Finding 2025-001 – Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Identification of the federal program: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services U.S. Department of Defense Research and Development Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 93.351 – Research Infrastructure Programs Federal Award Numbers Award Period Pass-Through Entity, if Applicable P51OD011133-26 5/1/2024-4/30/2025 N/A P51OD011133-27 5/1/2025-4/30/2026 N/A Criteria or specific requirement (including statutory, regulatory, or other citation) 2 CFR 200.303(a) requires that a 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 and the “Internal Control Integrated Framework”, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).” 200.318 General procurement standards. (i) Procurement records. The recipient or subrecipient must maintain records sufficient to detail the history of each procurement transaction. These records must include the rationale for the procurement method, contract type selection, contractor selection or rejection, and the basis for the contract price. 200.319 Competition. (a) All procurement transactions under the Federal award must be conducted in a manner that provides full and open competition and is consistent with the standards of this section and § 200.320. 200.320 Procurement Methods There are three types of procurement methods described in this section: informal procurement methods (for micro-purchases and simplified acquisitions); formal procurement methods (through sealed bids or proposals); and noncompetitive procurement methods. For any of these methods, the recipient or subrecipient must maintain and use documented procurement procedures, consistent with the standards of this section and §§ 200.317, 200.318, and 200.319. (a) Informal procurement methods for small purchases. These procurement methods expedite the completion of transactions, minimize administrative burdens, and reduce costs. Informal procurement methods may be used when the value of the procurement transaction under the Federal award does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold as defined in § 200.1. Recipients and subrecipients may also establish a lower threshold. Informal procurement methods include: (1) Micro-purchases — (i) Distribution. The aggregate amount of the procurement transaction does not exceed the micro-purchase threshold defined in § 200.1. To the extent practicable, the recipient or subrecipient should distribute micro-purchases equitably among qualified suppliers. (ii) Micro-purchase awards. Micro-purchases may be awarded without soliciting competitive price or rate quotations if the recipient or subrecipient considers the price reasonable based on research, experience, purchase history, or other information; and maintains documents to support its conclusion. Purchase cards may be used as a method of payment for micro-purchases. (iii) Micro-purchase thresholds. The recipient or subrecipient is responsible for determining and documenting an appropriate micro-purchase threshold based on internal controls, an evaluation of risk, and its documented procurement procedures. The micro-purchase threshold used by the recipient or subrecipient must be authorized or not prohibited under State, local, or tribal laws or regulations. (2) Simplified acquisitions — (i) Simplified acquisition procedures. The aggregate dollar amount of the procurement transaction is higher than the micro-purchase threshold but does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. If simplified acquisition procedures are used, price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources. Unless specified by the Federal agency, the recipient or subrecipient may exercise judgment in determining what number is adequate. (ii) Simplified acquisition thresholds. The recipient or subrecipient is responsible for determining an appropriate simplified acquisition threshold based on internal controls, an evaluation of risk, and its documented procurement procedures, which may be lower than, but must not exceed, the threshold established in the FAR. (b) Formal procurement methods. Formal procurement methods are required when the value of the procurement transaction under a Federal award exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold of the recipient or subrecipient. Formal procurement methods are competitive and require public notice. The following formal methods of procurement are used for procurement transactions above the simplified acquisition threshold determined by the recipient or subrecipient in accordance with paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this section: (1) Sealed bids. This is a procurement method in which bids are publicly solicited through an invitation and a firm fixed-price contract (lump sum or unit price) is awarded to the responsible bidder whose bid conforms with all the material terms and conditions of the invitation and is the lowest in price. The sealed bids procurement method is preferred for procuring construction services. (i) For sealed bidding to be feasible, the following conditions should be present: (A) A complete, adequate, and realistic specification or purchase description is available; (B) Two or more responsible bidders have been identified as willing and able to compete effectively for the business; and (C) The procurement lends itself to a firm-fixed-price contract, and the selection of the successful bidder can be made principally based on price. (ii) If sealed bids are used, the following requirements apply: (A) Bids must be solicited from an adequate number of qualified sources, providing them with sufficient response time prior to the date set for opening the bids. Unless specified by the Federal agency, the recipient or subrecipient may exercise judgment in determining what number is adequate. For local governments, the invitation for bids must be publicly advertised. (B) The invitation for bids must define the items or services with specific information, including any required specifications, for the bidder to properly respond; (C) All bids will be opened at the time and place prescribed in the invitation for bids. For local governments, the bids must be opened publicly. (D) A firm-fixed-price contract is awarded in writing to the lowest responsive bid and responsible bidder. When specified in the invitation for bids, factors such as discounts, transportation cost, and life-cycle costs must be considered in determining which bid is the lowest. Payment discounts must only be used to determine the low bid when the recipient or subrecipient determines they are a valid factor based on prior experience. (E) The recipient or subrecipient must document and provide a justification for all bids it rejects. (2) Proposals. This is a procurement method used when conditions are not appropriate for using sealed bids. This procurement method may result in either a fixed-price or cost-reimbursement contract. They are awarded in accordance with the following requirements: (i) Requests for proposals require public notice, and all evaluation factors and their relative importance must be identified. Proposals must be solicited from multiple qualified entities. To the maximum extent practicable, any proposals submitted in response to the public notice must be considered. (ii) The recipient or subrecipient must have written procedures for conducting technical evaluations and making selections. (iii) Contracts must be awarded to the responsible offeror whose proposal is most advantageous to the recipient or subrecipient considering price and other factors; and (iv) The recipient or subrecipient may use competitive proposal procedures for qualifications-based procurement of architectural/engineering (A/E) professional services whereby the offeror’s qualifications are evaluated, and the most qualified offeror is selected, subject to negotiation of fair and reasonable compensation. The method, where the price is not used as a selection factor, can only be used to procure architectural/engineering (A/E) professional services. The method may not be used to purchase other services provided by A/E firms that are a potential source to perform the proposed effort. (c) Noncompetitive procurement. There are specific circumstances in which the recipient or subrecipient may use a noncompetitive procurement method. The noncompetitive procurement method may only be used if one of the following circumstances applies: (1) The aggregate amount of the procurement transaction does not exceed the micro-purchase threshold (see paragraph (a)(1) of this section); (2) The procurement transaction can only be fulfilled by a single source; (3) The public exigency or emergency for the requirement will not permit a delay resulting from providing public notice of a competitive solicitation; (4) The recipient or subrecipient requests in writing to use a noncompetitive procurement method, and the Federal agency or pass-through entity provides written approval; or (5) After soliciting several sources, competition is determined inadequate. 200.324 Contract cost and price. (a) The recipient or subrecipient must perform a cost or price analysis for every procurement transaction, including contract modifications, in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold. The method and degree of analysis conducted depend on the facts surrounding the particular procurement transaction. For example, the recipient or subrecipient should consider potential workforce impacts in their analysis if the procurement transaction will displace public sector employees. However, as a starting point, the recipient or subrecipient must make independent estimates before receiving bids or proposals. (b) Costs or prices based on estimated costs for contracts under the Federal award are allowable only to the extent that the costs incurred or cost estimates included in negotiated prices would be allowable for the recipient or subrecipient under subpart E of this part. The recipient or subrecipient may reference its own cost principles as long as they comply with subpart E of this part. (c) The recipient or subrecipient must not use the “cost plus a percentage of cost” and “percentage of construction costs” methods of contracting. Condition Texas Biomed did not comply with procurement requirements per the Uniform Guidance. Specifically, Texas Biomed did not comply with informal procurement methods for small purchases and noncompetitive procurement requirements. Texas Biomed also did not comply with its own procurement policy in relation to procurements of small purchases and noncompetitive procurements. Additionally, Texas Biomed did not maintain records for certain procurements sufficient to detail the history of procurement, including the rationale for the method of procurement, selection of contract type, contractor selection or rejection, the basis for the contract price, and the performance of a cost or price analysis, when required. Cause Texas Biomed did not have effective internal controls and procedures in place to ensure Texas Biomed complied with federal procurement requirements and Texas Biomed’s procurement policy and also maintained records for procurements sufficient to detail the history of procurement, including the rationale for the method of procurement and other required elements, including a cost or price analysis, when required. Effect or potential effect Texas Biomed did not comply with the general procurement standards, methods of procurement, and cost or price analysis requirements, according to the Uniform Guidance. Questioned costs $211,839 in total for 3 procurements as follows: $38,000 – Assistance Listing Number 93.351, Award Identification Number – P51OD011133-26 Procurement Date of January 28, 2025 $162,986 – Assistance Listing Number 93.351, Award Identification Number – P51OD011133-27, Procurement Date of May 22, 2025 $10,853 – Assistance Listing Number 93.351, Award Identification Number – P51OD011133-27, Procurement Date of May 22, 2025 Per 2 CFR 200.1, questioned cost means an amount, expended or received from a Federal award, that in the auditor’s judgment: (1) Is noncompliant or suspected noncompliant with Federal statutes, regulations, or the terms and conditions of the Federal award; (2) At the time of the audit, lacked adequate documentation to support compliance; or (3) Appeared unreasonable and did not reflect the actions a prudent person would take in the circumstances. Questioned costs were computed as the value of the individual procurements tested that were not compliant with the Uniform Guidance or that lacked adequate documentation to support compliance regarding the history of the procurement, including the rationale of the procurement and the performance of a cost or price analysis, when required. None of the questioned costs were related to procurements that appeared unreasonable. Context EY issued a material weakness for Texas Biomed related to internal control over procurement in the prior year. Based upon the implementation date for the corrective action of September 2025 through November 2025, provided by management, the finding related to this internal control had not been remediated for the full period under audit. As such, we did not test the operating effectiveness of this control and are issuing a material weakness consistent with the prior year finding. EY tested 13 procurements over the micro-purchase threshold of $10,000, with expenditures totaling $1,383,894 from a population of 53 procurements over the micro-purchase threshold of $10,000 ($15,000 effective October 1, 2025), with expenditures totaling $4,752,988 during the year ended December 31, 2025. For 1 procurement with expenditures in the amount of $162,986, related to a purchase order dated May 22, 2025 for $660,754, for animal food, Texas Biomed did not perform a cost or price analysis prior to the procurement. Since the total purchase order for this procurement exceeded $250,000, the simplified acquisition threshold, a cost or price analysis was required. EY observed that a cost analysis was performed for this same vendor for animal food on October 22, 2025. For 1 procurement with expenditures in the amount of $38,000, related to a purchase order dated January 28, 2025 for the same amount, for lab services, Texas Biomed did not obtain quotes or document sole source justification or the history of the procurement, including the rationale for the method of procurement, at the time of the procurement. Subsequently, Texas Biomed prepared sole source documentation for the procurement during the audit. For 1 procurement with expenditures in the amount of $10,853, related to a purchase order dated May 22, 2025 for $232,000, for fuel, Texas Biomed did not document sole source justification at the time of the procurement but instead utilized outdated sole source justification prepared over a year earlier under a separate procurement. We consider the expenditures related to these procurements to be questioned costs due to Texas Biomed not adhering to federal procurement requirements per the Uniform Guidance and also Texas Biomed’s procurement policy. Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable This is a repeat finding – Finding 2023-002 and 2024-002. Recommendation Texas Biomed should comply with federal procurement requirements, as well as Texas Biomed’s procurement policy with regards to obtaining quotes for small purchases and documentation of sole source justification at the time of the procurement, as applicable. Texas Biomed should re-evaluate and document sole source justifications for vendors retained from year to year each time a new procurement is made from that vendor. Texas Biomed should retain written documentation for procurements, documenting the history of the procurement prior to the procurement of goods or services including, but not limited to, the rationale for the method of procurement, selection of contract type, contractor selection or rejection, the basis for the contract price, and the performance of a cost or price analysis, when required. Views of responsible officials Management agrees with the finding and implemented corrective action as of November 2025. The instances of noncompliance noted above occurred prior to November 2025. For the procurement with expenditures of $162,986 for animal food, a cost analysis was performed on October 22, 2025 and provided during the audit. This was a sole source procurement, but it should be noted that the cost analysis showed the supplier Texas Biomed used was 55% lower in cost than another supplier of similar, though not identical, animal food. For the procurement with expenditures of $38,000 for lab services, sole source documentation was prepared during the audit explaining that this is the only lab found to provide the services needed, accept Texas Biomed’s samples, and provide the results needed timely. For the procurement with expenditures of $10,853 for fuel, sole source documentation was updated July 1, 2025.