Finding No.: 2022-001 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Pass-Through Entity: Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority AL Program: COVID-19 14.231 Emergency Solutions Grant Program Federal Award No.: E-20-SW-66-0001 Area: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Questioned Cost: $1,095,000 Criteria: In accordance with applicable procurement and suspension and debarment requirements, the non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent with the Procurement Standards in 2 CFR ? 200.318-327, which require formal procurement methods when the procurement of goods or services exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold (i.e., $250,000). Condition: For one (or 20%) of five procurement transactions tested, aggregating $1,512K out of $1,519K in total non-payroll program expenditures, the small purchases method was used to procure rental of 40 rooms to be used as emergency shelters with an annual contract amount of $1,095K. Based on the contract amount, a formal procurement method should have been used in performing the procurement. Cause: Catholic Social Service (CSS) lacks controls over compliance with applicable procurement requirements. The procurement policy of CSS is not prepared in accordance with the Procurement Standards in 2 CFR 200.318-327, as it does not require formal procurement procedures for any transactions. Effect: CSS is in noncompliance with applicable procurement and suspension and debarment requirements. The total questioned cost is $1,095,000. Recommendation: CSS should establish and implement controls over compliance with applicable procurement and suspension and debarment requirements. CSS management should revisit its procurement policy for alignment with the Procurement Standards in 2 CFR 200.318-327. Views of responsible officials: CSS disagrees with the finding that CSS is in noncompliance with applicable procurement requirements cited in 2 CFR 200.318-327, resulting in a questioned cost of $1,095,000. The federal ESG-CV grant awarded to Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority (GHURA) to respond to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic provided waivers and alternative requirements, including greater flexibility, to establish expedited response actions to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. Exhibit D of the sub-recipient agreement (SRA) provides for this reference of waivers and alternative requirements. Specifically, page 18 of Section III.F.8 of Exhibit D of the SRA states the following: ?8. Procurement. As provided by the CARES Act, the recipient may deviate from the applicable procurement standards (e.g., 24 CFR 576.407(c) and (f) and 2 CFR 200.317-200.326) when procuring goods and services to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. If the recipient deviates from its procurement standards, then the recipient must establish alternative written procurement standards, and maintain documentation on the alternative procurement standards used to safeguard against fraud, waste, and abuse in the procurement of goods and services to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. This alternative requirement is necessary to ensure the funds are used efficiently and effectively to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. Notwithstanding this flexibility, the debarment and suspension regulations at 2 CFR part 180 and 2 CFR part 2424 apply as written.? The opening of a temporary emergency shelter for families and individuals who are homeless was deemed an emergency response to the coronavirus. CSS emphasizes that the focus of GHURA was to identify readily available units and obtain price quotations to stand up an emergency homeless shelter, and the ?small purchase method? would provide that information to expedite the procurement process. This process was communicated to GHURA, as well as outcome of surveys of available units, and recommendation for selection of site. CSS agrees on the recommendation to revisit CSS? procurement policy overall that would assure objectivity and cost efficiency in the purchase of goods and services, including aligning and/or adopting verbatim procurement requirements outlined in 2 CFR 200.318-327. Auditor response: The written communications between CSS and GHURA were not provided. Also, the procurement file lacks sufficient documentation to demonstrate that the use of the small purchase method was a deviation from its procurement standards or was used to safeguard against fraud, waste, and abuse. Based on the inspected procurement file, only one out of three suppliers had provided CSS a quotation. Given the high value of the procurement, CSS should have further solicited quotations from other suppliers or documented the rationale for not pursuing additional quotations from available suppliers.
Finding No.: 2022-001 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Pass-Through Entity: Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority AL Program: COVID-19 14.231 Emergency Solutions Grant Program Federal Award No.: E-20-SW-66-0001 Area: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Questioned Cost: $1,095,000 Criteria: In accordance with applicable procurement and suspension and debarment requirements, the non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent with the Procurement Standards in 2 CFR ? 200.318-327, which require formal procurement methods when the procurement of goods or services exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold (i.e., $250,000). Condition: For one (or 20%) of five procurement transactions tested, aggregating $1,512K out of $1,519K in total non-payroll program expenditures, the small purchases method was used to procure rental of 40 rooms to be used as emergency shelters with an annual contract amount of $1,095K. Based on the contract amount, a formal procurement method should have been used in performing the procurement. Cause: Catholic Social Service (CSS) lacks controls over compliance with applicable procurement requirements. The procurement policy of CSS is not prepared in accordance with the Procurement Standards in 2 CFR 200.318-327, as it does not require formal procurement procedures for any transactions. Effect: CSS is in noncompliance with applicable procurement and suspension and debarment requirements. The total questioned cost is $1,095,000. Recommendation: CSS should establish and implement controls over compliance with applicable procurement and suspension and debarment requirements. CSS management should revisit its procurement policy for alignment with the Procurement Standards in 2 CFR 200.318-327. Views of responsible officials: CSS disagrees with the finding that CSS is in noncompliance with applicable procurement requirements cited in 2 CFR 200.318-327, resulting in a questioned cost of $1,095,000. The federal ESG-CV grant awarded to Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority (GHURA) to respond to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic provided waivers and alternative requirements, including greater flexibility, to establish expedited response actions to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. Exhibit D of the sub-recipient agreement (SRA) provides for this reference of waivers and alternative requirements. Specifically, page 18 of Section III.F.8 of Exhibit D of the SRA states the following: ?8. Procurement. As provided by the CARES Act, the recipient may deviate from the applicable procurement standards (e.g., 24 CFR 576.407(c) and (f) and 2 CFR 200.317-200.326) when procuring goods and services to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. If the recipient deviates from its procurement standards, then the recipient must establish alternative written procurement standards, and maintain documentation on the alternative procurement standards used to safeguard against fraud, waste, and abuse in the procurement of goods and services to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. This alternative requirement is necessary to ensure the funds are used efficiently and effectively to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. Notwithstanding this flexibility, the debarment and suspension regulations at 2 CFR part 180 and 2 CFR part 2424 apply as written.? The opening of a temporary emergency shelter for families and individuals who are homeless was deemed an emergency response to the coronavirus. CSS emphasizes that the focus of GHURA was to identify readily available units and obtain price quotations to stand up an emergency homeless shelter, and the ?small purchase method? would provide that information to expedite the procurement process. This process was communicated to GHURA, as well as outcome of surveys of available units, and recommendation for selection of site. CSS agrees on the recommendation to revisit CSS? procurement policy overall that would assure objectivity and cost efficiency in the purchase of goods and services, including aligning and/or adopting verbatim procurement requirements outlined in 2 CFR 200.318-327. Auditor response: The written communications between CSS and GHURA were not provided. Also, the procurement file lacks sufficient documentation to demonstrate that the use of the small purchase method was a deviation from its procurement standards or was used to safeguard against fraud, waste, and abuse. Based on the inspected procurement file, only one out of three suppliers had provided CSS a quotation. Given the high value of the procurement, CSS should have further solicited quotations from other suppliers or documented the rationale for not pursuing additional quotations from available suppliers.
Finding No.: 2022-001 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Pass-Through Entity: Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority AL Program: COVID-19 14.231 Emergency Solutions Grant Program Federal Award No.: E-20-SW-66-0001 Area: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Questioned Cost: $1,095,000 Criteria: In accordance with applicable procurement and suspension and debarment requirements, the non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent with the Procurement Standards in 2 CFR ? 200.318-327, which require formal procurement methods when the procurement of goods or services exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold (i.e., $250,000). Condition: For one (or 20%) of five procurement transactions tested, aggregating $1,512K out of $1,519K in total non-payroll program expenditures, the small purchases method was used to procure rental of 40 rooms to be used as emergency shelters with an annual contract amount of $1,095K. Based on the contract amount, a formal procurement method should have been used in performing the procurement. Cause: Catholic Social Service (CSS) lacks controls over compliance with applicable procurement requirements. The procurement policy of CSS is not prepared in accordance with the Procurement Standards in 2 CFR 200.318-327, as it does not require formal procurement procedures for any transactions. Effect: CSS is in noncompliance with applicable procurement and suspension and debarment requirements. The total questioned cost is $1,095,000. Recommendation: CSS should establish and implement controls over compliance with applicable procurement and suspension and debarment requirements. CSS management should revisit its procurement policy for alignment with the Procurement Standards in 2 CFR 200.318-327. Views of responsible officials: CSS disagrees with the finding that CSS is in noncompliance with applicable procurement requirements cited in 2 CFR 200.318-327, resulting in a questioned cost of $1,095,000. The federal ESG-CV grant awarded to Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority (GHURA) to respond to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic provided waivers and alternative requirements, including greater flexibility, to establish expedited response actions to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. Exhibit D of the sub-recipient agreement (SRA) provides for this reference of waivers and alternative requirements. Specifically, page 18 of Section III.F.8 of Exhibit D of the SRA states the following: ?8. Procurement. As provided by the CARES Act, the recipient may deviate from the applicable procurement standards (e.g., 24 CFR 576.407(c) and (f) and 2 CFR 200.317-200.326) when procuring goods and services to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. If the recipient deviates from its procurement standards, then the recipient must establish alternative written procurement standards, and maintain documentation on the alternative procurement standards used to safeguard against fraud, waste, and abuse in the procurement of goods and services to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. This alternative requirement is necessary to ensure the funds are used efficiently and effectively to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. Notwithstanding this flexibility, the debarment and suspension regulations at 2 CFR part 180 and 2 CFR part 2424 apply as written.? The opening of a temporary emergency shelter for families and individuals who are homeless was deemed an emergency response to the coronavirus. CSS emphasizes that the focus of GHURA was to identify readily available units and obtain price quotations to stand up an emergency homeless shelter, and the ?small purchase method? would provide that information to expedite the procurement process. This process was communicated to GHURA, as well as outcome of surveys of available units, and recommendation for selection of site. CSS agrees on the recommendation to revisit CSS? procurement policy overall that would assure objectivity and cost efficiency in the purchase of goods and services, including aligning and/or adopting verbatim procurement requirements outlined in 2 CFR 200.318-327. Auditor response: The written communications between CSS and GHURA were not provided. Also, the procurement file lacks sufficient documentation to demonstrate that the use of the small purchase method was a deviation from its procurement standards or was used to safeguard against fraud, waste, and abuse. Based on the inspected procurement file, only one out of three suppliers had provided CSS a quotation. Given the high value of the procurement, CSS should have further solicited quotations from other suppliers or documented the rationale for not pursuing additional quotations from available suppliers.
Finding No.: 2022-001 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Pass-Through Entity: Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority AL Program: COVID-19 14.231 Emergency Solutions Grant Program Federal Award No.: E-20-SW-66-0001 Area: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Questioned Cost: $1,095,000 Criteria: In accordance with applicable procurement and suspension and debarment requirements, the non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent with the Procurement Standards in 2 CFR ? 200.318-327, which require formal procurement methods when the procurement of goods or services exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold (i.e., $250,000). Condition: For one (or 20%) of five procurement transactions tested, aggregating $1,512K out of $1,519K in total non-payroll program expenditures, the small purchases method was used to procure rental of 40 rooms to be used as emergency shelters with an annual contract amount of $1,095K. Based on the contract amount, a formal procurement method should have been used in performing the procurement. Cause: Catholic Social Service (CSS) lacks controls over compliance with applicable procurement requirements. The procurement policy of CSS is not prepared in accordance with the Procurement Standards in 2 CFR 200.318-327, as it does not require formal procurement procedures for any transactions. Effect: CSS is in noncompliance with applicable procurement and suspension and debarment requirements. The total questioned cost is $1,095,000. Recommendation: CSS should establish and implement controls over compliance with applicable procurement and suspension and debarment requirements. CSS management should revisit its procurement policy for alignment with the Procurement Standards in 2 CFR 200.318-327. Views of responsible officials: CSS disagrees with the finding that CSS is in noncompliance with applicable procurement requirements cited in 2 CFR 200.318-327, resulting in a questioned cost of $1,095,000. The federal ESG-CV grant awarded to Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority (GHURA) to respond to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic provided waivers and alternative requirements, including greater flexibility, to establish expedited response actions to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. Exhibit D of the sub-recipient agreement (SRA) provides for this reference of waivers and alternative requirements. Specifically, page 18 of Section III.F.8 of Exhibit D of the SRA states the following: ?8. Procurement. As provided by the CARES Act, the recipient may deviate from the applicable procurement standards (e.g., 24 CFR 576.407(c) and (f) and 2 CFR 200.317-200.326) when procuring goods and services to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. If the recipient deviates from its procurement standards, then the recipient must establish alternative written procurement standards, and maintain documentation on the alternative procurement standards used to safeguard against fraud, waste, and abuse in the procurement of goods and services to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. This alternative requirement is necessary to ensure the funds are used efficiently and effectively to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. Notwithstanding this flexibility, the debarment and suspension regulations at 2 CFR part 180 and 2 CFR part 2424 apply as written.? The opening of a temporary emergency shelter for families and individuals who are homeless was deemed an emergency response to the coronavirus. CSS emphasizes that the focus of GHURA was to identify readily available units and obtain price quotations to stand up an emergency homeless shelter, and the ?small purchase method? would provide that information to expedite the procurement process. This process was communicated to GHURA, as well as outcome of surveys of available units, and recommendation for selection of site. CSS agrees on the recommendation to revisit CSS? procurement policy overall that would assure objectivity and cost efficiency in the purchase of goods and services, including aligning and/or adopting verbatim procurement requirements outlined in 2 CFR 200.318-327. Auditor response: The written communications between CSS and GHURA were not provided. Also, the procurement file lacks sufficient documentation to demonstrate that the use of the small purchase method was a deviation from its procurement standards or was used to safeguard against fraud, waste, and abuse. Based on the inspected procurement file, only one out of three suppliers had provided CSS a quotation. Given the high value of the procurement, CSS should have further solicited quotations from other suppliers or documented the rationale for not pursuing additional quotations from available suppliers.