Finding 393496 (2023-004)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
I
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-04-16
Audit: 303684
Organization: City of Elizabeth (NJ)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The City failed to execute a contract for a public work project over $2,000, missing required provisions under federal guidelines.
  • Impacted Requirements: Non-compliance with procurement standards and the Davis Bacon Act, as certified payrolls were not obtained.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Enhance internal controls to ensure all federal award purchases requiring contracts are properly executed.

Finding Text

Criteria: Recipients are responsible for ensuring that any procurement using State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, or payments under procurement contracts using such funds, are consistent with the procurement standards set forth in the Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR 200.317 through 2 CFR 200.327. All contracts made by the non-Federal entity under the Federal award must contain the applicable provisions covering Davis Bacon Act. Condition: The City utilized a vendor from a state contract for public work in excess of $2,000 and did not execute a contract enumerating all required provisions. Cause: The City did not acquire the necessary certified payrolls. Effect: The City is not in compliance with the requirements of the awarding agency. Questioned Costs: None Context/Sampling: All contracts for public works were tested to ensure the necessary required provisions were included and that contractors and subcontractors submitted certified payrolls. The City did not acquire a contract for one project. Prior Year: None Recommendation: We recommend the City enhance internal controls to ensure that all purchases for goods and services under the federal award requiring a formal contract executes one. Client Response: The City recognizes the importance of internal controls and plans to enhance procedures to ensure that all purchases for goods and services under a federal award requiring a formal contract executes one. The City believes it is prudent such awards have a contract to support purchase orders. Covid interruptions with related illnesses, early retirements and hiring difficulties all contributed to the negative impact.

Corrective Action Plan

The City recognizes the importance of internal controls and plans to enhance procedures to ensure that all purchases of goods and services under the federal award requiring a formal contract executes ones. The City believes it is prudent such awards have a contract to support purchase orders. Covid interruptions with related illnesses, early retirements, and hiring difficulties all contribute to a negative impact on productivity.

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 393490 2023-005
    Material Weakness
  • 393491 2023-005
    Material Weakness
  • 393492 2023-006
    Material Weakness
  • 393493 2023-006
    Material Weakness
  • 393494 2023-007
    Significant Deficiency
  • 393495 2023-003
    Material Weakness
  • 969932 2023-005
    Material Weakness
  • 969933 2023-005
    Material Weakness
  • 969934 2023-006
    Material Weakness
  • 969935 2023-006
    Material Weakness
  • 969936 2023-007
    Significant Deficiency
  • 969937 2023-003
    Material Weakness
  • 969938 2023-004
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $4.72M
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $1.61M
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $1.51M
93.323 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases (elc) $835,481
14.241 Housing Opportunities for Persons with Aids $678,104
16.922 Equitable Sharing Program $261,103
14.239 Home Investment Partnerships Program $208,027
10.559 Summer Food Service Program for Children $201,220
93.354 Public Health Emergency Response: Cooperative Agreement for Emergency Response: Public Health Crisis Response $129,600
16.738 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program $108,675
93.268 Immunization Cooperative Agreements $94,991
20.205 Highway Planning and Construction $56,469
97.056 Port Security Grant Program $16,925
93.136 Injury Prevention and Control Research and State and Community Based Programs $5,803
93.421 Strengthening Public Health Systems and Services Through National Partnerships to Improve and Protect the Nation’s Health $779