Finding Text
Finding 2022-001: Procurement Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass-through agency: Pennsylvania Department of Education Assistance Listing Number: 84.425 Education Stabilization Fund Criteria: The Uniform Guidance requires that non-federal entities must have and use documented procurement procedures consistent with laws and regulations and the standards for the acquisition of property or services under a federal award or subaward in accordance with 2 CFR 200.318. Furthermore, the non-federal entity is required to follow formal procurement methods when the value of the procurement for property or service under a federal financial assistance award exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold in accordance with 2 CFR 200.320. Condition: The District did not follow the appropriate procedures to comply with Uniform Grant Guidance. Context: During testing, it was noted that the District had entered into a lease agreement in 2017 to acquire computer equipment. The equipment was acquired through COSTARS, a cooperative purchasing program. While purchases through COSTARS meet the cooperative purchase requirement for local government purchasing under 62 Pa.C.S. section 1902, they do not meet the more stringent requirements of the Uniform Grant Guidance. Subsequently, the District decided to budget for and pay for this lease agreement in the 2021-2022 school year under the Education Stabilization Fund. In using federal funds to pay for the lease agreement, the District inadvertently did not follow its procurement policy. Cause: When the District initially entered into the lease agreement, they were unaware that the future cost of the lease would be paid for with federal funding. Effect: The District did not follow its procurement policy and ultimately did not comply with the standards of the Uniform Grant Guidance. Questioned Cost: None Identification of Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend that when the District decides to utilize cooperative purchasing programs and use federal funds for those purchases that a review of compliance with the procurement policy occurs. The District should then document its process and how it complies with the procurement standards. View of Responsible Officials: The District has reviewed the applicable Uniform Guidance from the Federal Office of Management and Budget and has developed administrative procedures to aid with ensuring that all procurements financed with federal funding fully comply with Uniform Grant Guidance Federal acquisition thresholds and requirements. Effective the 22-23 fiscal year forward the District will fully deploy the referenced administrative procedures to all applicable District stakeholders and monitor all such procurements for compliance purposes.