Finding 606997 (2022-001)

Material Weakness
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-03-29

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The District failed to include the required prevailing wage rate provision in a contract for a sewer repair project funded by federal grant money.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with the Davis-Bacon Act and related federal regulations is necessary for contracts over $2,000.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Ensure all future construction contracts funded by federal grants include the necessary wage rate provisions to avoid compliance risks.

Finding Text

2 CFR ? 3474.1 provides the Department of Education (DOE) adopts the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidance in 2 CFR part 200. Thus, this section gives regulatory effect to the OMB guidance and supplements the guidance as needed for the DOE, except as otherwise noted in that section. 2 CFR part 200, Appendix II(D), states that all contracts made by the non-Federal entity under the Federal award must contain provisions covering the following. . .the ?Davis-Bacon Act, as amended (40 U.S.C. 3141-3148). When required by Federal program legislation, all prime construction contracts in excess of $2,000 awarded by non-Federal entities must include a provision for compliance with the Davis-Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. 3141-3144 and 3146-3148) as supplemented by Department of Labor regulations (29 CFR ? 5, ?Labor Standards Provisions Applicable to Contracts Covering Federally Financed and Assisted Construction?). In accordance with the statute, contractors must be required to pay wages to laborers and mechanics at a rate not less than the prevailing wages specified in a wage determination made by the Secretary of Labor. In addition, contractors must be required to pay wages not less than once a week. The non-Federal entity must place a copy of the current prevailing wage determination issued by the Department of Labor in each solicitation. The decision to award a contract or subcontract must be conditioned upon the acceptance of the wage determination. The non-Federal entity must report all suspected or reported violations to the Federal awarding agency.? The District entered into a sanitary sewer repair project contract with Rupp Rosebrock Inc. The District subsequently paid Rupp Rosebrock Inc. $208,412 from Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) federal grant monies. Due to deficiencies in policies and procedures, the required prevailing wage rate provision was not included in the contract. Without proper controls over wage rate requirements, there is an increased risk that the District and its contractors and subcontractors are not in compliance with applicable federal regulations. Additionally, noncompliance could result in federal funding being reduced or taken away, or other sanctions imposed by the federal grantor agency. The District should ensure contracts for construction in excess of $2,000 paid with federal grant monies include a provision that contractors comply with the prevailing wage rate provisions.

Categories

Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Special Tests & Provisions

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 30554 2022-001
    Material Weakness
  • 30555 2022-001
    Material Weakness
  • 606996 2022-001
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.425 Covid-19 Education Stabilization Fund $335,068
84.027 Special Education_grants to States $112,539
10.553 School Breakfast Program $65,511
32.009 Covid-19 Emergency Connectivity Fund Program $42,139
10.555 Covid-19 National School Lunch Program $32,817
84.027 Covid-19 Special Education_grants to States $25,790
10.555 National School Lunch Program $17,512
84.367 Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants $12,241
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $10,000
84.173 Special Education_preschool Grants $6,067
84.358 Rural Education $3,000
84.173 Covid-19 Special Education_preschool Grants $1,909
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $1,716
45.310 Covid-19 Grants to States $187