Finding 38769 (2022-002)

-
Requirement
AB
Questioned Costs
$1
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-01-09

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Bend-La Pine Schools submitted reimbursement claims for iPads purchased before the eligible date, violating program rules.
  • Impacted Requirements: Claims for devices purchased prior to July 1, 2021, are not allowable under the Emergency Connectivity Grant Fund.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Business Office should require receiving documentation with invoices to confirm the actual date of receipt and ensure proper year-end cut-off.

Finding Text

AL 32.009 Emergency Connectivity Grant Fund (ECF), Federal Communications Commission, Award ID: ECF202115047 , Award Year: July 1, 2022 ? June 30, 2022. Criteria: Program requirements state that devices may not be submitted for reimbursements if they were purchased prior to July 1, 2021. Condition: Bend-La Pine Schools submitted reimbursement claims for iPads, which included one shipment of iPads that was received in June 2021. The amount claimed related to the June 2021 shipment was $210,504. Cause: The iPad shipment was received at Bend-La Pine Schools? warehouse on June 28, 2021, based on carrier receiving documents, but were not received in the technology department until after July 1, 2022. The technology department employee recorded receipt of the iPads as July 2021, and believing them to be eligible under the terms of the grant, the Business Office submitted a claim for reimbursement. Effect: The cost submitted for reimbursement was not allowable under the terms of the program. Questioned costs: $210,504, the total value of the iPads charged to the grant from the shipment received in July 2021. Context: The error was isolated to one particular shipment of iPads received in June 2021. Recommendation: We recommend the Business Office require receiving documentation be submitted with invoices to substantiate actual date of receipt for proper cut off at year end. Views of responsible officials: District agrees with this recommendation. We will provide staff with additional training specific to year-end expenditures and required documentation to ensure expenditures are recorded in the correct year.

Corrective Action Plan

The District submitted, for reimbursement via the Emergency Connectivity Grant Fund (ECF), approximately $210,000 dollars for ipads, which had been received prior to the eligibility date of the grant, July 1, 2021. These ipads having been received by the IT department, at the Districts main Education Center office, after July 1, 2021, were reported and recorded as July 2021 eligible transactions. It was subsequently determined this shipment was actually received on June 29, 2021 at the Districts distribution center, therefore making this specific shipment ineligible for grant reimbursement. Upon identification of this error, the District immediately contacted the grant management organization, appraised them of the situation, and were allowed to provide other eligible ipad purchases, as reimbursement backup. Management has proposed additional cutoff testing processes as part of our year end processing, including review and audit of material transactions to ensure recording in proper year. Management has also provided additional training to staff members, on correct cutoff processing and the requirement for original shipping documents and receiving support. The District has also implemented a change in process, whereby all technology purchases will be delivered directly to the IT department at the main Education Center location to ensure appropriate receipt dates and documentation is provided.

Categories

Questioned Costs Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Cash Management

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 38768 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 615210 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 615211 2022-002
    -

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $3.04M
10.553 School Breakfast Program $2.15M
32.009 Emergency Connectivity Fund $1.56M
10.558 Child and Adult Care Food Program $1.03M
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $734,314
10.665 Grants to States $183,701
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $146,100
10.582 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program $139,426
12.U01 National Junior Rotc $116,355
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $106,764
84.365 English Language Acquisition State Grants $88,803
84.126 Rehabilitation Services_vocational Rehabilitation Grants to States $73,670
93.575 Child Care and Development Block Grant $59,510
10.579 Child Nutrition Discretionary Grants Limited Availability $44,052
84.367 Improving Teacher Quality State Grants $21,308
84.027 Special Education_grants to States $16,372
84.196 Education for Homeless Children and Youth $16,144
84.334 Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs $7,114
10.555 National School Lunch Program $6,722
45.310 Grants to States $6,000
84.048 Career and Technical Education -- Basic Grants to States $533
10.559 Summer Food Service Program for Children $0
21.019 Coronavirus Relief Fund $0
84.173 Special Education_preschool Grants $0
84.323 Special Education - State Personnel Development $0
84.377 School Improvement Grants $0
93.658 Foster Care_title IV-E $0