Finding Text
Criteria: Under 2 CFR 200.320(c), noncompetitive (sole-source) procurement is only permitted when at least one of the following federally allowable circumstances exists: (1) The aggregate amount of the procurement transaction does not exceed the micro-purchase threshold; (2) The procurement transaction can only be fulfilled by a single source; (3) The public exigency or emergency for the requirement will not permit a delay resulting from providing public notice of a competitive solicitation; (4) The recipient or subrecipient requests in writing to use a noncompetitive procurement method, and the Federal agency or pass-through entity provides written approval; or (5) After soliciting several sources, competition is determined inadequate. Statement of Condition: During testing of two procurement transactions, one transaction totaling $31,848 was procured using a noncompetitive (sole-source) method without documentation supporting any of the allowable criteria under 2 CFR 200.320(c). Cause: The auditee indicated the following reasons for using a noncompetitive (sole-source) procurement method: the selected vendor was already working on the project under a different scope through AD Miller, and management believed bringing in a second scaffolding/shoring subcontractor could create a conflict of interest or increase risk; the vendor had previously been evaluated and priced by the general contractor (GC) partner and was recommended as the best market option available, based on prior use and the GC partner’s experience; because the GC partner had used this vendor before and recommended continuing with them, project staff believed this constituted sufficient justification to proceed without competitive procurement. However, while these operational considerations explain the decision, they do not meet the specific federally allowable justifications for noncompetitive procurement under 2 CFR 200.320(c). This indicates a lack of understanding of federal sole-source rules and insufficient procurement controls to ensure federal criteria are evaluated and documented prior to vendor selection. Effect or Potential Effect: The absence of federally required justification increases the risk of unfair vendor selection, creates the appearance of partiality, and exposes federal funds to risk of disallowance. Questioned Costs: $- Recommendation: Strengthen procurement controls, including documentation requirements and training to ensure all noncompetitive procurements meet 2 CFR 200.320(c) criteria. Management Response: See corrective action plan.