Finding 31067 (2022-002)

Material Weakness
Requirement
B
Questioned Costs
$1
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-04-26
Audit: 33017
Organization: Highland School District (AR)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The District paid $27,740 in unallowable labor costs due to inadequate monitoring of the foodservice management contract.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR 200.318(b) was not met, as oversight of contractor performance was lacking.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The District should enhance contract monitoring practices and seek legal advice on recovering the questioned costs.

Finding Text

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PASSED THROUGH ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CHILD NUTRITION CLUSTER - AL NUMBERS 10.553 AND 10.555 PASS-THROUGH NUMBER 6804 AUDIT PERIOD - YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2022 Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Criteria or specific requirement: In accordance with 2 CFR 200.318(b) School Food Authorities must maintain oversight to ensure that contractors perform in accordance with the terms, conditions, and specifications of their contracts. Labor is not an allowable expense in a fixed meal rate contract. Condition: A procurement review conducted by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, Child Nutrition Unit (DESE, CNU) reported that unallowable labor charges totaling $27,740 were billed to the District by the foodservice management company (FSMC). Cause: The District failed to monitor the terms, conditions, and specifications of the FSMC contract. Effect: The District paid unallowable labor costs to the FSMC. Questioned costs: The amount of questioned costs was $27,740. Context: Results of a procurement review by the DESE, CNU. Recommendation: The District should exercise greater care in monitoring contract terms. Views of responsible officials: After consulting with CNU, the SFA requested the SFMC to review practices for billing of labor. They opted to not and the District went back to self-operating, no longer using the SFMC. We are seeking legal counsel on recouping the erroneous expenses.

Corrective Action Plan

Formal finding #2: Unallowable labor charges were billed to the SFA by SFMC. Response: After consulting with CNU, the SFA requested the SFMC to review practices for billing of labor. They opted not and the district went back to self-operating, no longer using the SFMC. We are seeking legal counsel on recouping of erroneous expenses.

Categories

Questioned Costs Allowable Costs / Cost Principles

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 31066 2022-001
    Material Weakness
  • 31068 2022-001
    Material Weakness
  • 31069 2022-002
    Material Weakness
  • 607508 2022-001
    Material Weakness
  • 607509 2022-002
    Material Weakness
  • 607510 2022-001
    Material Weakness
  • 607511 2022-002
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.425 Covid-19 - Education Stabilization Fund $2.50M
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $878,991
84.027 Special Education_grants to States $396,298
10.553 School Breakfast Program $242,779
84.367 Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants $100,010
10.555 National School Lunch Program $63,927
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $46,816
84.048 Career and Technical Education -- Basic Grants to States $39,464
84.358 Rural Education $31,939
93.323 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases (elc) $12,018
84.173 Special Education_preschool Grants $9,979