Finding 50702 (2022-001)

2022-001 PROCUREMENT PROCEDURES COVID-19 Health Center Program (Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care For Homeless and Public Housing Primary Care) ? American Rescue Plan Act Assistance Listing Number: 93.224, Contract Numbers- H8F41284 Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 2022 Funding Criteria: Pursuant to 2 CFR ?200.1, Simplified Acquisition Threshold (?SAT?), acquisitions which exceed the SAT of $250,000 must use one of the following procurement methods: the sealed bid method, the competitive proposals method, or the noncompetitive proposal method (sole source). Condition: The Alliance did not utilize the sealed bid method or competitive proposals method for a purchase of computer hardware, which exceeded the $250,000 SAT. The Alliance?s procurement policy was not updated to be in compliance 2 CFR 200.1 until April 2022. This purchase began in fiscal year 2021, but the remaining items under the contract were procured in fiscal year 2022. Cause: The Alliance?s policy only required bids for construction purchases, and not all purchases above the SAT. The expense for computer hardware exceeded the SAT of $250,000. The Controller believed the purchase met the qualification for a sole source purchase; however, the CIO did not document the purchase as a sole source purchase and reached out to another entity after the purchase to verify that no other vendor had the products with the required specifications. Effect: The purchase was not procured through a competitive practice, and therefore the purchase is a questioned cost. Questioned Costs: Known questioned costs is $291,982 for assistance listing 93.224. Perspective: The purchase made at the beginning of the year was procured under the old purchasing policy. The policy was updated in April 2022, and the additional purchase exceeding the bid threshold made subsequent to the new purchasing policy was procured under a competitive process. Recommendation: The Alliance should continue to follow its updated procurement policy. Management?s Response: Management has updated the procurement policy to comply with the provisions of 2 CFR ?200.1, 2 CFR ?200.67, and 2 CFR ?200.214. The updated policy has been implemented since this occurrence and will continue to be followed.