Finding 1170831 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
I
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-01-28

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Town lacks controls to check for vendor suspension and debarment in procurement activities.
  • Impacted Requirements: This finding relates to compliance with 2 CFR Part 200, which mandates proper procurement practices.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Revise procurement policies to align with 2 CFR sections 200.318 and 200.326 to ensure compliance.

Finding Text

Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Federal Agencies: U.S. Department of Education Federal Program Name: Special Education Grants to States Assistance Listing Number: 84.027/84.173 Pass-Through Agency: State of Connecticut Department of Education Pass-Through Number: 12060-SDE64370-20977, 12060-SDE64370-20983 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or Specific Requirement 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (UG) requires compliance with the provisions of procurement, suspension, and debarment. Condition: There were no controls in place to review for suspension and debarment on related procurement activities. Questioned Costs: None Context: Although testing did not reveal vendors providing services that were suspended and debarred, no documentation requirement exists for the Town to verify compliance with this requirement. Cause: The Town did not properly implement a conforming policy during the fiscal year. Effect: With the absence of a compliant documentation policy, the Town is at risk for noncompliance as it relates to all federal procurement requirements. Repeat Finding: No Recommendations: We recommend that the Town review its formal procurement policies and revise with the criteria in 2 CFR sections 200.318 and 200.326. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with this finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Department of Education The Town of Ridgefield respectfully submits the following corrective action plan for the year ended June 30, 2025. Audit period: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025 The findings from the schedule of findings and questioned costs are discussed below. The findings are numbered consistently with the numbers assigned in the schedule. COMPLIANCE FINDING SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCY Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Recommendation: The Town should review its formal procurement policies and revise with the criteria in 2 CFR sections 200.318 and 200.326. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action planned in response to finding: The Town will review its policies to ensure it aligns with 2 CFR sections 200.318 and 200.326. They will communicate with the appropriate personnel any changes to their policies to ensure compliance in the future. Name of the contact person responsible for corrective action: Jill Browne, Director of Finance Planned completion date for corrective action plan: June 2026

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1170828 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1170829 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1170830 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.027 SPECIAL EDUCATION GRANTS TO STATES $717,529
84.425 EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND $315,864
10.555 NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM $177,294
84.010 TITLE I GRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES $60,283
32.004 UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND - SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES $57,120
84.367 SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION STATE GRANTS (FORMERLY IMPROVING TEACHER QUALITY STATE GRANTS) $45,831
84.048 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION -- BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $40,863
20.616 NATIONAL PRIORITY SAFETY PROGRAMS $26,213
20.205 HIGHWAY PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION $13,873
84.173 SPECIAL EDUCATION PRESCHOOL GRANTS $9,505
84.365 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION STATE GRANTS $8,625
84.424 STUDENT SUPPORT AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAM $8,610
20.027 ARPA-ParaEducational PD $8,000
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $7,814
97.036 DISASTER GRANTS - PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED DISASTERS) $3,889