Finding Text
Finding 2023-007: Procurement
Federal Programs:
Child Nutrition Cluster awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under assistance listing numbers 10.555 – National School Lunch Program, 10.553 – School Breakfast Program, and 10.559 – Summer Food Service Program under award numbers 22N1099 (Federal Award Year 2022), 22N1199 (Federal Award Year 2022), and 23N1199 (Federal Award Year 2023). Passed through the Illinois State Board of Education under award numbers 31045046022A1, 23-4210-00, 22-4210-00, 22-4210-BT, 23-4210-SC, 23-4220-00, 22-4220-00, 23-4225-00, and 22-4225-00.
Special Education Cluster (IDEA) awarded by the U.S. Department of Education under assistance listing numbers 84.173 – Special Education - Preschool Grants (includes COVID-19 funding) and 84.027 – Special Education – Grants to States (includes COVID-19 funding) under award numbers H027A210072 (Federal Award Year 2021), H027X210072 (Federal Award Year 2021), H173X210101 (Federal Award Year 2021), H027A220072 (Federal Award Year 2022), and H173A220101 (Federal Award Year 2022). Passed through the Illinois State Board of Education under award numbers 22-4998-PS, 23-4600-00, 22-4998-ID, 23-4620-00, 23-4620-EI, 23-4625-00, and 22-4625-00.
Condition:
The District did not maintain adequate records for procurement transactions in the IDEA and Child Nutrition Clusters.
Criteria:
Uniform Grant Guidance (2 CFR 200.318(i)) states procurement records must be maintained in sufficient detail to document the history of the procurement. The records must include, but are not limited to, the rationale for the method of the procurement, the selection of the vendor, and the basis for the price. Uniform Grant Guidance (2 CFR 200.320) also specifies the methods of procurement that must be used based on the dollar value of the procurement. If small purchase procedures are used, the District must obtain a sufficient number of quotes from qualified vendors.
Cause:
There was turnover at the department of the District responsible for ensuring procurements are made in accordance with state and federal regulations. Additionally, the District’s electronic system of record for procurement is not used consistently. Supporting documents are sometimes kept at individual departments in paper or e-mail.
Questioned Cost:
None, the expenditures are allowable uses of grant funds.
Context:
For eight of the eight vendors selected for procurement testing in the IDEA cluster, the District was unable to provide documentation prepared at the time of the procurement action that supported why the vendor was selected and why no competitive bids or quotations were obtained. Once selected for testing, the District was able to prepare memos for seven of the eight vendors supporting why the vendor was selected and that the procurement was exempt from competitive bidding or obtaining quotations from multiple vendors. For the remaining vendor, which under federal requirements would be considered a small purchase, the District was unable to determine why the vendor was selected for the procurement opportunity.
For one of the five vendors selected for procurement testing in the Child Nutrition Cluster, which under federal requirements would be considered a small purchase, the District was unable to determine why the vendor was selected for the procurement opportunity.
Recommendation:
We recommend the District review its policies and procedures for purchasing goods and services to ensure procurement history is maintained to document compliance with federal regulations and that all support related to why a vendor was selected be maintained centrally.
District’s Response:
The District will train its employees on the documentation trail needed for procurement actions and review its policies and procedures for any needed updates.
Potential Effect:
Failure to fully comply with federal regulations could result in amounts being considered unallowable by granting agencies.
Prior Finding Number:
2022-001