Finding 12427 (2022-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
I
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-03-30
Audit: 16829
Organization: City of Lewiston, Maine (ME)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The City of Lewiston failed to include required contract provisions in procurement contracts as mandated by federal regulations.
  • Impacted Requirements: Non-compliance with 2 CFR 200.327 and the City’s own procurement policy.
  • Recommended Follow-up: Implement stronger internal controls to ensure future compliance with procurement requirements.

Finding Text

2022-001 - Procurement Contracts Federal Program Information: Department of Housing and Urban Development: ALN - 14.900 - Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program Criteria: The following CFR(s) apply to this finding: 2 CFR 200.327. Condition: During audit procedures, it was identified that the City of Lewiston did not include the required contract provisions as specified in the criteria above and included in the City?s procurement policy. Cause: The City does not have the necessary internal controls to ensure compliance with the City?s procurement policy. Effect: Procurement contracts were not executed in compliance with both the criteria above and the City?s procurement policy. Identification of Questioned Costs: None identified. Context: Three procurement contracts were reviewed out of a population of 11. It was determined that the three procurement contracts reviewed did not include the required contract provisions. This was a statisically valid sample. Repeat Finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: It is recommended that the City of Lewiston implement internal control processes and procedures to ensure that they are following both the criteria above and the City?s procurement policy. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan: Please see the Corrective Action Plan issued by the City of Lewiston.

Corrective Action Plan

CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN (Concerning Finding 2022-001 & 2022-002) Contact Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Tracy Roy, Finance Director Corrective Action: The City of Lewiston will take the following actions to address finding 2022-001: The City of Lewiston has reviewed the contract and is adding the necessary sections to all contracts. Anticipated Completion Date: January 30, 2023 Corrective Action: The City of Lewiston will take the following actions to address finding 2022-002: The City of Lewiston started to require the SAM approval print out before contracts are signed with vendors beginning January 1, 2022. The Purchasing Agent or the designee will not complete the process until the SAM certification is received. The SAM document will be filed with the contract. This has been done but the employee in Economic Development gave the wrong SAM approval. Anticipated Completion Date: January 1, 2022

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Special Tests & Provisions

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 12428 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 588869 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 588870 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $3.63M
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $2.74M
10.555 National School Lunch Program $2.55M
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $1.02M
10.553 School Breakfast Program $994,921
14.900 Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control in Privately-Owned Housing $890,467
84.287 Twenty-First Century Community Learning Centers $570,338
84.367 Improving Teacher Quality State Grants $444,740
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $409,790
14.239 Home Investment Partnerships Program $329,026
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $268,724
84.048 Career and Technical Education -- Basic Grants to States $238,307
10.582 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program $179,056
14.228 Community Development Block Grants/state's Program and Non-Entitlement Grants in Hawaii $163,216
84.365 English Language Acquisition State Grants $150,912
84.027 Special Education_grants to States $141,468
10.559 Summer Food Service Program for Children $139,300
20.205 Highway Planning and Construction $111,880
97.067 Homeland Security Grant Program $99,784
10.558 Child and Adult Care Food Program $77,091
84.002 Adult Education - Basic Grants to States $70,585
16.992 Equitable Sharing Program $62,343
84.173 Special Education_preschool Grants $49,134
84.196 Education for Homeless Children and Youth $43,569
14.892 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants $36,903
16.738 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program $34,944
20.219 Recreational Trails Program $15,651
93.576 Refugee and Entrant Assistance_discretionary Grants $13,616
20.616 National Priority Safety Programs $6,343
20.600 State and Community Highway Safety $4,608
45.164 Promotion of the Humanities_public Programs $4,500
66.818 Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup Cooperative Agreements $3,445