Views of Responsible Officials – Finding 2024-001 – Procurement, Debarment, and Suspension: The Town of Van Buren acknowledges the finding regarding the lack of documented procurement steps related to suspension and debarment verification, as well as the absence of federally required contract clauses. This occurred during a time when the Town was newly implementing federal grant administration procedures following the adoption of a procurement policy. As noted in the auditor’s report, this is a repeat finding; however, improvements have been made, and the Town is committed to further strengthening our internal controls to ensure full compliance with federal procurement standards. Corrective Action Plan – Finding 2024-001: To address this finding and mitigate the risk of noncompliance with federal procurement regulations, the Town will take the following actions: 1. Procurement File Checklists: Develop and implement a standardized procurement checklist that includes verification of debarment/suspension via SAM.gov, inclusion of all federally required contract provisions, and documentation of cost or price analysis. 2. Contract Review Procedures: All federally funded contracts will be subject to internal review by the Town Manager or a designated compliance officer prior to execution to ensure inclusion of required language and documentation. 3. Staff Training: Town personnel involved in procurement activities will receive annual training specifically covering 2 CFR 200.214 and 2 CFR 200.317–200.327, with emphasis on federal requirements for third-party contracts. 4. SAM.gov Verification: All vendors selected for federally funded projects will be screened through SAM.gov and appropriate documentation (screenshot or printout) will be placed in the procurement file. These measures will ensure that the Town of Van Buren maintains full compliance with federal procurement standards going forward. Responsible Official: Luke Dyer, Town Manager Town of Van Buren Date: June 28, 2025 Anticipated Completion Date: July 1, 2025