Finding 59598 (2022-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
I
Questioned Costs
$1
Year
2022
Accepted
2022-12-21
Audit: 55009
Organization: Beacon Academy (MN)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Lack of formal records for price comparisons and incorrect coding of an invoice led to a significant deficiency in internal controls for the Child Nutrition Cluster.
  • Impacted Requirements: The School failed to comply with procurement guidelines, including necessary cost analysis and proper fund allocation for purchases exceeding the micro-purchase threshold.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Establish robust internal controls for reviewing and approving expenditures in the Food Service Fund, ensuring compliance with procurement policies and maintaining documentation for all relevant purchases.

Finding Text

Type of Finding: SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCY IN INTERNAL CONTROL COMPLIANCE AND OTHER MATTERS ? CHILD NUTRITION CLUSTER Condition: During our audit we noted no formal record was retained of a comparison of rates or prices for a Region 1 hosting service charged to the Food Service Fund. We also noted that the invoice was incorrectly coded to the Food Service Fund and was subsequently moved to the General Fund. Criteria: The School should have controls in place to ensure compliance with procurement requirements of the Child Nutrition Cluster programs. This includes approving all purchases and performing a cost or price analysis in connection with every procurement action in excess of the Simplified Acquisition Threshold including contract modifications. The method and degree of analysis is dependent on the facts surrounding the particular procurement situation, but as a starting point, the non-Federal entity must make independent estimates before receiving bids or proposals. Effect: There was a procurement purchase made that did not have proper documentation retained to document the cost analysis performed. The purchase was also determined to not be allowable for the Food Service Fund. Cause: The School booked the reversal of a prepaid expenditure from fiscal year 2021 into the Food Service Fund, when it should have been booked into the General Fund. This was not caught during the year-end reconciliation process, journal entry approval process, or procurement process. Questioned costs: $5,512 ? Known Questioned Costs Context: One of the two contracts tested did not have supporting documentation following procurement guidelines, and also wasn?t allowable per the grant. The sample was a statistically valid sample. Recommendation: We recommend that the School develop internal controls to properly review and approve all expenditures that go into the Food Service Fund. In addition, we recommend that if there is purchase with a vendor over the School?s micro-purchase threshold of $3,000 that the procurement policy is followed and documentation is maintained to document the cost analysis performed. Prior Year Finding? No Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Minnesota Department of Education, Beacon Academy respectfully submits the following corrective action plan for the year ended June 30, 2022. Audit period: 7/1/2021 ? 6/30/2022 The finding from the schedule of findings and questioned costs is discussed below. The finding is numbered consistently with the number assigned in the schedule. FINDINGS?FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT The audit did not disclose any Financial Statement items required to be reported. FINDINGS?FEDERAL AWARD PROGRAMS AUDITS U.S. Department of Agriculture 2022-001 Child Nutrition Cluster ? Assistance Listing No. 10.553, 10.555, 10.556, 10.559, 10.582 Recommendation: We recommend that Beacon Academy develop internal controls to provide review and approve all expenditures that go into the Food Service Fund. In addition, we recommend that if there is a purchase with a vendor over the School?s micro-purchase threshold of $3,000 that the procurement policy is followed and documentation is maintained to document the cost analysis performed. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: Beacon Academy will work to ensure the proper procurement documentation is retained in line with their procurement policy and the uniform guidance. Name of the contact person responsible for corrective action: Sean Koster Planned completion date for corrective action plan: June 30, 2023

Categories

Questioned Costs Procurement, Suspension & Debarment

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 59599 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 636040 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 636041 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.559 Summer Food Service Program for Children $346,889
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $274,140
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $124,373
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $115,273
84.027 Special Education_grants to States $100,615
93.323 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases (elc) $40,497
10.555 National School Lunch Program $20,943
84.367 Supporting Effective Instruction $20,727