Finding 1169612 (2024-012)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2026-01-19
Audit: 382583
Organization: Guam Department of Education (GU)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: GDOE failed to execute a construction contract, leading to noncompliance with wage rate requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Certified payrolls were not submitted as required by the Davis-Bacon Act for 1 out of 3 contracts.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement stronger monitoring controls to ensure compliance with wage rate requirements in future contracts.

Finding Text

Finding No.: 2024-012 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education AL Program: 84.425 Education Stabilization Fund ED Subprogram: 84.425A Education Stabilization Fund – State Educational Agency (Outlying Areas) Federal Award No.: S425A210003 Area: Special Tests and Provisions - Wage Rate Requirements Questioned Costs: $45,750 Criteria: 29 CFR sections 5.5 and 5.6 requires nonfederal entities to include in their construction contracts subject to the Wage Rate Requirements (the Davis-Bacon Act) a provision that the contractor or subcontractor comply with those requirements and the DOL regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractor or subcontractor to submit to the nonfederal entity weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, a copy of the payroll and a statement of compliance (certified payrolls). Condition: For 1 (or 33%) of the 3 construction contracts subjected to the Wage Rate Requirements test, there was no executed construction contract between GDOE and the contractor, consequently, certified payrolls were not submitted to GDOE. Total expenditure charged to the program related to the construction project with the contractor (vendor ID 80757) is $45,750. Cause: GDOE incorrectly utilized the small purchase procurement upon solicitation (i.e., regular purchase order, instead of executing a contract). Effect: GDOE is in noncompliance with applicable special tests and provisions - wage rate requirements. The reportable questioned cost is $45,750. Recommendation: Responsible personnel should enforce monitoring controls over compliance with applicable special tests and provisions - wage rate requirements.

Corrective Action Plan

Views of Auditee and Corrective Actions: GDOE agrees with the finding. While GDOE established the proper SOPs and internal controls to ensure compliance with law, GDOE acknowledges that this sample, where the wage requirements were not included, was an administrative oversight. Further review into other samples do indicate compliance to this special test provision for wage requirement. Plan of action and completion date: As indicated, GDOE already established the proper internal controls to address the deficiency noted in this finding. Plan to monitor and responsible officials: The Supply Management Administrator, Carmen Charfauros, will ensure that all construction contracts are properly executed to ensure that wage rate requirements are required from vendors.

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Special Tests & Provisions

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1169595 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169596 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169597 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169598 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169599 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169600 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169601 2024-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169602 2024-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169603 2024-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169604 2024-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169605 2024-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169606 2024-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169607 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169608 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169609 2024-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169610 2024-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169611 2024-012
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.425 EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND $105.41M
84.403 CONSOLIDATED GRANT TO THE OUTLYING AREAS $30.00M
84.181 SPECIAL EDUCATION-GRANTS FOR INFANTS AND FAMILIES $1.66M
10.558 CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM $648,102
84.027 SPECIAL EDUCATION GRANTS TO STATES $561,018
10.560 STATE ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES FOR CHILD NUTRITION $383,408
93.600 HEAD START $356,080
84.424 STUDENT SUPPORT AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAM $331,968
93.092 AFFORDABLE CARE ACT (ACA) PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY EDUCATION PROGRAM $232,589
12.U01 ARMY JROTC $220,601
12.U02 AIR FORCE JROTC $190,116
84.371 COMPREHENSIVE LITERACY DEVELOPMENT $173,631
84.372 STATEWIDE LONGITUDINAL DATA SYSTEMS $167,485
84.323 SPECIAL EDUCATION - STATE PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT $157,292
10.541 CHILD NUTRITION-TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION GRANT $148,409
10.555 NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM $125,219
10.579 CHILD NUTRITION DISCRETIONARY GRANTS LIMITED AVAILABILITY $79,076
12.U03 MARINE JROTC $42,462
10.574 TEAM NUTRITION GRANTS $26,237
15.875 ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE TERRITORIES $19,840
10.645 FARM TO SCHOOL STATE FORMULA GRANT $14,242
10.568 EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS) $3,986