Finding 16703 (2022-005)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
I
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-09-26
Audit: 21335
Organization: Grand Forks County (ND)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The County lacks a procurement policy that meets federal standards, increasing the risk of non-compliance with procurement requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Uniform Guidance mandates that non-federal entities verify vendors are not suspended or debarred before entering transactions over $25,000.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The County should revise its Procurement Policy to include necessary procedures for suspension and debarment checks.

Finding Text

2022-005 Finding Federal Program Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (21.027) Federal Award Number and Year ? SLFRP2882, 2021 Procurement, Suspension, and Debarment Material Weakness Criteria Uniform Guidance requires all non-federal entities, other than states must follow the procurement standards set out at 2 CFR sections 200.318 through 200.326. Non-federal entities are also prohibited from entering into a covered transaction equal to or exceeding $25,000 with a vendor who has been suspended or disbarred from receiving federal funds. Condition We noted during testing procurement, suspension, and debarment that the County doesn?t have a procurement policy that follows Uniform Guidance. We also noted during testing for suspension and debarment that 3 of our 4 vendors tested were not reviewed to ensure they were not suspended or disbarred from federal funds. Cause Lack of oversight by management. Questioned Costs None Context Uniform Guidance states ?Review the non-federal entity?s procedures for verifying that an entity with which it plans to enter into a covered transaction is not debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded (2 CFR sections 200.212 and 200.318(h); 2 CFR section 180.300; 48 CFR section 52.2096)?. During this review, we noted that during our testing of procurement, suspension, and debarment that the County doesn?t have a procurement policy that follows Uniform Guidance. We also noted during testing for suspension and debarment that 3 of our 4 vendors tested were not reviewed to ensure they were not suspended or disbarred from federal funds. Effect The County has an increased risk of not being compliance with federal procurement requirements and increased risk of entering into a covered transaction with a vendor who is suspended or disbarred from federal funds. Repeat Finding Yes ? see 2021-005 Recommendation The County should update their Procurement Policy to include suspension and debarment verbiage. Views of Responsible Officials See Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

2022-005 - Finding Condition We noted during testing procurement, suspension, and debarment that the County doesn't have a procurement policy that follows Uniform Guidance. We also noted during testing for suspension and debarment that 3 of our 4 vendors tested were not reviewed to ensure they were not suspended or disbarred from federal funds. Corrective Action Plan per Debbie Nelson, Auditor We agree. A procurement policy is being drafted for approval by the Grand Forks County Commission. Anticipated Completion Date Fiscal Year 2023

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 16702 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 593144 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 593145 2022-005
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $1.19M
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $336,027
12.003 Community Economic Adjustment Assistance for Responding to Threats to the Resilience of A Military Installation (b) $133,000
97.067 Homeland Security Grant Program $130,595
97.042 Emergency Management Performance Grants $74,130
20.600 State and Community Highway Safety $35,061
16.034 Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program $29,225
20.616 National Priority Safety Programs $13,254
16.607 Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program $4,493
97.012 Boating Safety Financial Assistance $2,000