Finding 32788 (2022-001)

Material Weakness
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-03-22

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The District failed to obtain certified payroll information from Trane Technologies in a timely manner, leading to non-compliance with federal regulations.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with the Davis-Bacon Act and timely reporting of payroll information is essential to avoid potential loss of federal funding.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement formal controls to ensure weekly certified payroll reports are obtained from contractors and report any compliance issues to the Federal awarding agency.

Finding Text

2 CFR ? 3474.1 provides that the Department of Education (DOE) adopts the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidance in 2 CFR part 200. Thus, this section gives regulatory effect to the OMB guidance and supplements the guidance as needed for the DOE, except as otherwise noted in that section. Appendix II to 2 CFR part 200, Paragraph D states that all contracts made by the non-Federal entity under the Federal award must contain provisions covering the following: (D) Davis-Bacon Act, as amended (40 U.S.C. 3141-3148). When required by Federal program legislation, all prime construction contracts in excess of $2,000 awarded by non-Federal entities must include a provision for compliance with the Davis-Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. 3141-3144, and 3146-3148) as supplemented by Department of Labor regulations (29 CFR Part 5, ?Labor Standards Provisions Applicable to Contracts Covering Federally Financed and Assisted Construction?). In accordance with the statute, contractors must be required to pay wages to laborers and mechanics at a rate not less than the prevailing wages specified in a wage determination made by the Secretary of Labor. In addition, contractors must be required to pay wages not less than once a week. The non-Federal entity must place a copy of the current prevailing wage determination issued by the Department of Labor in each solicitation. The decision to award a contract or subcontract must be conditioned upon the acceptance of the wage determination. The non-Federal entity must report all suspected or reported violations to the Federal awarding agency. . . The District entered into a contract with Trane Technologies for installation of HVAC equipment for Brush High School gym, in the amount of $539,585. During fiscal year 2022, the District paid Trane Technologies $269,792 with American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund monies related to this project. These expenditures included contractor payroll charges of $9,711 for periods prior to June 30, 2022. However, due to the lack of formal controls and procedures, the District did not obtain the certified payroll information until March 2023. This weakness resulted in the District being non-compliant with the aforementioned federal codes and could result in future reductions or loss of federal funding. The District should ensure certified payroll reports are provided weekly by the contractor. The District should obtain the necessary information from the contractor to document compliance with the program requirements and if the contractor failed to comply then they have an obligation under Appendix II to 2 CFR part 200 to report all suspected or reported violations to the Federal awarding agency.

Corrective Action Plan

The Business Office of the South Euclid Lyndhurst School District will implement the following actions steps when using federal dollars with vendors completing construction throughout the district. Communicate orally and in writing with potential vendors the expectations for adhering to the Davis-Bacon Act regarding contracts covering federally financed and assisted construction. Include in construction progress checks (status meetings) the requirement vendor to submit weekly/biweekly payroll documentation showing accordance with the Davis-Bacon Act Submit copies of weekly/biweekly payroll documentation to the South Euclid Lyndhurst School District Treasurer?s Office Review and discuss weekly/biweekly payroll documentation with vendor at completion of construction work to confirm and or verify accuracy.

Categories

Equipment & Real Property Management Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Special Tests & Provisions

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 609230 2022-001
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.425 Covid 19- Education Stabilization Fund $2.53M
10.555 National School Lunch Program $1.32M
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $921,934
84.027 Special Education_grants to States $760,487
84.425 Covid-19 Education Stabilization Fund $553,710
10.553 School Breakfast Program $470,740
10.555 Covid -19 National School Lunch Program $128,368
84.367 Improving Teacher Quality State Grants $115,731
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $74,482
84.173 Special Education_preschool Grants $17,875
21.019 Covid-19 Coronavirus Relief Fund $14,460
84.365 English Language Acquisition State Grants $11,037