Non-Federal entities other than States, including those operating Federal programs as subrecipients of States, must follow the procurement standards set out at 2 CFR 200.317 - 200.327. They must use their own documented procurement procedures, which reflect applicable State and local laws and regulations, provided that the procurements conform to applicable Federal statutes and the procurement requirements identified in 2 CFR Part 200. A non-Federal entity must:
1. Meet the general procurement standards in 2 CFR 200.318, which include oversight of contractors’ performance, maintaining written standards of conduct for employees involved in contracting, awarding contracts only to responsible contractors, and maintaining records to document history of procurements.
2. Conduct all procurement transactions in a manner providing full and open competition, in accordance with 2 CFR 200.319.
3. Use the micro-purchase and small purchase methods only for procurements that meet the applicable criteria under 2 CFR 200.320(a)(1) and (2). Under the micro-purchase method, the aggregate dollar amount does not exceed $10,000 ($2,000 in the case of acquisition for construction subject to the Wage Rate Requirements (Davis-Bacon Act)). Small purchase procedures are used for purchases that exceed the micro-purchase amount but do not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold ($250,000). Micro-purchases may be awarded without soliciting competitive quotations if the non-Federal entity considers the price to be reasonable (2 CFR 200.320(a)). If small purchase procedures are used, price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources (2 CFR 200.320(b)).
4. For acquisitions exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, the non-Federal entity must use one of the following procurement methods: the sealed bid method if the acquisition meets the criteria in 2 CFR 200.320(b); the competitive proposals method under the conditions specified in 2 CFR 200.320(b)(2); or the noncompetitive proposals method (i.e., solicit a proposal from only one source) but only when one or more of four circumstances are met, in accordance with 2 CFR 200.320(c).
5. Perform a cost or price analysis in connection with every procurement action in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold, including contract modifications (2 CFR 200.323(a)). The cost plus a percentage of cost and percentage of construction cost methods of contracting must not be used (2 CFR 200.323(b)).
6. Ensure that every purchase order or other contract includes applicable provisions required by 2 CFR 200.326. These provisions are described in Appendix II to 2 CFR Part 200, “Contract Provisions for Non-Federal Entity Contracts Under Federal Awards.”
Although the Village contracted with a consultant to assist the Village with compliance with various procurement compliance requirements, the Village does not have any formal policies in place regarding procurement requirements. We recommend that the Village adopt formal policies and procedures that address procurement requirements.
Recipients must use the standard financial reporting forms or such other forms as may be authorized by OMB (approval is indicated by an OMB paperwork control number on the form) when reporting to the Federal awarding agency. Each recipient must report program outlays and program income on a cash or accrual basis, as prescribed by the Federal awarding agency. If the Federal awarding agency requires reporting of accrual information and the recipient’s accounting records are not normally maintained on the accrual basis, the recipient is not required to convert its accounting system to an accrual basis but may develop such accrual information through analysis of available documentation. The Federal awarding agency may accept identical information from the recipient in machine-readable format, computer printouts, or electronic outputs in lieu of closed formats or on paper.
The standard financial reporting form for grants is as follows: Request for Advance or Reimbursement (SF-270) (OMB No. 0348-0004)). Recipients are required to use the SF-270 to request reimbursement payments under non-construction programs, and may be required to use it to request advance payments.
The grant agreement does not require that the non-federal entity utilize standard forms as noted below. Instead, Article V, Section B of the grant agreement states:
1. Periodically, but not more frequently than once every 30 calendar days, the Non-Federal Sponsor shall provide the Government with a sufficient invoice for costs the Non-Federal Sponsor has incurred for the Project.
2. Upon receipt of such sufficient invoice, the Government shall review the costs identified therein and shall determine: (a) the amount to be included in total project costs, subject to the limitations in Article II.C. of this Agreement; (b) the total costs incurred by the parties to date (including the value of lands, easements, rights-of-way, and relocations, and the costs of permits determined in accordance with Article V of this Agreement); (c) each party’s share of total project costs and the costs of data recovery activities associated with historic preservation in accordance with Article II.P. of this Agreement incurred by the parties to date; (d) the costs incurred by each party to date; (e) the total amount of reimbursements the Government has made to date in accordance with this paragraph; (f) the balance of Federal funds available for the Project, as of the date of such review; (g) the amount of reimbursement, if any, due to the Non-Federal Sponsor; and (h) the amount that actually will be paid to the Non-Federal Sponsor (hereinafter the “payment amount”) if the amount of reimbursement determined above cannot be fully paid due to an insufficiency of Federal funds or the limitations of the Section 594 Program Limit for Ohio or the Section 102 Limit.
Article I, Section K state the term “sufficient invoice” shall mean documentation provided by the Non-Federal Sponsor containing the following: (1) a written certification by the Non-Federal Sponsor to the Government that it has made specified payments to contractors, suppliers, or employees for performance of work in accordance with this Agreement, or a written certification by the Non-Federal Sponsor to the Government that it has received bills from contractors, suppliers, or employees for performance of work in accordance with this Agreement; (2) copies of all relevant invoices and evidence of such payments or bills received; (3) written identification of such costs that have been paid with Federal program funds and a copy of the written verification from the Federal agency that provided the funds; and (4) a written request for reimbursement for the amount of such specified payments or bills received.
The Village prepared the relevant request for reimbursement as required by the grantor, but the obligations requested per the reimbursement request forms were not always in agreement with the obligations/payments for which the funds were actually used. It was noted that actual obligations/payments were also eligible activities that were incurred/paid during the year. Additionally, the Village does not have any formal policies regarding reporting requirements.
We recommend that the Village more closely monitor its reimbursement requests in relation to actual expenditures paid to ensure that the Village reports accurately reflect actual obligation/use of funds. Additionally, the Village should adopt formal policies and procedures that address reporting requirements.
Sound internal controls over disbursement of funds is pertinent to ensure that disbursements are compliance with applicable federal laws and regulations. During our testing, we noted that the Village did not seem to have a process in place to document approval of disbursements paid with federal funds. Disbursements appear to have been reviewed by the Village’s engineering consultant and were paid by the Fiscal Officer, but there was not sufficient evidence that disbursements were reviewed and approved or accepted by Council. We recommend that the Village adopt proper control procedures to ensure that all disbursements, including those paid for with federal funds, are reviewed and approved by Council, and that such review and approval be sufficiently documented.
2 CFR 200.302(b)(6) requires that non-Federal entities establish written procedures to implement the requirements of 2 CFR 200.305.
The FAR clause at 48 CFR section 52.216-7 applies to reimbursement payment. Paragraph (b)(1) of that clause requires that the non-federal entity request reimbursement for (a) only allocable, allowable, and reasonable contract costs that have already been paid, or (b) if the non-federal entity is not delinquent in paying costs of contract performance in the ordinary course of business, costs incurred, but not necessarily paid.
Article V, Section B states:
1. Periodically, but not more frequently than once every 30 calendar days, the Non-Federal Sponsor shall provide the Government with a sufficient invoice for costs the Non-Federal Sponsor has incurred for the Project.
2. Upon receipt of such sufficient invoice, the Government shall review the costs identified therein and shall determine: (a) the amount to be included in total project costs, subject to the limitations in Article II.C. of this Agreement; (b) the total costs incurred by the parties to date (including the value of lands, easements, rights-of-way, and relocations, and the costs of permits determined in accordance with Article V of this Agreement); (c) each party’s share of total project costs and the costs of data recovery activities associated with historic preservation in accordance with Article II.P. of this Agreement incurred by the parties to date; (d) the costs incurred by each party to date; (e) the total amount of reimbursements the Government has made to date in accordance with this paragraph; (f) the balance of Federal funds available for the Project, as of the date of such review; (g) the amount of reimbursement, if any, due to the Non-Federal Sponsor; and (h) the amount that actually will be paid to the Non-Federal Sponsor (hereinafter the “payment amount”) if the amount of reimbursement determined above cannot be fully paid due to an insufficiency of Federal funds or the limitations of the Section 594 Program Limit for Ohio or the Section 102 Limit.
Article I, Section K state the term “sufficient invoice” shall mean documentation provided by the Non-Federal Sponsor containing the following: (1) a written certification by the Non-Federal Sponsor to the Government that it has made specified payments to contractors, suppliers, or employees for performance of work in accordance with this Agreement, or a written certification by the Non-Federal Sponsor to the Government that it has received bills from contractors, suppliers, or employees for performance of work in accordance with this Agreement; (2) copies of all relevant invoices and evidence of such payments or bills received; (3) written identification of such costs that have been paid with Federal program funds and a copy of the written verification from the Federal agency that provided the funds; and (4) a written request for reimbursement for the amount of such specified payments or bills received.
The Village received funding from various sources for the project. Due to cash flow issues, the Village often used alternate funding to meet federal obligations, leaving an accumulation of federal funds on hand during the year. The Village also does not have any formal policies in place regarding cash management requirements. We recommend that the Village more closely monitor its reimbursement requests in relation to actual expenditures paid to ensure that the Village does not accumulate federal funds. Additionally, the Village should adopt formal policies and procedures that address cash management requirements.
Non-Federal entities other than States, including those operating Federal programs as subrecipients of States, must follow the procurement standards set out at 2 CFR 200.317 - 200.327. They must use their own documented procurement procedures, which reflect applicable State and local laws and regulations, provided that the procurements conform to applicable Federal statutes and the procurement requirements identified in 2 CFR Part 200. A non-Federal entity must:
1. Meet the general procurement standards in 2 CFR 200.318, which include oversight of contractors’ performance, maintaining written standards of conduct for employees involved in contracting, awarding contracts only to responsible contractors, and maintaining records to document history of procurements.
2. Conduct all procurement transactions in a manner providing full and open competition, in accordance with 2 CFR 200.319.
3. Use the micro-purchase and small purchase methods only for procurements that meet the applicable criteria under 2 CFR 200.320(a)(1) and (2). Under the micro-purchase method, the aggregate dollar amount does not exceed $10,000 ($2,000 in the case of acquisition for construction subject to the Wage Rate Requirements (Davis-Bacon Act)). Small purchase procedures are used for purchases that exceed the micro-purchase amount but do not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold ($250,000). Micro-purchases may be awarded without soliciting competitive quotations if the non-Federal entity considers the price to be reasonable (2 CFR 200.320(a)). If small purchase procedures are used, price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources (2 CFR 200.320(b)).
4. For acquisitions exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, the non-Federal entity must use one of the following procurement methods: the sealed bid method if the acquisition meets the criteria in 2 CFR 200.320(b); the competitive proposals method under the conditions specified in 2 CFR 200.320(b)(2); or the noncompetitive proposals method (i.e., solicit a proposal from only one source) but only when one or more of four circumstances are met, in accordance with 2 CFR 200.320(c).
5. Perform a cost or price analysis in connection with every procurement action in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold, including contract modifications (2 CFR 200.323(a)). The cost plus a percentage of cost and percentage of construction cost methods of contracting must not be used (2 CFR 200.323(b)).
6. Ensure that every purchase order or other contract includes applicable provisions required by 2 CFR 200.326. These provisions are described in Appendix II to 2 CFR Part 200, “Contract Provisions for Non-Federal Entity Contracts Under Federal Awards.”
Although the Village contracted with a consultant to assist the Village with compliance with various procurement compliance requirements, the Village does not have any formal policies in place regarding procurement requirements. We recommend that the Village adopt formal policies and procedures that address procurement requirements.
Recipients must use the standard financial reporting forms or such other forms as may be authorized by OMB (approval is indicated by an OMB paperwork control number on the form) when reporting to the Federal awarding agency. Each recipient must report program outlays and program income on a cash or accrual basis, as prescribed by the Federal awarding agency. If the Federal awarding agency requires reporting of accrual information and the recipient’s accounting records are not normally maintained on the accrual basis, the recipient is not required to convert its accounting system to an accrual basis but may develop such accrual information through analysis of available documentation. The Federal awarding agency may accept identical information from the recipient in machine-readable format, computer printouts, or electronic outputs in lieu of closed formats or on paper.
The standard financial reporting form for grants is as follows: Request for Advance or Reimbursement (SF-270) (OMB No. 0348-0004)). Recipients are required to use the SF-270 to request reimbursement payments under non-construction programs, and may be required to use it to request advance payments.
The grant agreement does not require that the non-federal entity utilize standard forms as noted below. Instead, Article V, Section B of the grant agreement states:
1. Periodically, but not more frequently than once every 30 calendar days, the Non-Federal Sponsor shall provide the Government with a sufficient invoice for costs the Non-Federal Sponsor has incurred for the Project.
2. Upon receipt of such sufficient invoice, the Government shall review the costs identified therein and shall determine: (a) the amount to be included in total project costs, subject to the limitations in Article II.C. of this Agreement; (b) the total costs incurred by the parties to date (including the value of lands, easements, rights-of-way, and relocations, and the costs of permits determined in accordance with Article V of this Agreement); (c) each party’s share of total project costs and the costs of data recovery activities associated with historic preservation in accordance with Article II.P. of this Agreement incurred by the parties to date; (d) the costs incurred by each party to date; (e) the total amount of reimbursements the Government has made to date in accordance with this paragraph; (f) the balance of Federal funds available for the Project, as of the date of such review; (g) the amount of reimbursement, if any, due to the Non-Federal Sponsor; and (h) the amount that actually will be paid to the Non-Federal Sponsor (hereinafter the “payment amount”) if the amount of reimbursement determined above cannot be fully paid due to an insufficiency of Federal funds or the limitations of the Section 594 Program Limit for Ohio or the Section 102 Limit.
Article I, Section K state the term “sufficient invoice” shall mean documentation provided by the Non-Federal Sponsor containing the following: (1) a written certification by the Non-Federal Sponsor to the Government that it has made specified payments to contractors, suppliers, or employees for performance of work in accordance with this Agreement, or a written certification by the Non-Federal Sponsor to the Government that it has received bills from contractors, suppliers, or employees for performance of work in accordance with this Agreement; (2) copies of all relevant invoices and evidence of such payments or bills received; (3) written identification of such costs that have been paid with Federal program funds and a copy of the written verification from the Federal agency that provided the funds; and (4) a written request for reimbursement for the amount of such specified payments or bills received.
The Village prepared the relevant request for reimbursement as required by the grantor, but the obligations requested per the reimbursement request forms were not always in agreement with the obligations/payments for which the funds were actually used. It was noted that actual obligations/payments were also eligible activities that were incurred/paid during the year. Additionally, the Village does not have any formal policies regarding reporting requirements.
We recommend that the Village more closely monitor its reimbursement requests in relation to actual expenditures paid to ensure that the Village reports accurately reflect actual obligation/use of funds. Additionally, the Village should adopt formal policies and procedures that address reporting requirements.
Sound internal controls over disbursement of funds is pertinent to ensure that disbursements are compliance with applicable federal laws and regulations. During our testing, we noted that the Village did not seem to have a process in place to document approval of disbursements paid with federal funds. Disbursements appear to have been reviewed by the Village’s engineering consultant and were paid by the Fiscal Officer, but there was not sufficient evidence that disbursements were reviewed and approved or accepted by Council. We recommend that the Village adopt proper control procedures to ensure that all disbursements, including those paid for with federal funds, are reviewed and approved by Council, and that such review and approval be sufficiently documented.
2 CFR 200.302(b)(6) requires that non-Federal entities establish written procedures to implement the requirements of 2 CFR 200.305.
The FAR clause at 48 CFR section 52.216-7 applies to reimbursement payment. Paragraph (b)(1) of that clause requires that the non-federal entity request reimbursement for (a) only allocable, allowable, and reasonable contract costs that have already been paid, or (b) if the non-federal entity is not delinquent in paying costs of contract performance in the ordinary course of business, costs incurred, but not necessarily paid.
Article V, Section B states:
1. Periodically, but not more frequently than once every 30 calendar days, the Non-Federal Sponsor shall provide the Government with a sufficient invoice for costs the Non-Federal Sponsor has incurred for the Project.
2. Upon receipt of such sufficient invoice, the Government shall review the costs identified therein and shall determine: (a) the amount to be included in total project costs, subject to the limitations in Article II.C. of this Agreement; (b) the total costs incurred by the parties to date (including the value of lands, easements, rights-of-way, and relocations, and the costs of permits determined in accordance with Article V of this Agreement); (c) each party’s share of total project costs and the costs of data recovery activities associated with historic preservation in accordance with Article II.P. of this Agreement incurred by the parties to date; (d) the costs incurred by each party to date; (e) the total amount of reimbursements the Government has made to date in accordance with this paragraph; (f) the balance of Federal funds available for the Project, as of the date of such review; (g) the amount of reimbursement, if any, due to the Non-Federal Sponsor; and (h) the amount that actually will be paid to the Non-Federal Sponsor (hereinafter the “payment amount”) if the amount of reimbursement determined above cannot be fully paid due to an insufficiency of Federal funds or the limitations of the Section 594 Program Limit for Ohio or the Section 102 Limit.
Article I, Section K state the term “sufficient invoice” shall mean documentation provided by the Non-Federal Sponsor containing the following: (1) a written certification by the Non-Federal Sponsor to the Government that it has made specified payments to contractors, suppliers, or employees for performance of work in accordance with this Agreement, or a written certification by the Non-Federal Sponsor to the Government that it has received bills from contractors, suppliers, or employees for performance of work in accordance with this Agreement; (2) copies of all relevant invoices and evidence of such payments or bills received; (3) written identification of such costs that have been paid with Federal program funds and a copy of the written verification from the Federal agency that provided the funds; and (4) a written request for reimbursement for the amount of such specified payments or bills received.
The Village received funding from various sources for the project. Due to cash flow issues, the Village often used alternate funding to meet federal obligations, leaving an accumulation of federal funds on hand during the year. The Village also does not have any formal policies in place regarding cash management requirements. We recommend that the Village more closely monitor its reimbursement requests in relation to actual expenditures paid to ensure that the Village does not accumulate federal funds. Additionally, the Village should adopt formal policies and procedures that address cash management requirements.