Finding Text
CONDITION: The School District contracted with MHY Family Services for professional services. The contract exceeded the threshold for competitive procurement. The District was unable to provide documentation to verify that the third-party procurement contract was competitively procured, such as a bid evaluation and public solicitation. In addition, the District did not conduct a cost or price analysis for this procurement, which was in excess of the Simplified Acquisition Threshold of $250,000.
CRITERIA: Section 2 CFR 200. 318(i) of the Uniform Guidance specifies that the School District must maintain records sufficient to detail the history of procurement. These records will include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following: rationale for the method of procurement, selection of contract type, contractor selection or rejection, and the basis for the contract price. In addition, Section 2 CFR 200.324(a) of the Uniform Guidance requires the performance of a cost or price analysis in connection with every procurement in excess of the Simplified Acquisition Threshold.
CAUSE: It was not readily determinable as to why the District did not adhere to its Procurement Policy for Federal Programs (#626.5) which addresses the issue of competitive procurement as outlined in Section 2 CFR 200. 318(i) and Section 2 CFR 200.324(a).
EFFECT: The School District did not comply with the requirements of Sections 2 CFR 200.318(i) and 2 CFR 200.324(a) of the Uniform Guidance with regard to maintaining sufficient records to detail the history of procurement and conducting a cost or price analysis for procurement in excess of the Simplified Acquisition Threshold.
QUESTIONED COST: $242,703
RECOMMENDATION: I am recommending that the management of the School District review and update as necessary its procurement policies to ensure retention of the appropriate procurement documentation, in all instances, so as to comply with all applicable sections of the Uniform Guidance, specifically, Section 2 CFR 200.318(i) of the Uniform Guidance. In addition, I recommend that the School District conduct a cost or price analysis for all procurement in excess of the Simplified Acquisition Threshold of $250,000 before receiving bids or proposals in accordance with Section 2 CFR 200.324(a) of the Uniform Guidance.
VIEWS OF RESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS: The School District concurs with the above noted finding and addresses this issue in the ‘Corrective Action Plan’ included within this report.