain records sufficient to detail the history of
procurement. These records will include, but are not necessarily limited to, the
following: Rationale for the method of procurement, selection of contract type,
contractor selection or rejection, and the basis for the contract price. . . ."
2 CFR 200.320 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent
with the standards of this section and §§ 200.317, 200.318, and 200.319 for any of the following
methods of procurement used for the acquisition of property or services required under a
Federal award or sub-award.
(a) Informal procurement methods. When the value of the procurement for property or
services under a Federal award does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT),
as defined in § 200.1, or a lower threshold established by a non-Federal entity, formal
procurement methods are not required. The non-Federal entity may use informal
procurement methods to expedite the completion of its transactions and minimize the
associated administrative burden and cost. The informal methods used for procurement
of property or services at or below the SAT include: . . .
(2) Small purchases —
(i) Small purchase procedures. The acquisition of property or services, the aggregate
dollar amount of which is higher than the micro-purchase threshold but does not
exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. If small purchase procedures are used,
price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified
sources as determined appropriate by the non-Federal entity. . . .
Cause
Management had not established a system of internal controls to ensure documentation was
obtained and retained to demonstrate they had properly procured all small purchases.
Management had not established a system of internal controls to ensure that the School
Corporation's procedures for verifying a contractor's suspension and debarment status was followed for all
contractors.
Effect
Without a proper design or implementation of internal controls, the internal control system cannot
be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance. This could result
in the School Corporation overpaying for goods or services or paying a contractor who has been suspended
or debarred, which would be unallowable.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that the School Corporation's management strengthen its system of internal
controls to ensure that an adequate number of price or rate quotations are obtained for all small purchases
and that suspension and debarment is verified for all covered transaction of $25,000 or more.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-003
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Eligibility
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22-23, FY23-24
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Eligibility
Audit Finding: Material Weakness
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system, which would include segregation of duties, was not in place at
the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement
and the Eligibility compliance requirement.
Information from free and reduced-price applications was entered into the School Corporation's
school nutrition software by the Food Service Director. The software system calculated students' eligibility
for free and reduced-price meals based on the parameters within the system. There was no documented
oversight, review, or approval process in place to ensure information from the applications was entered into
the system correctly.
The system parameters were updated at the beginning of each school year by the School
Corporation's IT Department, without a documented review or oversight process to ensure the parameters
entered were accurate. Additionally, there was no review process in place to ensure that the eligibility
determinations made by the software system complied with the requirements of the programs.
The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
Cause
The School Corporation's management had not developed a system of internal controls to ensure
the information from the free and reduced-price applications were entered into the software system
correctly, that the updated software system parameters for eligibility were accurate, and that the eligibility
determination made by the software complied with the program requirements.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls related to
the free and reduced-price applications and the eligibility determination process, the internal control system
cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance related to
the Eligibility compliance requirement.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation design and implement a proper
system of internal controls, including policies and procedures that would provide segregation of duties to
ensure appropriate reviews, approvals, and oversight are taking place.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-004
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22-23, FY23-24
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirements: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Audit Finding: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was
2022-001.
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system, which would include segregation of duties, was not in place at
the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement
and the Procurement and Suspension and the Debarment compliance requirement.
Procurement
Federal regulations allow for informal procurement methods when the value of the procurement
for goods or services does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, which is customarily
set at $250,000. However, Indiana Code 5-22-8 has a more restrictive threshold of $150,000
or less for when small purchase procedures may be used. The informal process allows for
methods other than the formal bid process. The informal process is divided between two
methods based on thresholds: micro-purchases, typically for those purchases $10,000 or
under, and small purchase procedures for those purchases above the micro-purchase
threshold, but below the simplified acquisition threshold. Micro-purchases may be awarded
without soliciting competitive price rate quotations. If small purchase procedures are used,
then price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources.
The School Corporation did not have effective controls in place to ensure that an adequate
number of price or rate quotations were obtained for all small purchases.
The School Corporation did not obtain price or rate quotations from an adequate number of
sources for all three vendors that were tested that met the small purchase threshold.
Suspension and Debarment
Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with the Child Nutrition Cluster
(CNC) award funds, recipients are required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients
are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are
not limited to, contracts for goods and services awarded under a non-procurement transaction
(i.e., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be
done by checking the SAM exclusions, collecting a certification from that vendor, or adding a
clause or condition to the covered transactions with that vendor. The School Corporation did
not have effective controls in place to ensure that the verification was completed for all
contractors prior to entering into covered transactions.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.318 states in part:
"(a) The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures,
consistent with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards of this section,
for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or subaward. The
non-Federal entity's documented procurement procedures must conform to the procurement
standards identified in §§ 200.317 through 200.327. . . .
(i) The non-Federal entity must maintain records sufficient to detail the history of
procurement. These records will include, but are not necessarily limited to, the
following: Rationale for the method of procurement, selection of contract type,
contractor selection or rejection, and the basis for the contract price. . . ."
2 CFR 200.320 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent
with the standards of this section and §§ 200.317, 200.318, and 200.319 for any of the following
methods of procurement used for the acquisition of property or services required under a
Federal award or sub-award.
(a) Informal procurement methods. When the value of the procurement for property or
services under a Federal award does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT),
as defined in § 200.1, or a lower threshold established by a non-Federal entity, formal
procurement methods are not required. The non-Federal entity may use informal
procurement methods to expedite the completion of its transactions and minimize the
associated administrative burden and cost. The informal methods used for procurement
of property or services at or below the SAT include: . . .
(2) Small purchases —
(i) Small purchase procedures. The acquisition of property or services, the aggregate
dollar amount of which is higher than the micro-purchase threshold but does not
exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. If small purchase procedures are used,
price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified
sources as determined appropriate by the non-Federal entity. . . .
Cause
Management had not established a system of internal controls to ensure documentation was
obtained and retained to demonstrate they had properly procured all small purchases.
Management had not established a system of internal controls to ensure that the School
Corporation's procedures for verifying a contractor's suspension and debarment status was followed for all
contractors.
Effect
Without a proper design or implementation of internal controls, the internal control system cannot
be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance. This could result
in the School Corporation overpaying for goods or services or paying a contractor who has been suspended
or debarred, which would be unallowable.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that the School Corporation's management strengthen its system of internal
controls to ensure that an adequate number of price or rate quotations are obtained for all small purchases
and that suspension and debarment is verified for all covered transaction of $25,000 or more.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-003
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Eligibility
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22-23, FY23-24
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Eligibility
Audit Finding: Material Weakness
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system, which would include segregation of duties, was not in place at
the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement
and the Eligibility compliance requirement.
Information from free and reduced-price applications was entered into the School Corporation's
school nutrition software by the Food Service Director. The software system calculated students' eligibility
for free and reduced-price meals based on the parameters within the system. There was no documented
oversight, review, or approval process in place to ensure information from the applications was entered into
the system correctly.
The system parameters were updated at the beginning of each school year by the School
Corporation's IT Department, without a documented review or oversight process to ensure the parameters
entered were accurate. Additionally, there was no review process in place to ensure that the eligibility
determinations made by the software system complied with the requirements of the programs.
The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
Cause
The School Corporation's management had not developed a system of internal controls to ensure
the information from the free and reduced-price applications were entered into the software system
correctly, that the updated software system parameters for eligibility were accurate, and that the eligibility
determination made by the software complied with the program requirements.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls related to
the free and reduced-price applications and the eligibility determination process, the internal control system
cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance related to
the Eligibility compliance requirement.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation design and implement a proper
system of internal controls, including policies and procedures that would provide segregation of duties to
ensure appropriate reviews, approvals, and oversight are taking place.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-004
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22-23, FY23-24
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirements: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Audit Finding: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was
2022-001.
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system, which would include segregation of duties, was not in place at
the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement
and the Procurement and Suspension and the Debarment compliance requirement.
Procurement
Federal regulations allow for informal procurement methods when the value of the procurement
for goods or services does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, which is customarily
set at $250,000. However, Indiana Code 5-22-8 has a more restrictive threshold of $150,000
or less for when small purchase procedures may be used. The informal process allows for
methods other than the formal bid process. The informal process is divided between two
methods based on thresholds: micro-purchases, typically for those purchases $10,000 or
under, and small purchase procedures for those purchases above the micro-purchase
threshold, but below the simplified acquisition threshold. Micro-purchases may be awarded
without soliciting competitive price rate quotations. If small purchase procedures are used,
then price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources.
The School Corporation did not have effective controls in place to ensure that an adequate
number of price or rate quotations were obtained for all small purchases.
The School Corporation did not obtain price or rate quotations from an adequate number of
sources for all three vendors that were tested that met the small purchase threshold.
Suspension and Debarment
Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with the Child Nutrition Cluster
(CNC) award funds, recipients are required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients
are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are
not limited to, contracts for goods and services awarded under a non-procurement transaction
(i.e., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be
done by checking the SAM exclusions, collecting a certification from that vendor, or adding a
clause or condition to the covered transactions with that vendor. The School Corporation did
not have effective controls in place to ensure that the verification was completed for all
contractors prior to entering into covered transactions.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.318 states in part:
"(a) The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures,
consistent with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards of this section,
for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or subaward. The
non-Federal entity's documented procurement procedures must conform to the procurement
standards identified in §§ 200.317 through 200.327. . . .
(i) The non-Federal entity must maintain records sufficient to detail the history of
procurement. These records will include, but are not necessarily limited to, the
following: Rationale for the method of procurement, selection of contract type,
contractor selection or rejection, and the basis for the contract price. . . ."
2 CFR 200.320 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent
with the standards of this section and §§ 200.317, 200.318, and 200.319 for any of the following
methods of procurement used for the acquisition of property or services required under a
Federal award or sub-award.
(a) Informal procurement methods. When the value of the procurement for property or
services under a Federal award does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT),
as defined in § 200.1, or a lower threshold established by a non-Federal entity, formal
procurement methods are not required. The non-Federal entity may use informal
procurement methods to expedite the completion of its transactions and minimize the
associated administrative burden and cost. The informal methods used for procurement
of property or services at or below the SAT include: . . .
(2) Small purchases —
(i) Small purchase procedures. The acquisition of property or services, the aggregate
dollar amount of which is higher than the micro-purchase threshold but does not
exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. If small purchase procedures are used,
price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified
sources as determined appropriate by the non-Federal entity. . . .
Cause
Management had not established a system of internal controls to ensure documentation was
obtained and retained to demonstrate they had properly procured all small purchases.
Management had not established a system of internal controls to ensure that the School
Corporation's procedures for verifying a contractor's suspension and debarment status was followed for all
contractors.
Effect
Without a proper design or implementation of internal controls, the internal control system cannot
be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance. This could result
in the School Corporation overpaying for goods or services or paying a contractor who has been suspended
or debarred, which would be unallowable.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that the School Corporation's management strengthen its system of internal
controls to ensure that an adequate number of price or rate quotations are obtained for all small purchases
and that suspension and debarment is verified for all covered transaction of $25,000 or more.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-002
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D210013, S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Reporting
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system was not designed or implemented at the School Corporation to
ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance
requirement.
The School Corporation had not designed, nor implemented, a system of internal controls to ensure
that the annual Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Data Collection reports
(Reports) were complete and accurately submitted. The Reports were prepared and submitted by one
employee without a documented oversight, review, or approval process in place to prevent, or detect and
correct, errors.
Due to the lack of effective internal controls, one of the four reports submitted during the audit
period was not supported by the School Corporation's records. The following error was noted:
For the ESSER III, Year 3 Report, which covered the period July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023,
total expenses reported for Property: Addressing Physical Health and Safety - Mandatory
Subgrant funds was $236,023. Total expenses reported for Personnel Services: Meeting
Student's Academic, Social, Emotional, and Other Needs was $66,387, for a total of
$302,410. This was an overstatement of $271,004.
The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. Noncompliance was
isolated to the ESSER III, Year 3 Report.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.334 states in part:
"Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity
records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date
of submission of the final expenditure report or, for the Federal awards that are renewed
quarterly or annual, from the date of submission of the quarterly or annual financial report,
respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of
a subrecipient. . . ."
2 CFR 200.302(b) states in part:
"The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following
. . .
(2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal
award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in §§ 200.328
and 200.329. . . ."
34 CFR 76.722 states: "A State may require a subgrantee to submit reports in a manner and format
that assists the State in complying with the requirements under 34 CFR 76.720 and in carrying out other
responsibilities under the program."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Two employees collaborated on the preparation of the reports, but there was no documented review of the
completed reports by someone other than the preparers to detect errors prior to submission.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the ESSER III, Year 3 Report was not supported by the School Corporation's
records.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure that all reports are supported by the School
Corporation's records.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-002
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D210013, S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Reporting
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system was not designed or implemented at the School Corporation to
ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance
requirement.
The School Corporation had not designed, nor implemented, a system of internal controls to ensure
that the annual Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Data Collection reports
(Reports) were complete and accurately submitted. The Reports were prepared and submitted by one
employee without a documented oversight, review, or approval process in place to prevent, or detect and
correct, errors.
Due to the lack of effective internal controls, one of the four reports submitted during the audit
period was not supported by the School Corporation's records. The following error was noted:
For the ESSER III, Year 3 Report, which covered the period July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023,
total expenses reported for Property: Addressing Physical Health and Safety - Mandatory
Subgrant funds was $236,023. Total expenses reported for Personnel Services: Meeting
Student's Academic, Social, Emotional, and Other Needs was $66,387, for a total of
$302,410. This was an overstatement of $271,004.
The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. Noncompliance was
isolated to the ESSER III, Year 3 Report.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.334 states in part:
"Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity
records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date
of submission of the final expenditure report or, for the Federal awards that are renewed
quarterly or annual, from the date of submission of the quarterly or annual financial report,
respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of
a subrecipient. . . ."
2 CFR 200.302(b) states in part:
"The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following
. . .
(2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal
award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in §§ 200.328
and 200.329. . . ."
34 CFR 76.722 states: "A State may require a subgrantee to submit reports in a manner and format
that assists the State in complying with the requirements under 34 CFR 76.720 and in carrying out other
responsibilities under the program."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Two employees collaborated on the preparation of the reports, but there was no documented review of the
completed reports by someone other than the preparers to detect errors prior to submission.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the ESSER III, Year 3 Report was not supported by the School Corporation's
records.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure that all reports are supported by the School
Corporation's records.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-002
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D210013, S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Reporting
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system was not designed or implemented at the School Corporation to
ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance
requirement.
The School Corporation had not designed, nor implemented, a system of internal controls to ensure
that the annual Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Data Collection reports
(Reports) were complete and accurately submitted. The Reports were prepared and submitted by one
employee without a documented oversight, review, or approval process in place to prevent, or detect and
correct, errors.
Due to the lack of effective internal controls, one of the four reports submitted during the audit
period was not supported by the School Corporation's records. The following error was noted:
For the ESSER III, Year 3 Report, which covered the period July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023,
total expenses reported for Property: Addressing Physical Health and Safety - Mandatory
Subgrant funds was $236,023. Total expenses reported for Personnel Services: Meeting
Student's Academic, Social, Emotional, and Other Needs was $66,387, for a total of
$302,410. This was an overstatement of $271,004.
The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. Noncompliance was
isolated to the ESSER III, Year 3 Report.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.334 states in part:
"Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity
records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date
of submission of the final expenditure report or, for the Federal awards that are renewed
quarterly or annual, from the date of submission of the quarterly or annual financial report,
respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of
a subrecipient. . . ."
2 CFR 200.302(b) states in part:
"The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following
. . .
(2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal
award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in §§ 200.328
and 200.329. . . ."
34 CFR 76.722 states: "A State may require a subgrantee to submit reports in a manner and format
that assists the State in complying with the requirements under 34 CFR 76.720 and in carrying out other
responsibilities under the program."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Two employees collaborated on the preparation of the reports, but there was no documented review of the
completed reports by someone other than the preparers to detect errors prior to submission.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the ESSER III, Year 3 Report was not supported by the School Corporation's
records.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure that all reports are supported by the School
Corporation's records.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-002
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D210013, S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Reporting
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system was not designed or implemented at the School Corporation to
ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance
requirement.
The School Corporation had not designed, nor implemented, a system of internal controls to ensure
that the annual Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Data Collection reports
(Reports) were complete and accurately submitted. The Reports were prepared and submitted by one
employee without a documented oversight, review, or approval process in place to prevent, or detect and
correct, errors.
Due to the lack of effective internal controls, one of the four reports submitted during the audit
period was not supported by the School Corporation's records. The following error was noted:
For the ESSER III, Year 3 Report, which covered the period July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023,
total expenses reported for Property: Addressing Physical Health and Safety - Mandatory
Subgrant funds was $236,023. Total expenses reported for Personnel Services: Meeting
Student's Academic, Social, Emotional, and Other Needs was $66,387, for a total of
$302,410. This was an overstatement of $271,004.
The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. Noncompliance was
isolated to the ESSER III, Year 3 Report.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.334 states in part:
"Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity
records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date
of submission of the final expenditure report or, for the Federal awards that are renewed
quarterly or annual, from the date of submission of the quarterly or annual financial report,
respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of
a subrecipient. . . ."
2 CFR 200.302(b) states in part:
"The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following
. . .
(2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal
award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in §§ 200.328
and 200.329. . . ."
34 CFR 76.722 states: "A State may require a subgrantee to submit reports in a manner and format
that assists the State in complying with the requirements under 34 CFR 76.720 and in carrying out other
responsibilities under the program."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Two employees collaborated on the preparation of the reports, but there was no documented review of the
completed reports by someone other than the preparers to detect errors prior to submission.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the ESSER III, Year 3 Report was not supported by the School Corporation's
records.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure that all reports are supported by the School
Corporation's records.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-003
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Eligibility
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22-23, FY23-24
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Eligibility
Audit Finding: Material Weakness
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system, which would include segregation of duties, was not in place at
the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement
and the Eligibility compliance requirement.
Information from free and reduced-price applications was entered into the School Corporation's
school nutrition software by the Food Service Director. The software system calculated students' eligibility
for free and reduced-price meals based on the parameters within the system. There was no documented
oversight, review, or approval process in place to ensure information from the applications was entered into
the system correctly.
The system parameters were updated at the beginning of each school year by the School
Corporation's IT Department, without a documented review or oversight process to ensure the parameters
entered were accurate. Additionally, there was no review process in place to ensure that the eligibility
determinations made by the software system complied with the requirements of the programs.
The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
Cause
The School Corporation's management had not developed a system of internal controls to ensure
the information from the free and reduced-price applications were entered into the software system
correctly, that the updated software system parameters for eligibility were accurate, and that the eligibility
determination made by the software complied with the program requirements.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls related to
the free and reduced-price applications and the eligibility determination process, the internal control system
cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance related to
the Eligibility compliance requirement.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation design and implement a proper
system of internal controls, including policies and procedures that would provide segregation of duties to
ensure appropriate reviews, approvals, and oversight are taking place.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-004
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22-23, FY23-24
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirements: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Audit Finding: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was
2022-001.
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system, which would include segregation of duties, was not in place at
the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement
and the Procurement and Suspension and the Debarment compliance requirement.
Procurement
Federal regulations allow for informal procurement methods when the value of the procurement
for goods or services does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, which is customarily
set at $250,000. However, Indiana Code 5-22-8 has a more restrictive threshold of $150,000
or less for when small purchase procedures may be used. The informal process allows for
methods other than the formal bid process. The informal process is divided between two
methods based on thresholds: micro-purchases, typically for those purchases $10,000 or
under, and small purchase procedures for those purchases above the micro-purchase
threshold, but below the simplified acquisition threshold. Micro-purchases may be awarded
without soliciting competitive price rate quotations. If small purchase procedures are used,
then price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources.
The School Corporation did not have effective controls in place to ensure that an adequate
number of price or rate quotations were obtained for all small purchases.
The School Corporation did not obtain price or rate quotations from an adequate number of
sources for all three vendors that were tested that met the small purchase threshold.
Suspension and Debarment
Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with the Child Nutrition Cluster
(CNC) award funds, recipients are required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients
are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are
not limited to, contracts for goods and services awarded under a non-procurement transaction
(i.e., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be
done by checking the SAM exclusions, collecting a certification from that vendor, or adding a
clause or condition to the covered transactions with that vendor. The School Corporation did
not have effective controls in place to ensure that the verification was completed for all
contractors prior to entering into covered transactions.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.318 states in part:
"(a) The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures,
consistent with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards of this section,
for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or subaward. The
non-Federal entity's documented procurement procedures must conform to the procurement
standards identified in §§ 200.317 through 200.327. . . .
(i) The non-Federal entity must maintain records sufficient to detail the history of
procurement. These records will include, but are not necessarily limited to, the
following: Rationale for the method of procurement, selection of contract type,
contractor selection or rejection, and the basis for the contract price. . . ."
2 CFR 200.320 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent
with the standards of this section and §§ 200.317, 200.318, and 200.319 for any of the following
methods of procurement used for the acquisition of property or services required under a
Federal award or sub-award.
(a) Informal procurement methods. When the value of the procurement for property or
services under a Federal award does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT),
as defined in § 200.1, or a lower threshold established by a non-Federal entity, formal
procurement methods are not required. The non-Federal entity may use informal
procurement methods to expedite the completion of its transactions and minimize the
associated administrative burden and cost. The informal methods used for procurement
of property or services at or below the SAT include: . . .
(2) Small purchases —
(i) Small purchase procedures. The acquisition of property or services, the aggregate
dollar amount of which is higher than the micro-purchase threshold but does not
exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. If small purchase procedures are used,
price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified
sources as determined appropriate by the non-Federal entity. . . .
Cause
Management had not established a system of internal controls to ensure documentation was
obtained and retained to demonstrate they had properly procured all small purchases.
Management had not established a system of internal controls to ensure that the School
Corporation's procedures for verifying a contractor's suspension and debarment status was followed for all
contractors.
Effect
Without a proper design or implementation of internal controls, the internal control system cannot
be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance. This could result
in the School Corporation overpaying for goods or services or paying a contractor who has been suspended
or debarred, which would be unallowable.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that the School Corporation's management strengthen its system of internal
controls to ensure that an adequate number of price or rate quotations are obtained for all small purchases
and that suspension and debarment is verified for all covered transaction of $25,000 or more.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-003
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Eligibility
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22-23, FY23-24
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Eligibility
Audit Finding: Material Weakness
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system, which would include segregation of duties, was not in place at
the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement
and the Eligibility compliance requirement.
Information from free and reduced-price applications was entered into the School Corporation's
school nutrition software by the Food Service Director. The software system calculated students' eligibility
for free and reduced-price meals based on the parameters within the system. There was no documented
oversight, review, or approval process in place to ensure information from the applications was entered into
the system correctly.
The system parameters were updated at the beginning of each school year by the School
Corporation's IT Department, without a documented review or oversight process to ensure the parameters
entered were accurate. Additionally, there was no review process in place to ensure that the eligibility
determinations made by the software system complied with the requirements of the programs.
The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
Cause
The School Corporation's management had not developed a system of internal controls to ensure
the information from the free and reduced-price applications were entered into the software system
correctly, that the updated software system parameters for eligibility were accurate, and that the eligibility
determination made by the software complied with the program requirements.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls related to
the free and reduced-price applications and the eligibility determination process, the internal control system
cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance related to
the Eligibility compliance requirement.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation design and implement a proper
system of internal controls, including policies and procedures that would provide segregation of duties to
ensure appropriate reviews, approvals, and oversight are taking place.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-004
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22-23, FY23-24
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirements: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Audit Finding: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was
2022-001.
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system, which would include segregation of duties, was not in place at
the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement
and the Procurement and Suspension and the Debarment compliance requirement.
Procurement
Federal regulations allow for informal procurement methods when the value of the procurement
for goods or services does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, which is customarily
set at $250,000. However, Indiana Code 5-22-8 has a more restrictive threshold of $150,000
or less for when small purchase procedures may be used. The informal process allows for
methods other than the formal bid process. The informal process is divided between two
methods based on thresholds: micro-purchases, typically for those purchases $10,000 or
under, and small purchase procedures for those purchases above the micro-purchase
threshold, but below the simplified acquisition threshold. Micro-purchases may be awarded
without soliciting competitive price rate quotations. If small purchase procedures are used,
then price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources.
The School Corporation did not have effective controls in place to ensure that an adequate
number of price or rate quotations were obtained for all small purchases.
The School Corporation did not obtain price or rate quotations from an adequate number of
sources for all three vendors that were tested that met the small purchase threshold.
Suspension and Debarment
Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with the Child Nutrition Cluster
(CNC) award funds, recipients are required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients
are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are
not limited to, contracts for goods and services awarded under a non-procurement transaction
(i.e., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be
done by checking the SAM exclusions, collecting a certification from that vendor, or adding a
clause or condition to the covered transactions with that vendor. The School Corporation did
not have effective controls in place to ensure that the verification was completed for all
contractors prior to entering into covered transactions.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.318 states in part:
"(a) The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures,
consistent with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards of this section,
for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or subaward. The
non-Federal entity's documented procurement procedures must conform to the procurement
standards identified in §§ 200.317 through 200.327. . . .
(i) The non-Federal entity must maintain records sufficient to detail the history of
procurement. These records will include, but are not necessarily limited to, the
following: Rationale for the method of procurement, selection of contract type,
contractor selection or rejection, and the basis for the contract price. . . ."
2 CFR 200.320 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent
with the standards of this section and §§ 200.317, 200.318, and 200.319 for any of the following
methods of procurement used for the acquisition of property or services required under a
Federal award or sub-award.
(a) Informal procurement methods. When the value of the procurement for property or
services under a Federal award does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT),
as defined in § 200.1, or a lower threshold established by a non-Federal entity, formal
procurement methods are not required. The non-Federal entity may use informal
procurement methods to expedite the completion of its transactions and minimize the
associated administrative burden and cost. The informal methods used for procurement
of property or services at or below the SAT include: . . .
(2) Small purchases —
(i) Small purchase procedures. The acquisition of property or services, the aggregate
dollar amount of which is higher than the micro-purchase threshold but does not
exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. If small purchase procedures are used,
price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified
sources as determined appropriate by the non-Federal entity. . . .
Cause
Management had not established a system of internal controls to ensure documentation was
obtained and retained to demonstrate they had properly procured all small purchases.
Management had not established a system of internal controls to ensure that the School
Corporation's procedures for verifying a contractor's suspension and debarment status was followed for all
contractors.
Effect
Without a proper design or implementation of internal controls, the internal control system cannot
be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance. This could result
in the School Corporation overpaying for goods or services or paying a contractor who has been suspended
or debarred, which would be unallowable.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that the School Corporation's management strengthen its system of internal
controls to ensure that an adequate number of price or rate quotations are obtained for all small purchases
and that suspension and debarment is verified for all covered transaction of $25,000 or more.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-003
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Eligibility
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22-23, FY23-24
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Eligibility
Audit Finding: Material Weakness
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system, which would include segregation of duties, was not in place at
the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement
and the Eligibility compliance requirement.
Information from free and reduced-price applications was entered into the School Corporation's
school nutrition software by the Food Service Director. The software system calculated students' eligibility
for free and reduced-price meals based on the parameters within the system. There was no documented
oversight, review, or approval process in place to ensure information from the applications was entered into
the system correctly.
The system parameters were updated at the beginning of each school year by the School
Corporation's IT Department, without a documented review or oversight process to ensure the parameters
entered were accurate. Additionally, there was no review process in place to ensure that the eligibility
determinations made by the software system complied with the requirements of the programs.
The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
Cause
The School Corporation's management had not developed a system of internal controls to ensure
the information from the free and reduced-price applications were entered into the software system
correctly, that the updated software system parameters for eligibility were accurate, and that the eligibility
determination made by the software complied with the program requirements.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls related to
the free and reduced-price applications and the eligibility determination process, the internal control system
cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance related to
the Eligibility compliance requirement.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation design and implement a proper
system of internal controls, including policies and procedures that would provide segregation of duties to
ensure appropriate reviews, approvals, and oversight are taking place.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-004
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22-23, FY23-24
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirements: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Audit Finding: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was
2022-001.
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system, which would include segregation of duties, was not in place at
the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement
and the Procurement and Suspension and the Debarment compliance requirement.
Procurement
Federal regulations allow for informal procurement methods when the value of the procurement
for goods or services does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, which is customarily
set at $250,000. However, Indiana Code 5-22-8 has a more restrictive threshold of $150,000
or less for when small purchase procedures may be used. The informal process allows for
methods other than the formal bid process. The informal process is divided between two
methods based on thresholds: micro-purchases, typically for those purchases $10,000 or
under, and small purchase procedures for those purchases above the micro-purchase
threshold, but below the simplified acquisition threshold. Micro-purchases may be awarded
without soliciting competitive price rate quotations. If small purchase procedures are used,
then price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources.
The School Corporation did not have effective controls in place to ensure that an adequate
number of price or rate quotations were obtained for all small purchases.
The School Corporation did not obtain price or rate quotations from an adequate number of
sources for all three vendors that were tested that met the small purchase threshold.
Suspension and Debarment
Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with the Child Nutrition Cluster
(CNC) award funds, recipients are required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients
are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are
not limited to, contracts for goods and services awarded under a non-procurement transaction
(i.e., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be
done by checking the SAM exclusions, collecting a certification from that vendor, or adding a
clause or condition to the covered transactions with that vendor. The School Corporation did
not have effective controls in place to ensure that the verification was completed for all
contractors prior to entering into covered transactions.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.318 states in part:
"(a) The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures,
consistent with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards of this section,
for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or subaward. The
non-Federal entity's documented procurement procedures must conform to the procurement
standards identified in §§ 200.317 through 200.327. . . .
(i) The non-Federal entity must maintain records sufficient to detail the history of
procurement. These records will include, but are not necessarily limited to, the
following: Rationale for the method of procurement, selection of contract type,
contractor selection or rejection, and the basis for the contract price. . . ."
2 CFR 200.320 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent
with the standards of this section and §§ 200.317, 200.318, and 200.319 for any of the following
methods of procurement used for the acquisition of property or services required under a
Federal award or sub-award.
(a) Informal procurement methods. When the value of the procurement for property or
services under a Federal award does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT),
as defined in § 200.1, or a lower threshold established by a non-Federal entity, formal
procurement methods are not required. The non-Federal entity may use informal
procurement methods to expedite the completion of its transactions and minimize the
associated administrative burden and cost. The informal methods used for procurement
of property or services at or below the SAT include: . . .
(2) Small purchases —
(i) Small purchase procedures. The acquisition of property or services, the aggregate
dollar amount of which is higher than the micro-purchase threshold but does not
exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. If small purchase procedures are used,
price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified
sources as determined appropriate by the non-Federal entity. . . .
Cause
Management had not established a system of internal controls to ensure documentation was
obtained and retained to demonstrate they had properly procured all small purchases.
Management had not established a system of internal controls to ensure that the School
Corporation's procedures for verifying a contractor's suspension and debarment status was followed for all
contractors.
Effect
Without a proper design or implementation of internal controls, the internal control system cannot
be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance. This could result
in the School Corporation overpaying for goods or services or paying a contractor who has been suspended
or debarred, which would be unallowable.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that the School Corporation's management strengthen its system of internal
controls to ensure that an adequate number of price or rate quotations are obtained for all small purchases
and that suspension and debarment is verified for all covered transaction of $25,000 or more.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-003
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Eligibility
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22-23, FY23-24
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Eligibility
Audit Finding: Material Weakness
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system, which would include segregation of duties, was not in place at
the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement
and the Eligibility compliance requirement.
Information from free and reduced-price applications was entered into the School Corporation's
school nutrition software by the Food Service Director. The software system calculated students' eligibility
for free and reduced-price meals based on the parameters within the system. There was no documented
oversight, review, or approval process in place to ensure information from the applications was entered into
the system correctly.
The system parameters were updated at the beginning of each school year by the School
Corporation's IT Department, without a documented review or oversight process to ensure the parameters
entered were accurate. Additionally, there was no review process in place to ensure that the eligibility
determinations made by the software system complied with the requirements of the programs.
The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
Cause
The School Corporation's management had not developed a system of internal controls to ensure
the information from the free and reduced-price applications were entered into the software system
correctly, that the updated software system parameters for eligibility were accurate, and that the eligibility
determination made by the software complied with the program requirements.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls related to
the free and reduced-price applications and the eligibility determination process, the internal control system
cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance related to
the Eligibility compliance requirement.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation design and implement a proper
system of internal controls, including policies and procedures that would provide segregation of duties to
ensure appropriate reviews, approvals, and oversight are taking place.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-004
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22-23, FY23-24
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirements: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Audit Finding: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was
2022-001.
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system, which would include segregation of duties, was not in place at
the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement
and the Procurement and Suspension and the Debarment compliance requirement.
Procurement
Federal regulations allow for informal procurement methods when the value of the procurement
for goods or services does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, which is customarily
set at $250,000. However, Indiana Code 5-22-8 has a more restrictive threshold of $150,000
or less for when small purchase procedures may be used. The informal process allows for
methods other than the formal bid process. The informal process is divided between two
methods based on thresholds: micro-purchases, typically for those purchases $10,000 or
under, and small purchase procedures for those purchases above the micro-purchase
threshold, but below the simplified acquisition threshold. Micro-purchases may be awarded
without soliciting competitive price rate quotations. If small purchase procedures are used,
then price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources.
The School Corporation did not have effective controls in place to ensure that an adequate
number of price or rate quotations were obtained for all small purchases.
The School Corporation did not obtain price or rate quotations from an adequate number of
sources for all three vendors that were tested that met the small purchase threshold.
Suspension and Debarment
Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with the Child Nutrition Cluster
(CNC) award funds, recipients are required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients
are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are
not limited to, contracts for goods and services awarded under a non-procurement transaction
(i.e., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be
done by checking the SAM exclusions, collecting a certification from that vendor, or adding a
clause or condition to the covered transactions with that vendor. The School Corporation did
not have effective controls in place to ensure that the verification was completed for all
contractors prior to entering into covered transactions.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.318 states in part:
"(a) The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures,
consistent with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards of this section,
for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or subaward. The
non-Federal entity's documented procurement procedures must conform to the procurement
standards identified in §§ 200.317 through 200.327. . . .
(i) The non-Federal entity must maintain records sufficient to detail the history of
procurement. These records will include, but are not necessarily limited to, the
following: Rationale for the method of procurement, selection of contract type,
contractor selection or rejection, and the basis for the contract price. . . ."
2 CFR 200.320 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent
with the standards of this section and §§ 200.317, 200.318, and 200.319 for any of the following
methods of procurement used for the acquisition of property or services required under a
Federal award or sub-award.
(a) Informal procurement methods. When the value of the procurement for property or
services under a Federal award does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT),
as defined in § 200.1, or a lower threshold established by a non-Federal entity, formal
procurement methods are not required. The non-Federal entity may use informal
procurement methods to expedite the completion of its transactions and minimize the
associated administrative burden and cost. The informal methods used for procurement
of property or services at or below the SAT include: . . .
(2) Small purchases —
(i) Small purchase procedures. The acquisition of property or services, the aggregate
dollar amount of which is higher than the micro-purchase threshold but does not
exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. If small purchase procedures are used,
price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified
sources as determined appropriate by the non-Federal entity. . . .
Cause
Management had not established a system of internal controls to ensure documentation was
obtained and retained to demonstrate they had properly procured all small purchases.
Management had not established a system of internal controls to ensure that the School
Corporation's procedures for verifying a contractor's suspension and debarment status was followed for all
contractors.
Effect
Without a proper design or implementation of internal controls, the internal control system cannot
be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance. This could result
in the School Corporation overpaying for goods or services or paying a contractor who has been suspended
or debarred, which would be unallowable.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that the School Corporation's management strengthen its system of internal
controls to ensure that an adequate number of price or rate quotations are obtained for all small purchases
and that suspension and debarment is verified for all covered transaction of $25,000 or more.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-002
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D210013, S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Reporting
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system was not designed or implemented at the School Corporation to
ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance
requirement.
The School Corporation had not designed, nor implemented, a system of internal controls to ensure
that the annual Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Data Collection reports
(Reports) were complete and accurately submitted. The Reports were prepared and submitted by one
employee without a documented oversight, review, or approval process in place to prevent, or detect and
correct, errors.
Due to the lack of effective internal controls, one of the four reports submitted during the audit
period was not supported by the School Corporation's records. The following error was noted:
For the ESSER III, Year 3 Report, which covered the period July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023,
total expenses reported for Property: Addressing Physical Health and Safety - Mandatory
Subgrant funds was $236,023. Total expenses reported for Personnel Services: Meeting
Student's Academic, Social, Emotional, and Other Needs was $66,387, for a total of
$302,410. This was an overstatement of $271,004.
The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. Noncompliance was
isolated to the ESSER III, Year 3 Report.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.334 states in part:
"Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity
records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date
of submission of the final expenditure report or, for the Federal awards that are renewed
quarterly or annual, from the date of submission of the quarterly or annual financial report,
respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of
a subrecipient. . . ."
2 CFR 200.302(b) states in part:
"The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following
. . .
(2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal
award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in §§ 200.328
and 200.329. . . ."
34 CFR 76.722 states: "A State may require a subgrantee to submit reports in a manner and format
that assists the State in complying with the requirements under 34 CFR 76.720 and in carrying out other
responsibilities under the program."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Two employees collaborated on the preparation of the reports, but there was no documented review of the
completed reports by someone other than the preparers to detect errors prior to submission.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the ESSER III, Year 3 Report was not supported by the School Corporation's
records.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure that all reports are supported by the School
Corporation's records.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-002
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D210013, S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Reporting
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system was not designed or implemented at the School Corporation to
ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance
requirement.
The School Corporation had not designed, nor implemented, a system of internal controls to ensure
that the annual Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Data Collection reports
(Reports) were complete and accurately submitted. The Reports were prepared and submitted by one
employee without a documented oversight, review, or approval process in place to prevent, or detect and
correct, errors.
Due to the lack of effective internal controls, one of the four reports submitted during the audit
period was not supported by the School Corporation's records. The following error was noted:
For the ESSER III, Year 3 Report, which covered the period July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023,
total expenses reported for Property: Addressing Physical Health and Safety - Mandatory
Subgrant funds was $236,023. Total expenses reported for Personnel Services: Meeting
Student's Academic, Social, Emotional, and Other Needs was $66,387, for a total of
$302,410. This was an overstatement of $271,004.
The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. Noncompliance was
isolated to the ESSER III, Year 3 Report.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.334 states in part:
"Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity
records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date
of submission of the final expenditure report or, for the Federal awards that are renewed
quarterly or annual, from the date of submission of the quarterly or annual financial report,
respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of
a subrecipient. . . ."
2 CFR 200.302(b) states in part:
"The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following
. . .
(2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal
award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in §§ 200.328
and 200.329. . . ."
34 CFR 76.722 states: "A State may require a subgrantee to submit reports in a manner and format
that assists the State in complying with the requirements under 34 CFR 76.720 and in carrying out other
responsibilities under the program."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Two employees collaborated on the preparation of the reports, but there was no documented review of the
completed reports by someone other than the preparers to detect errors prior to submission.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the ESSER III, Year 3 Report was not supported by the School Corporation's
records.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure that all reports are supported by the School
Corporation's records.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-002
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D210013, S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Reporting
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system was not designed or implemented at the School Corporation to
ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance
requirement.
The School Corporation had not designed, nor implemented, a system of internal controls to ensure
that the annual Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Data Collection reports
(Reports) were complete and accurately submitted. The Reports were prepared and submitted by one
employee without a documented oversight, review, or approval process in place to prevent, or detect and
correct, errors.
Due to the lack of effective internal controls, one of the four reports submitted during the audit
period was not supported by the School Corporation's records. The following error was noted:
For the ESSER III, Year 3 Report, which covered the period July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023,
total expenses reported for Property: Addressing Physical Health and Safety - Mandatory
Subgrant funds was $236,023. Total expenses reported for Personnel Services: Meeting
Student's Academic, Social, Emotional, and Other Needs was $66,387, for a total of
$302,410. This was an overstatement of $271,004.
The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. Noncompliance was
isolated to the ESSER III, Year 3 Report.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.334 states in part:
"Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity
records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date
of submission of the final expenditure report or, for the Federal awards that are renewed
quarterly or annual, from the date of submission of the quarterly or annual financial report,
respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of
a subrecipient. . . ."
2 CFR 200.302(b) states in part:
"The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following
. . .
(2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal
award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in §§ 200.328
and 200.329. . . ."
34 CFR 76.722 states: "A State may require a subgrantee to submit reports in a manner and format
that assists the State in complying with the requirements under 34 CFR 76.720 and in carrying out other
responsibilities under the program."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Two employees collaborated on the preparation of the reports, but there was no documented review of the
completed reports by someone other than the preparers to detect errors prior to submission.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the ESSER III, Year 3 Report was not supported by the School Corporation's
records.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure that all reports are supported by the School
Corporation's records.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-002
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D210013, S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Reporting
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system was not designed or implemented at the School Corporation to
ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance
requirement.
The School Corporation had not designed, nor implemented, a system of internal controls to ensure
that the annual Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Data Collection reports
(Reports) were complete and accurately submitted. The Reports were prepared and submitted by one
employee without a documented oversight, review, or approval process in place to prevent, or detect and
correct, errors.
Due to the lack of effective internal controls, one of the four reports submitted during the audit
period was not supported by the School Corporation's records. The following error was noted:
For the ESSER III, Year 3 Report, which covered the period July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023,
total expenses reported for Property: Addressing Physical Health and Safety - Mandatory
Subgrant funds was $236,023. Total expenses reported for Personnel Services: Meeting
Student's Academic, Social, Emotional, and Other Needs was $66,387, for a total of
$302,410. This was an overstatement of $271,004.
The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. Noncompliance was
isolated to the ESSER III, Year 3 Report.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.334 states in part:
"Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity
records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date
of submission of the final expenditure report or, for the Federal awards that are renewed
quarterly or annual, from the date of submission of the quarterly or annual financial report,
respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of
a subrecipient. . . ."
2 CFR 200.302(b) states in part:
"The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following
. . .
(2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal
award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in §§ 200.328
and 200.329. . . ."
34 CFR 76.722 states: "A State may require a subgrantee to submit reports in a manner and format
that assists the State in complying with the requirements under 34 CFR 76.720 and in carrying out other
responsibilities under the program."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Two employees collaborated on the preparation of the reports, but there was no documented review of the
completed reports by someone other than the preparers to detect errors prior to submission.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the ESSER III, Year 3 Report was not supported by the School Corporation's
records.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure that all reports are supported by the School
Corporation's records.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.