Finding 608678 (2022-002)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
I
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-09-27
Audit: 34813
Organization: Heal the Hero Foundation (AZ)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Organization lacks a formal written procurement policy and did not follow required solicitation processes for vendor contracts, leading to significant deficiencies in internal controls.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR sections 200.303, 200.318, and 200.320 regarding documented procurement procedures and vendor eligibility checks was not met.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Establish a formal procurement policy and ensure adherence to federal procurement standards, including vendor checks against the debarred list.

Finding Text

Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Treasury Federal Program Name: Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Assistance Listing Number: 21.027 Pass-Through Agency: State of Arizona, the Office of the Governor Pass-Through Number(s): GR-ARPA-HHF-030122-01 and GR-ARPA-090121-01 Award Period: January 1, 2022 ? November 30, 2024 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Other Matters Condition/Context: The Organization did not maintain a formalized and written procurement policy. In addition, the Organization did follow the required solicitation process as follows: 1. Small purchase procedures for one vendor, with costs between $10,000 and $250,000 related to grant management and financial oversight, were not performed. 2. Formal procurement methods or noncompetitive procurement procedures for one vendor, with costs exceeding $250,000 related to mental health services, were not performed. The Organization contracted with this mental health vendor prior to accepting the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds and subsequently did not go through formal procurement procedures. 3. For two vendors, procedures to determine that the vendors were not included on the suspended or debarred vendor list maintained by the General Services Administration, were not performed. Criteria or specific requirement: In accordance with the Compliance Supplement, Part 6 ? Internal Control, 2 CFR section 200.303 requires that nonfederal entities receiving federal awards establish and maintain internal control over the federal awards that provides reasonable assurance that the nonfederal entity is managing the federal awards in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal awards. In accordance with 2 CFR 200.318 (a), the non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards of this section, for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or subaward. The non-Federal entity's documented procurement procedures must conform to the procurement standards identified in ?? 200.317 through 200.327. In accordance with 2 CFR 200.320 (a)(2)(i), the non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent with the standards of this section and ?? 200.317, 200.318, and 200.319 for any of the following methods of procurement used for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or sub-award. Small purchase procedures - the acquisition of property or services, the aggregate dollar amount of which is higher than the micro-purchase threshold but does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. If small purchase procedures are used, price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources as determined appropriate by the non-Federal entity. Criteria or specific requirement (Continued) In accordance with 2 CFR 200.320 (b)(1 and 2), the non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent with the standards of this section and ?? 200.317, 200.318, and 200.319 for any of the following methods of procurement used for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or sub-award. Formal procurement methods - when the value of the procurement for property or services under a Federal financial assistance award exceeds the SAT, or a lower threshold established by a non-Federal entity, formal procurement methods are required. Formal procurement methods require following documented procedures. Formal procurement methods also require public advertising unless a non-competitive procurement can be used in accordance with ? 200.319 or paragraph (c) of this section. The following formal methods of procurement are used for procurement of property or services above the simplified acquisition threshold or a value below the simplified acquisition threshold the non-Federal entity determines to be appropriate: (1) sealed bids, or (2) proposals. In accordance with 2 CFR 200.320 (c), the non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent with the standards of this section and ?? 200.317, 200.318, and 200.319 for any of the following methods of procurement used for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or sub-award. Noncompetitive procurement. There are specific circumstances in which noncompetitive procurement can be used. Noncompetitive procurement - can only be awarded if one or more of the following circumstances apply: (1) The acquisition of property or services, the aggregate dollar amount of which does not exceed the micro-purchase threshold (see paragraph (a)(1) of this section); (2) The item is available only from a single source; (3) The public exigency or emergency for the requirement will not permit a delay resulting from publicizing a competitive solicitation; (4) The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity expressly authorizes a noncompetitive procurement in response to a written request from the non-Federal entity; or (5) After solicitation of a number of sources, competition is determined inadequate. In accordance with 2 CFR 180.220, the non-Federal entities are prohibited from contracting with or making subawards under covered transactions to parties that are suspended or debarred. ?Covered transactions? include contracts for goods and services awarded under a non-procurement transaction (e.g., grant or cooperative agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000 or meet certain other criteria as specified in 2 CFR section 180.220). All non-procurement transactions entered into by a pass-through entity (i.e., subawards to subrecipients), irrespective of award amount, are considered covered transactions, unless they are exempt as provided in 2 CFR section 180.215. Questioned costs: None Cause: The Organization did not have established procurement policies and did not have internal controls designed to ensure compliance with those policies. Effect: The Organization was not in compliance with the Compliance Supplement and the Code of Federal Regulations related to procurement and suspension and debarment provisions. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend that the Organization adopt a formal and written procurement policy. Additionally, management should develop controls to help ensure procurement procedures are followed and to monitor the amount spent with vendors throughout the year to ensure procurement procedures are initiated when the vendor costs exceed the procurement thresholds. These procedures will help ensure compliance with Compliance Supplement and the Code of Federal Regulations related to procurement and suspension and debarment provisions. Views of responsible officials: Management agrees with the audit condition.

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Subrecipient Monitoring

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 32236 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 32237 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 608679 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $8.98M