Finding Text
2024-005 - Procurement, Suspension and Debarment Finding Type. Immaterial Noncompliance; Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance (Procurement, Suspension and Debarment) Programs. Environmental and Scientific Partnerships and Programs; U.S. Department of State; ALN Number 19.017; Award Number SAQMIP23CA0021 Criteria. 2 CFR Section 200.214 requires non-federal entities to follow suspension and debarment regulations outlined in 2 CFR part 180. When a nonfederal entity enters into a covered transaction with an entity at a lower tier, the nonfederal entity must verify that the entity is not suspended or debarred or otherwise excluded from participating in the transaction. Condition. During Procurement, Suspension and Debarment testing, the Organization could not provide evidence that they determined whether vendors are suspended or debarred. Cause. The Organization did not have a procedure in place to require documentation be maintained that the search for suspension and department associated with procurement transactions in excess of the $25,000 threshold had been performed prior to procurement. Effect. Certain vendors could be used that are considered suspended or debarred by the federal government resulting in noncompliance. Questioned Costs. None Recommendation. We recommend that the Organization adhere to the policy over suspension and debarment review to ensure they are contracting with vendors that are allowable. View of Responsible Officials. Management agrees with this finding and has prepared a Corrective Action Plan.