Finding 1164453 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
I
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2025-12-11

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The District failed to keep documentation proving that vendors were not suspended or debarred before payments were made.
  • Impacted Requirements: Federal guidelines mandate that grant recipients verify vendor status to avoid transactions with suspended or debarred parties.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement procedures to ensure proper retention of suspension and debarment documentation for future transactions.

Finding Text

Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture Federal Program Name: Special Education Assistance Listing Number: 84.027 and 84.173 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: Unknown - 2025 Pass-Through Agency and Pass-Through Number: Minnesota Department of Education – H027A240087, H173A240086 Award Period: Year Ended June 30, 2025 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Other Matters Condition: The District did not retain documentation to support that the vendors used were not suspended or debarred. Criteria or specific requirement: Federal guidelines require grant recipients to perform verification procedures that a vendor is not federally suspended or debarred prior to entering into a covered transaction. Questioned Costs: None. The vendor was not federally suspended or debarred. Context: During suspension and debarment testing, it was noted that the vendor tested did not go through proper suspension and debarment procedures before the District made the payment. Effect: Lack of proper documentation of controls over compliance with suspension and debarment requirements could result in paying suspended or debarred vendors. This could ultimately result in questioned costs. After review of vendors, it was noted that no vendors used were on the suspension or debarment list. Cause: Oversight. Repeat Finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend the District implement additional procedures to ensure suspension and debarment documentation is retained. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.

Corrective Action Plan

SUSPENSION AND DEBARMENT CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN (CAP) Recommendation: We recommend the District implement additional procedures to ensure suspension and debarment documentation is retained. Explanation of Disagreement with Audit Findings: The District will continue to evaluate their policies and procedures and retain documentation of their review. Actions Planned in Response to the Finding: The District will continue to evaluate their policies and procedures and retain documentation of their review. Official Responsible for Ensuring CAP: Tina Burkholder, Director of Business Services Planned Completion Date for CAP: June 30, 2026

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1164452 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.027 SPECIAL EDUCATION GRANTS TO STATES $1.95M
10.555 NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM $892,419
84.010 TITLE I GRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES $299,890
16.710 PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERSHIP AND COMMUNITY POLICING GRANTS $272,958
10.553 SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM $205,168
84.367 SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION STATE GRANTS (FORMERLY IMPROVING TEACHER QUALITY STATE GRANTS) $88,105
84.011 MIGRANT EDUCATION STATE GRANT PROGRAM $66,653
84.173 SPECIAL EDUCATION PRESCHOOL GRANTS $64,146
84.002 ADULT EDUCATION - BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $64,017
84.365 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION STATE GRANTS $23,573
10.560 STATE ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES FOR CHILD NUTRITION $7,079
84.181 SPECIAL EDUCATION-GRANTS FOR INFANTS AND FAMILIES $5,732