Finding Number 2024-096 Subject Heading (Financial) or AL no. and program name (Federal) ALN: Multiple Federal Program name: Multiple Planned Corrective Action The Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES), Central Purchasing Division, respectfully submits this response regarding the use o...
Finding Number 2024-096 Subject Heading (Financial) or AL no. and program name (Federal) ALN: Multiple Federal Program name: Multiple Planned Corrective Action The Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES), Central Purchasing Division, respectfully submits this response regarding the use of federal funds in connection with statewide contracts established through the Rolling Request for Proposal (RFP) pilot program. Since the audit period, OMES has implemented significant enhancements to its statewide contracting processes to further strengthen documentation, oversight, and compliance with both state procurement law and Uniform Guidance. These enhancements also address the recommendations identified in this finding. Compliance with Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200) OMES affirms that procurements conducted under the Rolling RFP pilot program were performed in accordance with applicable provisions of Uniform Guidance and the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act, including but not limited to 2 CFR §§ 200.317, 200.318, and 200.404. Pursuant to 2 CFR §200.317, OMES follows the same procurement policies and procedures for federal funds as are used for non-federal funds. The Rolling RFP model did not eliminate competitive procurement. Rather, it modified the timing of vendor qualification by allowing qualified vendors to compete for inclusion on the statewide contract throughout the open solicitation period while agencies continued to conduct project specific Statements of Work under those contracts. Consistent with 2 CFR §200.318(a), OMES maintains oversight to ensure that procurements are conducted in a manner providing full and open competition, and that contractors perform in accordance with the terms, conditions, and specifications of their contracts. The Rolling RFP model increased vendor participation and competition by allowing qualified suppliers to submit responses on a continuous basis, thereby expanding the competitive pool available to agencies. Further, in accordance with 2 CFR §200.404, OMES ensures that costs are reasonable by requiring evaluation of pricing at both the contract award level and the transaction level. Vendors are vetted through a formal evaluation process, and Statements of Work (SOWs) are developed with agency and subject matter expert involvement to confirm that pricing reflects what a prudent person would incur under similar circumstances. Vendor pricing remained subject to procurement review, agency evaluation, statement-of-work negotiations, market comparisons, procurement approval processes, and applicable fair and reasonable price determinations required under state procurement law and Uniform Guidance. Additionally, OMES Central Purchasing operates under formalized internal procedures, including its Framework Agreement Creation Standard Operating Procedure, which explicitly requires adherence to Uniform Guidance. The SOP mandates vendor vetting, competitive evaluation, including the contract clauses required by 2 CFR §200.327 and Appendix II to Part 200, and documented evaluation methodologies to ensure transparency, consistency, and compliance in all framework (statewide) agreements. In addition, OMES has adopted the first-ever Oklahoma Procurement Manual, which establishes standardized statewide guidance for procurement planning, contract administration, federal grant compliance, documentation standards, and competition requirements. The manual reinforces Uniform Guidance requirements and provides agencies with consistent statewide procurement procedures for acquisitions involving both state and federal funds. Program Structure and Administrative Considerations The Rolling RFP pilot program functioned as a framework agreement structure, wherein suppliers were pre-qualified through a competitive solicitation process and agencies subsequently issued project-specific Statements of Work. This approach was designed to align with allowable procurement methods under Uniform Guidance. OMES recognizes, however, that the continuous open nature of the solicitation created administrative challenges and increased complexity in maintaining consistent documentation and oversight as vendor participation scaled. Documentation and Administrative Enhancements Although the pilot program did not have a standalone written procedure specific to Rolling RFPs during the audit period, it operated under existing procurement statutes, standardized solicitation procedures, evaluation documentation, internal operating procedures, and statewide contract templates. Documentation practices have since been further standardized and consolidated. While the program operated under existing procurement statutes, solicitation procedures, evaluation documentation, and internal operating practices, OMES has since implemented additional written procedures, standardized documentation requirements, and centralized guidance to improve consistency, transparency, and ease of audit review. These enhancements strengthen an already competitive procurement process by providing more comprehensive documentation of procurement decisions and contract administration. Program Closeout Following a comprehensive review, the State Purchasing Director formally determined that the Rolling RFP pilot program would be closed effective July 1, 2024. All resulting contracts have transitioned to standard statewide contract structures, which incorporate defined solicitation periods and controlled opportunities for vendor participation through supplemental solicitations. Because the pilot program has been discontinued and replaced with traditional statewide contracting methods, legislative recommendations regarding continuation of the pilot are no longer necessary. Remedial Actions Aligned to Uniform Guidance In response to audit observations and in furtherance of compliance with Uniform Guidance, OMES is implementing the following corrective actions: 1. Enhanced Competition at the Transaction Level (2 CFR §200.319) For all service-based procurements utilizing statewide contracts, agencies will be required to conduct a documented second level of competition (e.g., multiple quotes, mini-bids, or competitive SOW processes) to ensure full and open competition at the task/order level. 2. Structured Re-Competition of Vendor Pools OMES will replace continuously open solicitations with time-bound supplemental RFPs, ensuring periodic recompetition and maintaining a manageable and auditable procurement environment. 3. Strengthened Cost Analysis and Documentation (2 CFR §200.324) OMES will reinforce requirements for price analysis and cost reasonableness determinations at both the contract and transaction levels, with enhanced documentation standards to support audit review. 4. Formalized Policies and Procedures (2 CFR §200.318(a)) OMES Central Purchasing is dedicated to documenting all procurement processes, particularly those impacting purchases using federal funds. This includes comprehensive SOPs, required contract attachments (including federal terms), and standardized evaluation and recordkeeping practices. Specifically, we have created SOPs for pilot programs and for statewide contracts generally. While comprehensive written procedures specific to the Rolling RFP pilot program had not yet been consolidated into a standalone procedure during the audit period, the program operated under existing procurement statutes, statewide solicitation procedures, evaluation documentation, internal operating procedures, and standardized contract documents. OMES has also implemented standardized procurement templates and required federal contract attachments that incorporate the clauses required under 2 CFR §200.327 and Appendix II to Part 200. These standardized documents promote consistent compliance across procurements utilizing federal funds. 5. Statewide Procurement Manual OMES has recently released the first-ever Oklahoma Procurement Manual, which provides statewide guidance to agencies and includes a dedicated section on federal grant compliance. The manual reinforces Uniform Guidance requirements, including competition, cost reasonableness, and documentation standards. 6. Ongoing Oversight and Training OMES will continue to provide training, procurement memoranda, and guidance to agencies to ensure consistent understanding and application of federal requirements, while reinforcing that subrecipients are responsible for compliance with the specific terms of their federal awards. Anticipated Completion Date Sine Die Responsible Contact Person Amanda Otis, State Purchasing Director for the State of Oklahoma