Corrective Action Plans

FINDING 2024-003 Finding Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) – Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Contact Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Bethany Cmar Contact Phone Number and Email Address: 765-641-2126 (Bcmar@acsc.net) Views of Responsible Officials: We concur with the finding. Description of Corrective Action Plan: When it comes to procurements thresholds, ACS will prepare a policy to follow the necessary federal guidelines. For small purchases, three quotes or bids will be obtained to ensure compliance with the procurement guidelines. For all vendors expected to exceed over $25,000 in expenditures will be kept in a binder by the Special Ed Director to ensure that they are not suspended or debarred from federal awards. The CFO will then review and approve the documentation supporting this via signature. Anticipated Completion Date: June 30, 2025

Identifying Number: Finding No. 2024-003 – Procurement over Small Purchase Transactions (Mental and Behavioral Health Education and Training Grants) Finding: The College did not obtain price or rate quotations obtained from different qualified transactions for all small purchase transactions sampled under the Mental and Behavioral Health Education and Training Grants. Corrective Actions Taken or Planned: Responsible Official: Jaime Cacciola, Director of Grant and Tim Pollak, Director of Finance Anticipated Completion Date: April 30, 2025 View of Responsible Individuals: 1. A new procurement policy was created and put into effect in FY2025 that addresses all compliance requirements under Uniform Guidance sections §200.317 – §§00.326, which includes the following: Methods of Procurement to be Followed (§200.320) Small Purchase Method: Small purchase procedures are those relatively simple and informal procurement methods for securing services, supplies or other property that do not cost more than the defined Simplified Acquisition Threshold of $250,000. Price or rate quotations must be obtained from at least two suppliers. The PI is responsible for documenting suppliers reviewed, quotes received and reason for selection of supplier. Quotes can be obtained from suppliers or from public websites and included as backup documentation for the purchase.

Identifying Number: Finding No. 2024-002 – Procurement over Small Purchase Transactions (Research and Development Grants) Finding: The College did not obtain price or rate quotations obtained from different qualified transactions for all small purchase transactions sampled under the Research and Development Cluster Grants. Corrective Actions Taken or Planned: Responsible Official: Jaime Cacciola, Director of Grant and Tim Pollak, Director of Finance Anticipated Completion Date: April 30, 2025 View of Responsible Individuals: 1. A new procurement policy was created and put into effect in FY2025 that addresses all compliance requirements under Uniform Guidance sections §200.317 – §§00.326, which includes the following: Methods of Procurement to be Followed (§200.320) Small Purchase Method: Small purchase procedures are those relatively simple and informal procurement methods for securing services, supplies or other property that do not cost more than the defined Simplified Acquisition Threshold of $250,000. Price or rate quotations must be obtained from at least two suppliers. The PI is responsible for documenting suppliers reviewed, quotes received and reason for selection of supplier. Quotes can be obtained from suppliers or from public websites and included as backup documentation for the purchase.

FINDING 2024-007 (Section III-Federal Award Findings and Questioned Costs) Finding Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Contact Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Dawn Mason, Business Manager, DeKalb Co. Eastern CSD Contact Phone Number and Email Address: 260-868-2125; dmason@dkeschools.com Views of Responsible Officials: We concur with the findings. Description of Corrective Action Plan: The expenditures referenced in the finding were expended from the American Rescue Plan Special Education grant funds which were fully expended during the audit period. All future expenditures triggering procurement and suspension and debarment requirements will include implementing the following procurement policies. Reference Procurement Standards 2 CFR 200.318 Districts may not enter into contracts with entities that have been suspended or debarred from participating in contracts with federal funds. For contracts over $25,000, districts must verify a contractor is not excluded or disqualified. Contractors must be verified in one of three ways: 1. Checking the System for Award Management (SAM) (www.SAM.gov) 2. Collecting a certificate from that contractor. 3. Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that contractor. (Recommended) **Proper verification and documentation must be sent to the LEA for audit purposes. Methods of Procurement Where specific EDGAR/UG thresholds apply, Districts must meet baseline requirements for procurement. If State or local rules have more restrictive thresholds, the most restrictive rule must be followed. Informal Procurement Procedures 1. Micro-purchase (0-$50,000) Dekalb County Eastern CSD has self-certified micro-purchases for up to $50,000 Micro-purchases may be awarded without soliciting competitive quotes if the district considers the price to be reasonable. Quotes must be attached to the invoice/checks for proper documentation and retained by the LEA. 2. Small Purchase ($50,000 – $150,000) Three quotes are required prior to purchase unless the purchase comes from a “Sole Source” vendor. Small purchases are required to be ordered under a purchase order unless in an emergency. Additional quotes must be presented along with the purchase order prior to being approved by the LEA. Per Uniform Guidance: 2 CFR § 200.511(a) – “The auditee is responsible for follow-up and corrective action on all audit findings. . .The auditee must also prepare a corrective action plan for current year audit findings. . . The corrective action plan and summary schedule of prior audit findings must include findings relating to the financial statements which are required to be reported in accordance with GAGAS. ” 2 CFR § 200.511(c) – “At the completion of the audit, the auditee must prepare, in a document separate from the auditor's findings described in § 200.516, a corrective action plan to address each audit finding included in the current year auditor's reports. The corrective action plan must provide the name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action, the corrective action planned, and the anticipated completion date. If the auditee does not agree with the audit findings or believes corrective action is not required, then the corrective action plan must include an explanation and specific reasons.” Formal Procurement Procedures 1. Sealed Bids (above $150,000) Bids must be solicited from an adequate number of suppliers, providing them with sufficient response time prior to the opening of the bids. Proper advertisement and procedures must be followed per IC 5-22 and corresponding documentation must be presented to the LEA prior to any final approval or purchases being made. 2. Competitive Proposals (above $150,000) The Request for Proposal method is used for procurements in which factors other than cost play a significant role. Per IC 5-22-9, when a purchasing agent makes a written determination that the use of competitive sealed bidding is either not practicable or not advantageous to the governmental body, the purchasing agent may award a contract using this procedure instead of competitive sealed bidding. This provides a formal process for the procurement of goods and/or services for which price is not the sole factor in the selection of a vendor or vendors. Proper advertisement and procedures must be followed per IC 5-22 and corresponding documentation must be presented to the LEA prior to any final approval or purchases being made. Noncompetitive (Sole Source) All sole source procurements require adequate written justification and must be attached to the corresponding purchase order or payment. Anticipated Completion Date: All expenditures initiated after March 12, 2025

FINDING 2024-003 Finding Subject: Special Education Cluster – Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Contact Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Marcia Fullenkamp, Treasurer Contact Phone Number and Email Address: (812) 623-2212; mfullenkamp@rodspecialed.org Views of Responsible Officials: We concur with the finding. Description of Corrective Action Plan: The ROD Special Education Cooperative will make notes in the Board Minutes regarding the fact that only one vendor can provide specific services prior to entering into a contract or purchasing said services. Each company providing services will be checked on the SAM.gov website to ensure that the vendor has not been suspended or debarred. Anticipated Completion Date: February 1, 2024

Management agrees with the finding and will review and revise its procurement polciies and procedures to provide clarity, provide additional training to employees and board members, and establish monitoring procedures to ensure policies and procedures are being followed.

Management agrees with the finding and will review and revise its procurement polciies and procedures to provide clarity, provide additional training to employees and board members, and establish monitoring procedures to ensure policies and procedures are being followed.

Finding 2024‐002 Finding Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) ‐ Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Contact Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Todd A. Armstrong, Assistant Superintendent Contact Phone Number and Email Address: (812) 897‐6036 tarmstrong@warrick.k12.in.us Views of the Responsible Official: We concur with the finding. Additional Explanation: Although the vendors selected provided specific services outlined in the federal grant, proper documentation of how those vendors were selected was not maintained. Moreover, the department believed by following the spending allotted in the grant, they were meeting necessary purchasing guidelines. Internal controls did not identify this misstep and allowed the services to be purchased. To avoid this in the future, guidelines will be prepared for all departments submitting purchase requests, and an additional control will be put in place to verify that procedures are followed. Description of Corrective Action Plan: 1) Create and write an administrative guideline that outlines expected purchasing procedures. 2) Distribute and make available the administrative guideline to employees. 3) Create an additional internal control in the business office to verify that those procedures were met with each requisition or request for purchase. 4) Provide necessary corrections to any request that does not follow guidelines. Mr. Armstrong will oversee, direct, and coordinate this process. He will work with the Corporation administrative team to develop and write the guidelines. The Business department will distribute the guidelines to all interested parties and have guidelines available upon request. Mr. Armstrong will outline expectations and determine when they have been met satisfactorily. Anticipated Completion Date: The remedy for this finding will be in place prior to June 30, 2025.

FA 2024-001 Improve Controls over Procurement, Suspension and Debarment Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Internal Control Impact: Significant Deficiency Compliance Impact: Nonmaterial Noncompliance Federal Awarding Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass-Through Entity: Georgia Department of Education Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.027 - Special Education Grants to States 84.173 - Special Education Preschool Grants Federal Award Number: H027A220073 (Year: 2023), H027A230073 (Year: 2024), H173A220081 (Year: 2023), H173A230081 (Year: 2024), Questioned Costs: None Identified Description: A review of expenditures charged to the Special Education Cluster revealed that the School District's internal control procedures were not operating appropriately to ensure that the School District's procurement and suspension and debarment procedures were followed. Corrective Action Plans: To improve controls over procurement and suspension and debarment within our federal programs, we will: 1. Conduct an audit review training session in which we will review the audit findings, the corrective action plan, and the proper procedures for procurement and suspension and debarment. Attendance will be mandatory for all employees involved in the purchasing process for federal programs. A sign-in sheet will be used to document attendance. 2. Require all employees who are involved in the purchasing process for federal programs to review the Federal Programs Handbook annually and sign an attestation that they have done so. 3. Create a checklist that must be completed as part of the purchasing process for federal programs requisitions. This checklist will include steps found in the procurement and suspension and debarment policies set forth in the Federal Programs Handbook. Completed checklists will be maintained with voucher packets for each requisition. Estimated Completion Date: 6/30/2025 Contact Person: Nicole Price, Finance Director Telephone: 229-649-2234 Email: price.nicole@marion.k12.ga.us

FINDING 2024-004 Finding Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Procurement Contact Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Robert Glover Jr. Contact Phone Number: (219) 945-0250 Contact Email Address: rglover@hobart.k12.in.us Views of Responsible Officials: We concur with the finding. Description of Corrective Action Plan: As a member of the Northwest Indiana Special Education Cooperative (NISEC), School City of Hobart usually expends contracted services out of our general education fund. For the fiscal year 2023-2024, we included our contracted speech services into our federal grant funds. During the audit, Hobart was notified that we didn’t follow the procurement procedures when expending out of the federal grant. This finding was due to Hobart not going out and receiving multiple bids for contracted companies that provide services to our students. Hobart uses three contracted companies to provide Speech Pathologist and Speech Language Assistants. We have used these three companies for many years and have built great working relationships with these providers. After receiving the finding, and discussing with the auditor, we created a memo that we took to our board. In the memo we explained why we use the three contracted vendors instead of going out for bids. Finding Speech Pathologists and Speech Language Assistants is very difficult in the school setting, and they have created great working relationships with these three contracted companies. Within the memo, we listed all the contracted vendors that they use and why they work directly with them instead of going out for bids. If any contracted services are not bid, at the beginning of each school year, they will create a new memo with any contracted companies that they will be using during that school year and the memo will be approved by the School Board. Anticipated Completion Date: 4/30/2025

FA 2024-001 Improve Controls over Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Internal Control Impact: Significant Deficiency Compliance Impact: Nonmaterial Noncompliance Federal Awarding Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass-Through Entity: Georgia Department of Education Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.027 - Special Education Grants to States 84.173 - Special Education Preschool Grants Federal Award Number: H027A220073 (Year: 2022), H027A230073 (Year: 2023), H173A230081 (Year: 2023) Questioned Costs: $44,955 Description: A review of expenditures charged to the Special Education Cluster revealed that the School District's internal control procedures were not operating appropriately to ensure that the School District's procurement and suspension and debarment procedures were followed. Corrective Action Plans: We are implementing a more structured approach to larger purchases, which should help improve oversight and accountability. A new purchasing policy was implemented to ensure that significant expenditures are carefully reviewed and align with the district's financial strategy. Having the new CFO involved in reviewing and overseeing large purchases, as they'll be able to bring financial oversight to the process. Offering training to staff members who need help understanding the new policy will also ensure smooth adoption and compliance across the board. Estimated Completion Date: June 30, 2025 Contact Person: Shannon White, Business Services Director Telephone: 229-671-6045 Email: swhite@goats.org

Finding 2024-004 Internal Controls over Procurement Plan: University will work with information technology to enhance the eprocurement system to ensure appropriate documentation support is captured when a user selects the method for a non-competitive procurement. Expected Implementation Date: December 2025 Contact: Aaron Rosenthal, Assistant Vice Chancellor Purchasing and Contract Management University of Illinois Chicago Aaronr1@uillinois.edu 312-996-8074 Bradley Henson, Director of Purchasing Purchasing and Contract Management University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Bhenson4@uillinois.edu 217-300-2459

Context: For the three small purchase method procurements sampled for testing, we noted that the School Corporation, did not obtain quotes from an adequate number of qualified sources. The total amount disbursed for the sample items was $114,123 in FY23 and $13,404 in FY24 for contracted rehabilitation therapy and speech pathology services. The School Corporation did properly perform a suspension and debarment checks on the sample vendors. Contact Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Patrick Biggerstaff, Assistant Superintendent Contact Phone Number: (317) 831-0950 Views of Responsible Official: We concur with the finding. Description of Corrective Action Plan: Three quotes will be obtained, according to local policy (po6320) as well as state and federal guidance, when relevant purchasing and cost thresholds are reached. Anticipated Completion Date: April 1, 2025

FINDING 2024-003 Finding Subject: Childhood Nutrition Cluster – Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Contact Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Ralph Shrader, Superintendent Contact Phone Number and Email Address: (765) 762-3364 / rshrader@msdwarco.k12.in.us Views of Responsible Officials: Option 1: We concur with the finding Description of Corrective Action Plan: We will obtain quotes for any purchases that qualify under the small purchases requirement Any director responsible for corporation contracts, will be responsible for checking Sam.gov to ensure the vendor is not on the suspension and disbarment list. A secondary individual will verify the findings. In addition, the micropurchase threshold will be raised to $50,000. Anticipated Completion Date: Effective Immediately

FINDING 2024-005 Finding Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster-Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Summary of Finding: The school corporation made purchases from vendors without using the procurement method and verifying that the vendor was not suspended or debarred. The School corporation did not properly implement a process to identify and assess internal and external risks, or monitor internal control activities to ensure they were operating effectively. Contact Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Melissa Embry Contact Phone Number and Email Address: 812-547-2637 melissa.embry@cannelton.k12.in.us Views of Responsible Officials: We concur with the finding. Description of Corrective Action Plan: We will follow all correct procurement plans set forth in the future. We will also verify with each vendor and have a form filled out stating that they are not suspended or debarred. Cannelton management will establish a proper system of internal controls including policies and procedures related to risk assessment and monitoring activities within the federal program. Anticipated Completion Date: The School will ensure proper procurement methods are followed and that vendors are properly checked for suspension and debarment by December 2025. The additional controls will be implemented by August 2025.

Internal Control: When a purchase is made with any vendor over the $25,000 threshold from Fund #800, School Lunch, Fund, the superintendent along with the treasurer or deputy treasurer (minimum of two people) will require that any vendors selected are in compliance with the Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirements by completing one the of following quality checks with each vendor prior to purchase: a. Checking the federal System for Award Management (SAM) database at https://sam.gov/content/exclusions and maintain a screen shot of the search results b. Collect a certification from the vendor directly c. Adda clause or condition to the covered transaction with the vendor

Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster – Internal Controls Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listing Number: 84.173, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 23619-008-PN01; 22619-008-ARP Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Audit Finding: Material Weakness Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Delaware-Blackford Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal year 2022-2023, the Cooperative operated the special education preschool program and spent the federal money on behalf of six of its seven members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the procurement and the suspension and debarment requirements. The Cooperative did not have adequate procedures in place to ensure that the requirements for small purchases were met for each applicable procured good or service or to ensure that vendors were not suspended or debarred prior to entering into a covered transaction. Procurement Federal regulations allow for informal procurement methods when the value of the procurement for goods or services does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, which is customarily set at $250,000. However, Indiana Code 5-22-8 has a more restrictive threshold of $150,000 or less for when small purchase procedures may be used. This informal process allows for methods other than the formal bid process. The informal process is divided between two methods based on thresholds. Micro-purchases, typically for those purchases $10,000 or under, and small purchase procedures for those purchases above the micro-purchase threshold, but below the simplified acquisition threshold. Micro-purchases may be awarded without soliciting competitive price rate quotations. If small purchase procedures are used, then price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources. If it is determined a single source provider can be used for a small purchase, documentation must be retained supporting the determination. Two vendors exceeded the small purchase threshold during the audit period. The Cooperative provided evidence of a quote being obtained for the first vendor, however, evidence of obtaining multiple quotes was not retained for audit. The chosen quote was attached to the accounts payable vouchers and provided for audit; however, the other quotes obtained for the purchase were not maintained. For the second vendor, the Cooperative determined psychological services were to be provided by a single source provider, however, they did not have a documented rationale or support for the decision. Documentation detailing the history of procurement, which must include the reason for the procurement method used, selection of the vendor, and the basis for the price, was not available for audit for either purchase. Suspension and Debarment The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure compliance with the suspension and debarment requirement. The Cooperative did not have adequate internal controls in place to ensure all applicable vendors were not suspended or debarred prior to entering into a covered transaction. As such, the Cooperative entered into a contract totaling $32,388, which exceeded $25,000, for psychological services. The Cooperative did not perform procedures to ensure that the vendor was not suspended or debarred from participation in federal programs. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Contact Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Dr. Greg Roach Contact Phone Number: 765-378-3329 Views of Responsible Official: We concur with the finding. Description of Corrective Action Plan: During quarterly meeting with MCS Co-op, will discuss that internal controls are in place for procurement, suspension and debarment requirements are in place for purchases. Anticipated Completion Date: 2025 next quarterly meeting with Muncie Community Schools Co-op

2024-002 Procurement Recommendation: Non-competitive procurement should be documented and approved prior to incurring expenses. Management Response: CASIS acknowledges the error documenting these procurements. The two legal service vendors had been discussed internally and the selections rationalized based on the specialty of the professional services required for leasing and employment matters. Unfortunately, the documentation was not completed and stored as required by our internal policies. We consider these costs to be both necessary and reasonable, as we were negotiating a new office space lease and the rates were consistent with other legal service providers that CASIS has procured. CASIS plans on reinforcing the procurement documentation requirements with our personnel through additional training and reminding that engagement letters need to go through our document review software. Responsible Party: Jonathan Bobbitt, CPA, Finance Manager Date Expected to be Corrected: April 30, 2025

Views of Responsible Officials:  The Organization will update its procurement policy to be in conformance with Federal cost principles for approval at the next Board Meeting on February 24, 2025.  Supporting operating procedures will be reviewed and adjusted accordingly to ensure compliance with the policy by February 28, 2025.  The situation resulting in this finding was for the procurement of support services for a new electronic health records system which was successfully implemented using the services purchased at a reasonable cost; however, the procedures followed by previous staff did not fully comply with the Organization's policies and procedures nor the Federal cost principles. The Organization has since implemented additional procedures to ensure documentation for competitive bids and justification for all purchases to comply with Federal requirements enhancing the Organization's internal procedures. The Organization will do a full review of the Federal cost principles and suggested procedures to ensure full compliance and implement new policies and additional procedures, as necessary, by February 28. 2025.

FINDING 2024-003 Finding Subject: Summary of Finding: Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States; COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States; Special Education Preschool Grants; COVID-19 - Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027; 84.173 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 22611-042-ARP; 22619-042-ARP Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement(s): Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Contact Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Dawn Mason, Business Manager, DeKalb Co. Eastern CSD Contact Phone Number and Email Address: 260-868-2125 Views of Responsible Officials: We concur with the findings. Description of Corrective Action Plan: The expenditures referenced in the finding were expended from the American Rescue Plan Special Education grant funds which were fully expended during the audit period. All future expenditures triggering procurement and suspension and debarment requirements will include implementing the following procurement policies. Reference Procurement Standards 2 CFR 200.318 Districts may not enter into contracts with entities that have been suspended or debarred from participating in contracts with federal funds. For contracts over $25,000, districts must verify a contractor is not excluded or disqualified. Contractors must be verified in one of three ways: 1. Checking the System for Award Management (SAM) (www.SAM.gov) 2. Collecting a certificate from that contractor. 3. Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that contractor. (Recommended) **Proper verification and documentation must be sent to the LEA for audit purposes. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 32 3326 CR 427, Waterloo, IN 46793 p 260-920-1011 f 260-837-7767 Steven E. Teders, Ed.S., Superintendent Loraine K. Vaughn, Ed.S., Assistant Superintendent Mark W. Rohm, Chief Financial and Operations Officer Personalized Pathways for Success Methods of Procurement Where specific EDGAR/UG thresholds apply, Districts must meet baseline requirements for procurement. If State or local rules have more restrictive thresholds, the most restrictive rule must be followed. Informal Procurement Procedures 1. Micro-purchase (0-$50,000) Dekalb County Eastern CSD has self-certified micro-purchases for up to $50,000 Micro-purchases may be awarded without soliciting competitive quotes if the district considers the price to be reasonable. Quotes must be attached to the invoice/checks for proper documentation and retained by the LEA. 2. Small Purchase ($50,000 – $150,000) Three quotes are required prior to purchase unless the purchase comes from a “Sole Source” vendor. Small purchases are required to be ordered under a purchase order unless in an emergency. Additional quotes must be presented along with the purchase order prior to being approved by the LEA. Formal Procurement Procedures 1. Sealed Bids (above $150,000) Bids must be solicited from an adequate number of suppliers, providing them with sufficient response time prior to the opening of the bids. Proper advertisement and procedures must be followed per IC 5-22 and corresponding documentation must be presented to the LEA prior to any final approval or purchases being made. 2. Competitive Proposals (above $150,000) The Request for Proposal method is used for procurements in which factors other than cost play a significant role. Per IC 5-22-9, when a purchasing agent makes a written determination that the use of competitive sealed bidding is either not practicable or not advantageous to the governmental body, the purchasing agent may award a contract using this procedure instead of competitive sealed bidding. This provides a formal process for the procurement of goods and/or services for which price is not the sole factor in the selection of a vendor or vendors. Proper advertisement and procedures must be followed per IC 5-22 and corresponding documentation must be presented to the LEA prior to any final approval or purchases being made. Noncompetitive (Sole Source) All sole source procurements require adequate written justification and must be attached to the corresponding purchase order or payment. Anticipated Completion Date: All expenditures initiated after March 12, 2025

Finding Number: 2024‐002 Program Name/Assistance Listing Title: Indian School Equalization; Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies Assistance Listing Number: 15.042; 84.010 Contact Persons: Carmen Jodie, Principal; Patrice Henderson, Business Manager Anticipated Completion Date: June 30, 2025 Planned Corrective Action: The School previously experienced a high turnover rate in the Business Office and Administration. The School had a Principal and Acting Principals throughout School Year 2023‐24. The business office has obtained outside consulting services to assist in reconciliation and financial processes. The business office will continue to work with other departments in making sure they submit three written quotes for purchases above $10,000. All Department Supervisors/Administrators will be trained on the procurement process. The school’s policies will be updated to comply with 2 CFR §200.320, along with supporting forms.

FINDING 2024-004 Finding Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Contact Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Dawn Mason, Business Manager, DeKalb Co. Eastern CSD Contact Phone Number and Email Address: 260-868-2125 Views of Responsible Officials: We concur with the finding. Description of Corrective Action Plan: The expenditures referenced in the finding were expended from the American Rescue Plan Special Education grant funds which were fully expended during the audit period. All future expenditures triggering procurement and suspension and debarment requirements will include implementing the following procurement policies. Reference Procurement Standards 2 CFR 200.318 Districts may not enter into contracts with entities that have been suspended or debarred from participating in contracts with federal funds. For contracts over $25,000, districts must verify a contractor is not excluded or disqualified. Contractors must be verified in one of three ways: 1. Checking the System for Award Management (SAM) (www.SAM.gov) 2. Collecting a certificate from that contractor. 3. Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that contractor. (Recommended) **Proper verification and documentation must be sent to the LEA for audit purposes. Methods of Procurement Where specific EDGAR/UG thresholds apply, Districts must meet baseline requirements for procurement. If State or local rules have more restrictive thresholds, the most restrictive rule must be followed. Informal Procurement Procedures 1. Micro-purchase (0-$50,000) Dekalb County Eastern CSD has self-certified micro-purchases for up to $50,000 Micro-purchases may be awarded without soliciting competitive quotes if the district considers the price to be reasonable. Quotes must be attached to the invoice/checks for proper documentation and retained by the LEA. 2. Small Purchase ($50,000 – $150,000) Three quotes are required prior to purchase unless the purchase comes from a “Sole Source” vendor. Small purchases are required to be ordered under a purchase order unless in an emergency. Additional quotes must be presented along with the purchase order prior to being approved by the LEA. Formal Procurement Procedures 1. Sealed Bids (above $150,000) Bids must be solicited from an adequate number of suppliers, providing them with sufficient response time prior to the opening of the bids. Proper advertisement and procedures must be followed per IC 5-22 and corresponding documentation must be presented to the LEA prior to any final approval or purchases being made. 2. Competitive Proposals (above $150,000) The Request for Proposal method is used for procurements in which factors other than cost play a significant role. Per IC 5-22-9, when a purchasing agent makes a written determination that the use of competitive sealed bidding is either not practicable or not advantageous to the governmental body, the purchasing agent may award a contract using this procedure instead of competitive sealed bidding. This provides a formal process for the procurement of goods and/or services for which price is not the sole factor in the selection of a vendor or vendors. Proper advertisement and procedures must be followed per IC 5-22 and corresponding documentation must be presented to the LEA prior to any final approval or purchases being made. Noncompetitive (Sole Source) All sole source procurements require adequate written justification and must be attached to the corresponding purchase order or payment. Anticipated Completion Date: All expenditures initiated after March 12, 2025

Views of Responsible Officials: Additional procedures will be put in place better document in our policies and procedures to satisfy the requirements of 2 CFR 200. SAM background screening will be done on major contractors or vendors that are supported by Federal funds. Competitive bids will be fully documented and justified as why they were the chosen vendor. In the case if noncompetitive procurement based upon the usage at the request of the government agency or of limit of vendors providing that service we will maintain documentation in our files of the 5 specific circumstances of why this fits into a noncompetitive procurement situation.

Procurement We have been working with a consultant to update our procurement policy as needed as well as to outline steps we need to make on a regular basis to make sure we are compliant with the regs. We have also been working with staff to increase awareness of this principle and are working on defining roles on who is responsible for the various steps of compliance.

This is the result of a contract that was signed for engineering work on the Grass Valley Nitrate Mitigation project. Individuals involved in the procurement process incorrectly relied on NRS requirements governing professional services contracts and did not go out to bid for the services. Additionally, Humboldt County serves as the financial processor for the Humboldt River Basin Water Authority Advisory Board. The HRBWA received grant funds for the water right relinquishment program through the State of Nevada Division of Water Resources. The County will enhance communication with the executive director of the HRBWA to ensure that all procurement processes are followed and documented.