Audit 51847

FY End
2022-06-30
Total Expended
$3.95M
Findings
8
Programs
9
Year: 2022 Accepted: 2023-03-01

Organization Exclusion Status:

Checking exclusion status...

Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
48183 2022-001 Material Weakness - N
48184 2022-002 Material Weakness - I
48185 2022-001 Material Weakness - N
48186 2022-002 Material Weakness - I
624625 2022-001 Material Weakness - N
624626 2022-002 Material Weakness - I
624627 2022-001 Material Weakness - N
624628 2022-002 Material Weakness - I

Programs

ALN Program Spent Major Findings
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $1.91M Yes 2
10.555 National School Lunch Program $316,136 - 0
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $291,772 - 0
84.027 Special Education_grants to States $281,952 - 0
10.553 School Breakfast Program $214,336 - 0
84.367 Improving Teacher Quality State Grants $64,287 - 0
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $10,345 - 0
84.173 Special Education_preschool Grants $7,555 - 0
10.649 Pandemic Ebt Administrative Costs $614 - 0

Contacts

Name Title Type
K3Q1VT5MHK35 Brian Haines Auditee
4197363300 Lindsey Young Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Title: BASIS OF PRESENTATION Accounting Policies: Expenditures reported on the Schedule are reported on the cash basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in Uniform Guidance wherein certain types of expenditures may or may not be allowable or may be limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The District has elected not to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate as allowed under the Uniform Guidance. The accompanying Federal Awards Receipts and Expenditures Schedule (the Schedule) includes the federal award activity of Black River Local School District, Medina County, Ohio (the District) under programs of the federal government for the year ended June 30, 2022. The information on this Schedule is prepared in accordance with the requirements of Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance). Because the Schedule presents only a selected portion of the operations of the District, it is not intended to and does not present the financial position or changes in net position of the District.
Title: CHILD NUTRITION CLUSTER Accounting Policies: Expenditures reported on the Schedule are reported on the cash basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in Uniform Guidance wherein certain types of expenditures may or may not be allowable or may be limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The District has elected not to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate as allowed under the Uniform Guidance. The District commingles cash receipts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture with similar State grants. When reporting expenditures on this Schedule, the District assumes it expends federal monies first.
Title: FOOD DONATION PROGRAM Accounting Policies: Expenditures reported on the Schedule are reported on the cash basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in Uniform Guidance wherein certain types of expenditures may or may not be allowable or may be limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The District has elected not to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate as allowed under the Uniform Guidance. The District reports commodities consumed on the Schedule at the entitlement value. The District allocated donated food commodities to the respective program that benefitted from the use of those donated food commodities.

Finding Details

2 CFR 3474.1 provides that the Department of Education (DOE) adopts the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidance in 2 CFR part 200. Thus, this section gives regulatory effect to the OMB guidance and supplements the guidance as needed for the DOE, except as otherwise noted in that section. Appendix II to 2 CFR part 200, Paragraph D states that all contracts made by the non-Federal entity under the Federal award must contain provisions covering the following: (D) Davis-Bacon Act, as amended (40 U.S.C. 3141-3148). When required by Federal program legislation, all prime construction contracts in excess of $2,000 awarded by non-Federal entities must include a provision for compliance with the Davis-Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. 3141-3144, and 3146-3148) as supplemented by Department of Labor regulations (29 CFR Part 5, ?Labor Standards Provisions Applicable to Contracts Covering Federally Financed and Assisted Construction?). In accordance with the statute, contractors must be required to pay wages to laborers and mechanics at a rate not less than the prevailing wages specified in a wage determination made by the Secretary of Labor. In addition, contractors must be required to pay wages not less than once a week. The non-Federal entity must place a copy of the current prevailing wage determination issued by the Department of Labor in each solicitation. The decision to award a contract or subcontract must be conditioned upon the acceptance of the wage determination. The non-Federal entity must report all suspected or reported violations to the Federal awarding agency. The contracts must also include a provision for compliance with the Copeland ?Anti-Kickback? Act (40 U.S.C. 3145), as supplemented by Department of Labor regulations (29 CFR Part 3, ?Contractors and Subcontractors on Public Building or Public Work Financed in Whole or in Part by Loans or Grants from the United States?). The Act provides that each contractor or subrecipient must be prohibited from inducing, by any means, any person employed in the construction, completion, or repair of public work, to give up any part of the compensation to which he or she is otherwise entitled. The non-Federal entity must report all suspected or reported violations to the Federal awarding agency. Lack of proper internal controls over Federal Grants management led to the District expending $609,752 of its Education Stabilization Fund - Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund, AL #84.425D and $1,898,392 of its Education Stabilization Fund - American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund, AL #84.425U, federal grant funds for the replacement/renovation of HVAC systems and related electrical work, and the design and build of kindergarten and high school classrooms without the District?s contracts including a provision to ensure the contractors complied with Federal wage rate requirements. Additionally, the District did not obtain weekly certified payroll reports from the contractors to verify prevailing wages were paid on a weekly basis. Without proper controls over wage rate requirements, there is an increased risk that the District and its contractors and subcontractors are not in compliance with applicable federal regulations. Noncompliance could result in federal funding being reduced or taken away, or other sanctions imposed by the federal grantor agency. The District should ensure contracts for construction in excess of $2,000 paid with federal grant monies contain a provision the contractor comply with the wage rate requirements and ensure certified payroll reports are provided weekly by the contractor. The District should review the certified payroll reports and report all suspected or reported violations to the Federal awarding agency.
2 CFR 3474.1 provides that the Department of Education (DOE) adopts the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidance in 2 CFR part 200. Thus, this section gives regulatory effect to the OMB guidance and supplements the guidance as needed for the DOE, except as otherwise noted in that section. 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 sections 200.318 through 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 nonfederal 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)(1)(ii)). If small purchase procedures are used, price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources (2 CFR 200.320(a)(2)(i)). 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)(1); 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 five 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 200.324(a)). The cost plus a percentage of cost and percentage of construction cost methods of contracting must not be used (2 CFR 200.324(d)). 6. Ensure that every purchase order or other contract includes applicable provisions required by 2 CFR 200.327. These provisions are described in Appendix II to 2 CFR Part 200, ?Contract Provisions for Non-Federal Entity Contracts Under Federal Awards. Black River Local School District Board Policy DJF-R ? Purchasing Procedures indicates the following methods of procurement will be used for all purchases of goods and services made with federal funds: 1. Micro-purchases are purchases up to $10,000 and may be made in accordance with District purchasing procedures when the costs are reasonable. To the extent practicable, these purchases are distributed equitably among qualified suppliers. 2. Small purchase are purchases between $10,000 and $250,000. Prior to authorizing the purchase, the District will try to obtain price rates or quotations from a minimum of three vendors or providers. The District will obtain these price rates or quotations by written quotes. 3. Sealed bid procedures are used for firm fixed price contracts over $250,000 and is used as the preferred method for construction projects. Bids are solicited from an adequate number of known suppliers, which cannot be less than two responsible bidders. The District will solicit bids by posting bids using at least one public posting source. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. 4. Competitive proposals are used for all purchases over $250,000 for which sealed bids are not appropriate and must be used for architectural or engineering services. Contracts entered into for competitive proposals may be fixed-price or cost reimbursement. The District will publicize a request for proposal by advertising through the local paper or using a procurement source. The District will evaluate proposals in order to award the contract to the most advantageous proposal when considering cost and other factors. The District will evaluate proposals by checklist and compare. 5. Sole source procurement is used only when the goods or services are only available from a single source; a public exigency or emergency exists; there is inadequate competition and the applicable pass through entity approves this method. Lack of proper internal controls over Federal Grants management led to the District expending the following amounts without using the proper procurement method: Education Stabilization Fund - Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund, AL #84.425D ? $33,000 was paid to a vendor for electrical work related to a HVAC project; however, the District could not provide documentation to support the required price quotations were obtained from a minimum of three vendors. ? $350,000 was paid to a vendor for a HVAC project; however, the District could not provide documentation to support sealed bids were solicited and received, and the contract awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. ? $226,752 was paid to a vendor for a HVAC project; however, the District could not provide documentation to support the required price quotations were obtained from a minimum of three vendors. Education Stabilization Fund - American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund, AL #84.425U ? $1,898,392 was paid to a vendor for the design and build of kindergarten and high school classrooms; however, the District could not provide documentation to support sealed bids were solicited and received and the contract awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Without proper controls over procurement, there is an increased risk that the District is not in compliance with applicable federal regulations. Noncompliance could result in federal funding being reduced or taken away, or other sanctions imposed by the federal grantor agency. The District should review the procurement requirements specified above and ensure the proper procurement method is used. The District should also maintain adequate documentation to detail the history of procurement.
2 CFR 3474.1 provides that the Department of Education (DOE) adopts the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidance in 2 CFR part 200. Thus, this section gives regulatory effect to the OMB guidance and supplements the guidance as needed for the DOE, except as otherwise noted in that section. Appendix II to 2 CFR part 200, Paragraph D states that all contracts made by the non-Federal entity under the Federal award must contain provisions covering the following: (D) Davis-Bacon Act, as amended (40 U.S.C. 3141-3148). When required by Federal program legislation, all prime construction contracts in excess of $2,000 awarded by non-Federal entities must include a provision for compliance with the Davis-Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. 3141-3144, and 3146-3148) as supplemented by Department of Labor regulations (29 CFR Part 5, ?Labor Standards Provisions Applicable to Contracts Covering Federally Financed and Assisted Construction?). In accordance with the statute, contractors must be required to pay wages to laborers and mechanics at a rate not less than the prevailing wages specified in a wage determination made by the Secretary of Labor. In addition, contractors must be required to pay wages not less than once a week. The non-Federal entity must place a copy of the current prevailing wage determination issued by the Department of Labor in each solicitation. The decision to award a contract or subcontract must be conditioned upon the acceptance of the wage determination. The non-Federal entity must report all suspected or reported violations to the Federal awarding agency. The contracts must also include a provision for compliance with the Copeland ?Anti-Kickback? Act (40 U.S.C. 3145), as supplemented by Department of Labor regulations (29 CFR Part 3, ?Contractors and Subcontractors on Public Building or Public Work Financed in Whole or in Part by Loans or Grants from the United States?). The Act provides that each contractor or subrecipient must be prohibited from inducing, by any means, any person employed in the construction, completion, or repair of public work, to give up any part of the compensation to which he or she is otherwise entitled. The non-Federal entity must report all suspected or reported violations to the Federal awarding agency. Lack of proper internal controls over Federal Grants management led to the District expending $609,752 of its Education Stabilization Fund - Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund, AL #84.425D and $1,898,392 of its Education Stabilization Fund - American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund, AL #84.425U, federal grant funds for the replacement/renovation of HVAC systems and related electrical work, and the design and build of kindergarten and high school classrooms without the District?s contracts including a provision to ensure the contractors complied with Federal wage rate requirements. Additionally, the District did not obtain weekly certified payroll reports from the contractors to verify prevailing wages were paid on a weekly basis. Without proper controls over wage rate requirements, there is an increased risk that the District and its contractors and subcontractors are not in compliance with applicable federal regulations. Noncompliance could result in federal funding being reduced or taken away, or other sanctions imposed by the federal grantor agency. The District should ensure contracts for construction in excess of $2,000 paid with federal grant monies contain a provision the contractor comply with the wage rate requirements and ensure certified payroll reports are provided weekly by the contractor. The District should review the certified payroll reports and report all suspected or reported violations to the Federal awarding agency.
2 CFR 3474.1 provides that the Department of Education (DOE) adopts the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidance in 2 CFR part 200. Thus, this section gives regulatory effect to the OMB guidance and supplements the guidance as needed for the DOE, except as otherwise noted in that section. 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 sections 200.318 through 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 nonfederal 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)(1)(ii)). If small purchase procedures are used, price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources (2 CFR 200.320(a)(2)(i)). 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)(1); 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 five 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 200.324(a)). The cost plus a percentage of cost and percentage of construction cost methods of contracting must not be used (2 CFR 200.324(d)). 6. Ensure that every purchase order or other contract includes applicable provisions required by 2 CFR 200.327. These provisions are described in Appendix II to 2 CFR Part 200, ?Contract Provisions for Non-Federal Entity Contracts Under Federal Awards. Black River Local School District Board Policy DJF-R ? Purchasing Procedures indicates the following methods of procurement will be used for all purchases of goods and services made with federal funds: 1. Micro-purchases are purchases up to $10,000 and may be made in accordance with District purchasing procedures when the costs are reasonable. To the extent practicable, these purchases are distributed equitably among qualified suppliers. 2. Small purchase are purchases between $10,000 and $250,000. Prior to authorizing the purchase, the District will try to obtain price rates or quotations from a minimum of three vendors or providers. The District will obtain these price rates or quotations by written quotes. 3. Sealed bid procedures are used for firm fixed price contracts over $250,000 and is used as the preferred method for construction projects. Bids are solicited from an adequate number of known suppliers, which cannot be less than two responsible bidders. The District will solicit bids by posting bids using at least one public posting source. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. 4. Competitive proposals are used for all purchases over $250,000 for which sealed bids are not appropriate and must be used for architectural or engineering services. Contracts entered into for competitive proposals may be fixed-price or cost reimbursement. The District will publicize a request for proposal by advertising through the local paper or using a procurement source. The District will evaluate proposals in order to award the contract to the most advantageous proposal when considering cost and other factors. The District will evaluate proposals by checklist and compare. 5. Sole source procurement is used only when the goods or services are only available from a single source; a public exigency or emergency exists; there is inadequate competition and the applicable pass through entity approves this method. Lack of proper internal controls over Federal Grants management led to the District expending the following amounts without using the proper procurement method: Education Stabilization Fund - Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund, AL #84.425D ? $33,000 was paid to a vendor for electrical work related to a HVAC project; however, the District could not provide documentation to support the required price quotations were obtained from a minimum of three vendors. ? $350,000 was paid to a vendor for a HVAC project; however, the District could not provide documentation to support sealed bids were solicited and received, and the contract awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. ? $226,752 was paid to a vendor for a HVAC project; however, the District could not provide documentation to support the required price quotations were obtained from a minimum of three vendors. Education Stabilization Fund - American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund, AL #84.425U ? $1,898,392 was paid to a vendor for the design and build of kindergarten and high school classrooms; however, the District could not provide documentation to support sealed bids were solicited and received and the contract awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Without proper controls over procurement, there is an increased risk that the District is not in compliance with applicable federal regulations. Noncompliance could result in federal funding being reduced or taken away, or other sanctions imposed by the federal grantor agency. The District should review the procurement requirements specified above and ensure the proper procurement method is used. The District should also maintain adequate documentation to detail the history of procurement.
2 CFR 3474.1 provides that the Department of Education (DOE) adopts the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidance in 2 CFR part 200. Thus, this section gives regulatory effect to the OMB guidance and supplements the guidance as needed for the DOE, except as otherwise noted in that section. Appendix II to 2 CFR part 200, Paragraph D states that all contracts made by the non-Federal entity under the Federal award must contain provisions covering the following: (D) Davis-Bacon Act, as amended (40 U.S.C. 3141-3148). When required by Federal program legislation, all prime construction contracts in excess of $2,000 awarded by non-Federal entities must include a provision for compliance with the Davis-Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. 3141-3144, and 3146-3148) as supplemented by Department of Labor regulations (29 CFR Part 5, ?Labor Standards Provisions Applicable to Contracts Covering Federally Financed and Assisted Construction?). In accordance with the statute, contractors must be required to pay wages to laborers and mechanics at a rate not less than the prevailing wages specified in a wage determination made by the Secretary of Labor. In addition, contractors must be required to pay wages not less than once a week. The non-Federal entity must place a copy of the current prevailing wage determination issued by the Department of Labor in each solicitation. The decision to award a contract or subcontract must be conditioned upon the acceptance of the wage determination. The non-Federal entity must report all suspected or reported violations to the Federal awarding agency. The contracts must also include a provision for compliance with the Copeland ?Anti-Kickback? Act (40 U.S.C. 3145), as supplemented by Department of Labor regulations (29 CFR Part 3, ?Contractors and Subcontractors on Public Building or Public Work Financed in Whole or in Part by Loans or Grants from the United States?). The Act provides that each contractor or subrecipient must be prohibited from inducing, by any means, any person employed in the construction, completion, or repair of public work, to give up any part of the compensation to which he or she is otherwise entitled. The non-Federal entity must report all suspected or reported violations to the Federal awarding agency. Lack of proper internal controls over Federal Grants management led to the District expending $609,752 of its Education Stabilization Fund - Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund, AL #84.425D and $1,898,392 of its Education Stabilization Fund - American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund, AL #84.425U, federal grant funds for the replacement/renovation of HVAC systems and related electrical work, and the design and build of kindergarten and high school classrooms without the District?s contracts including a provision to ensure the contractors complied with Federal wage rate requirements. Additionally, the District did not obtain weekly certified payroll reports from the contractors to verify prevailing wages were paid on a weekly basis. Without proper controls over wage rate requirements, there is an increased risk that the District and its contractors and subcontractors are not in compliance with applicable federal regulations. Noncompliance could result in federal funding being reduced or taken away, or other sanctions imposed by the federal grantor agency. The District should ensure contracts for construction in excess of $2,000 paid with federal grant monies contain a provision the contractor comply with the wage rate requirements and ensure certified payroll reports are provided weekly by the contractor. The District should review the certified payroll reports and report all suspected or reported violations to the Federal awarding agency.
2 CFR 3474.1 provides that the Department of Education (DOE) adopts the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidance in 2 CFR part 200. Thus, this section gives regulatory effect to the OMB guidance and supplements the guidance as needed for the DOE, except as otherwise noted in that section. 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 sections 200.318 through 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 nonfederal 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)(1)(ii)). If small purchase procedures are used, price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources (2 CFR 200.320(a)(2)(i)). 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)(1); 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 five 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 200.324(a)). The cost plus a percentage of cost and percentage of construction cost methods of contracting must not be used (2 CFR 200.324(d)). 6. Ensure that every purchase order or other contract includes applicable provisions required by 2 CFR 200.327. These provisions are described in Appendix II to 2 CFR Part 200, ?Contract Provisions for Non-Federal Entity Contracts Under Federal Awards. Black River Local School District Board Policy DJF-R ? Purchasing Procedures indicates the following methods of procurement will be used for all purchases of goods and services made with federal funds: 1. Micro-purchases are purchases up to $10,000 and may be made in accordance with District purchasing procedures when the costs are reasonable. To the extent practicable, these purchases are distributed equitably among qualified suppliers. 2. Small purchase are purchases between $10,000 and $250,000. Prior to authorizing the purchase, the District will try to obtain price rates or quotations from a minimum of three vendors or providers. The District will obtain these price rates or quotations by written quotes. 3. Sealed bid procedures are used for firm fixed price contracts over $250,000 and is used as the preferred method for construction projects. Bids are solicited from an adequate number of known suppliers, which cannot be less than two responsible bidders. The District will solicit bids by posting bids using at least one public posting source. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. 4. Competitive proposals are used for all purchases over $250,000 for which sealed bids are not appropriate and must be used for architectural or engineering services. Contracts entered into for competitive proposals may be fixed-price or cost reimbursement. The District will publicize a request for proposal by advertising through the local paper or using a procurement source. The District will evaluate proposals in order to award the contract to the most advantageous proposal when considering cost and other factors. The District will evaluate proposals by checklist and compare. 5. Sole source procurement is used only when the goods or services are only available from a single source; a public exigency or emergency exists; there is inadequate competition and the applicable pass through entity approves this method. Lack of proper internal controls over Federal Grants management led to the District expending the following amounts without using the proper procurement method: Education Stabilization Fund - Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund, AL #84.425D ? $33,000 was paid to a vendor for electrical work related to a HVAC project; however, the District could not provide documentation to support the required price quotations were obtained from a minimum of three vendors. ? $350,000 was paid to a vendor for a HVAC project; however, the District could not provide documentation to support sealed bids were solicited and received, and the contract awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. ? $226,752 was paid to a vendor for a HVAC project; however, the District could not provide documentation to support the required price quotations were obtained from a minimum of three vendors. Education Stabilization Fund - American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund, AL #84.425U ? $1,898,392 was paid to a vendor for the design and build of kindergarten and high school classrooms; however, the District could not provide documentation to support sealed bids were solicited and received and the contract awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Without proper controls over procurement, there is an increased risk that the District is not in compliance with applicable federal regulations. Noncompliance could result in federal funding being reduced or taken away, or other sanctions imposed by the federal grantor agency. The District should review the procurement requirements specified above and ensure the proper procurement method is used. The District should also maintain adequate documentation to detail the history of procurement.
2 CFR 3474.1 provides that the Department of Education (DOE) adopts the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidance in 2 CFR part 200. Thus, this section gives regulatory effect to the OMB guidance and supplements the guidance as needed for the DOE, except as otherwise noted in that section. Appendix II to 2 CFR part 200, Paragraph D states that all contracts made by the non-Federal entity under the Federal award must contain provisions covering the following: (D) Davis-Bacon Act, as amended (40 U.S.C. 3141-3148). When required by Federal program legislation, all prime construction contracts in excess of $2,000 awarded by non-Federal entities must include a provision for compliance with the Davis-Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. 3141-3144, and 3146-3148) as supplemented by Department of Labor regulations (29 CFR Part 5, ?Labor Standards Provisions Applicable to Contracts Covering Federally Financed and Assisted Construction?). In accordance with the statute, contractors must be required to pay wages to laborers and mechanics at a rate not less than the prevailing wages specified in a wage determination made by the Secretary of Labor. In addition, contractors must be required to pay wages not less than once a week. The non-Federal entity must place a copy of the current prevailing wage determination issued by the Department of Labor in each solicitation. The decision to award a contract or subcontract must be conditioned upon the acceptance of the wage determination. The non-Federal entity must report all suspected or reported violations to the Federal awarding agency. The contracts must also include a provision for compliance with the Copeland ?Anti-Kickback? Act (40 U.S.C. 3145), as supplemented by Department of Labor regulations (29 CFR Part 3, ?Contractors and Subcontractors on Public Building or Public Work Financed in Whole or in Part by Loans or Grants from the United States?). The Act provides that each contractor or subrecipient must be prohibited from inducing, by any means, any person employed in the construction, completion, or repair of public work, to give up any part of the compensation to which he or she is otherwise entitled. The non-Federal entity must report all suspected or reported violations to the Federal awarding agency. Lack of proper internal controls over Federal Grants management led to the District expending $609,752 of its Education Stabilization Fund - Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund, AL #84.425D and $1,898,392 of its Education Stabilization Fund - American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund, AL #84.425U, federal grant funds for the replacement/renovation of HVAC systems and related electrical work, and the design and build of kindergarten and high school classrooms without the District?s contracts including a provision to ensure the contractors complied with Federal wage rate requirements. Additionally, the District did not obtain weekly certified payroll reports from the contractors to verify prevailing wages were paid on a weekly basis. Without proper controls over wage rate requirements, there is an increased risk that the District and its contractors and subcontractors are not in compliance with applicable federal regulations. Noncompliance could result in federal funding being reduced or taken away, or other sanctions imposed by the federal grantor agency. The District should ensure contracts for construction in excess of $2,000 paid with federal grant monies contain a provision the contractor comply with the wage rate requirements and ensure certified payroll reports are provided weekly by the contractor. The District should review the certified payroll reports and report all suspected or reported violations to the Federal awarding agency.
2 CFR 3474.1 provides that the Department of Education (DOE) adopts the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidance in 2 CFR part 200. Thus, this section gives regulatory effect to the OMB guidance and supplements the guidance as needed for the DOE, except as otherwise noted in that section. 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 sections 200.318 through 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 nonfederal 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)(1)(ii)). If small purchase procedures are used, price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources (2 CFR 200.320(a)(2)(i)). 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)(1); 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 five 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 200.324(a)). The cost plus a percentage of cost and percentage of construction cost methods of contracting must not be used (2 CFR 200.324(d)). 6. Ensure that every purchase order or other contract includes applicable provisions required by 2 CFR 200.327. These provisions are described in Appendix II to 2 CFR Part 200, ?Contract Provisions for Non-Federal Entity Contracts Under Federal Awards. Black River Local School District Board Policy DJF-R ? Purchasing Procedures indicates the following methods of procurement will be used for all purchases of goods and services made with federal funds: 1. Micro-purchases are purchases up to $10,000 and may be made in accordance with District purchasing procedures when the costs are reasonable. To the extent practicable, these purchases are distributed equitably among qualified suppliers. 2. Small purchase are purchases between $10,000 and $250,000. Prior to authorizing the purchase, the District will try to obtain price rates or quotations from a minimum of three vendors or providers. The District will obtain these price rates or quotations by written quotes. 3. Sealed bid procedures are used for firm fixed price contracts over $250,000 and is used as the preferred method for construction projects. Bids are solicited from an adequate number of known suppliers, which cannot be less than two responsible bidders. The District will solicit bids by posting bids using at least one public posting source. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. 4. Competitive proposals are used for all purchases over $250,000 for which sealed bids are not appropriate and must be used for architectural or engineering services. Contracts entered into for competitive proposals may be fixed-price or cost reimbursement. The District will publicize a request for proposal by advertising through the local paper or using a procurement source. The District will evaluate proposals in order to award the contract to the most advantageous proposal when considering cost and other factors. The District will evaluate proposals by checklist and compare. 5. Sole source procurement is used only when the goods or services are only available from a single source; a public exigency or emergency exists; there is inadequate competition and the applicable pass through entity approves this method. Lack of proper internal controls over Federal Grants management led to the District expending the following amounts without using the proper procurement method: Education Stabilization Fund - Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund, AL #84.425D ? $33,000 was paid to a vendor for electrical work related to a HVAC project; however, the District could not provide documentation to support the required price quotations were obtained from a minimum of three vendors. ? $350,000 was paid to a vendor for a HVAC project; however, the District could not provide documentation to support sealed bids were solicited and received, and the contract awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. ? $226,752 was paid to a vendor for a HVAC project; however, the District could not provide documentation to support the required price quotations were obtained from a minimum of three vendors. Education Stabilization Fund - American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund, AL #84.425U ? $1,898,392 was paid to a vendor for the design and build of kindergarten and high school classrooms; however, the District could not provide documentation to support sealed bids were solicited and received and the contract awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Without proper controls over procurement, there is an increased risk that the District is not in compliance with applicable federal regulations. Noncompliance could result in federal funding being reduced or taken away, or other sanctions imposed by the federal grantor agency. The District should review the procurement requirements specified above and ensure the proper procurement method is used. The District should also maintain adequate documentation to detail the history of procurement.