Finding Text
2023-006. FINDING Failure to Comply with Established Procurement Procedures
Federal Agency: National Science Foundation
Assistance Listing Number: 47.076
Program Names: Research and Development Cluster -
Conference: 2023 NSF Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation Principal Investigators/ Project Directors Meeting
Collaborative Research: Louis Stokes Regional Center of Excellence: Louis Stokes Midwest Regional Center of Excellence for Broadening Participation in STEM
Program Expenditures: $478,648; $256,713
Award Numbers: 2312141; 1826719
Questioned Costs: None
The Chicago State University (University) did not ensure procurements exempt from solicitation and competitive bidding were published in the Illinois Procurement Bulletin.
During testing, two of 13 (15%) exempt contracts, each exceeding $100,000, were not published in the Illinois Procurement Bulletin. The sample methods used in performing this testing were not statistically valid.
The Code of Federal Regulations (Code) (2 CFR § 200.318(a)) requires the University to use documented procurement procedures consistent with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards of the Code, for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or subaward.
The Illinois Procurement Code (30 ILCS 500/1-13(b)) requires the University to publish notices of each contract with an annual value of more than $100,000 in the Procurement Bulletin within 14 calendar days after contract execution.
University management indicated the failure to publish the notices in the Procurement Bulletin was due to oversight.
Failure to publish notices of exempt contracts is a noncompliance with the Code and the Illinois Procurement Code. (Finding Code No. 2023-006)
RECOMMENDATION
We recommend that the University publish notices of exempt contracts in the Procurement Bulletin in accordance with the Code and the Illinois Procurement Code.
UNIVERSITY RESPONSE
The University agrees with the finding. Adjustments have been made to internal processes to ensure exemptions are always posted to the Illinois Procurement Bulletin for Public Institutions of Higher Education in a timely manner when necessary.