Finding 621793 (2022-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
F
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-01-04

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The District failed to apply Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements for a $64,000 electrical contract, which may have led to underpayment of workers.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with Uniform Grant Guidance for contracts over $2,000 involving laborers and mechanics.
  • Recommended Follow-up: Assign a management member to oversee federal grant compliance and conduct annual reviews of the OMB compliance supplement to ensure adherence to all requirements.

Finding Text

US Department of Education Passed through Oregon Department of Education Program Name: Assistance Listing Number 84.425 - COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Cluster - Elementary and Secondary School Relief Fund # 2022-001 - Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance with Equipment/Real Property Management Criteria ? Uniform Grant Guidance requires that subrecipients that use ESF/ESSER funds for minor remodeling, renovation or construction contracts over $2,000 and use laborers and mechanics must meet Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements. Condition ? The District purchased services from an electrical contracting company related to newly installed modular buildings, paid them an amount over $2,000 and did not instruct the company that Davis-Bacon prevailing wage applied. Effect ? The District?s failure to comply with these requirements may have resulted in the electrical company?s personnel being paid less than Davis-Bacon wages. Cause ?District staff were not aware of the $2,000 threshold for this requirement. Perspective ? Only two of the expenses charged to this grant fall under this requirement. The one tested by the auditors was for $64,000, the other was much smaller. Auditor noted during work in other areas of the audit that the District was aware of prevailing wage requirements on larger contracts. This appears to have been an oversight, due to the size of the contract and management?s misunderstanding of the threshold. Recommendation ? Auditor recommends District staff in charge of federal grant compliance, annually review the OMB federal grant compliance supplement, specifically Part 3, Compliance Requirements. A member of management should be assigned with the responsibility to ensure all applicable compliance requirements are met. Management?s response: Management agrees with the finding. In January of each year the Fiscal Director, Jerod Nunn, will meet with the grant manager and review the Office of Management and Budget?s compliance supplement. Any changes and/or updates will be noted in the Federal grant files and will be properly followed so the district is in compliance with the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts and Reorganization Plan Regulations.

Categories

Equipment & Real Property Management Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Subrecipient Monitoring Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 45351 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $347,907
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $294,899
84.027 Special Education_grants to States $217,783
10.553 School Breakfast Program $154,774
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $100,000
10.555 National School Lunch Program $50,210
84.367 Improving Teacher Quality State Grants $42,137
10.559 Summer Food Service Program for Children $27,480
84.060 Indian Education_grants to Local Educational Agencies $20,803
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $19,539
93.575 Child Care and Development Block Grant $17,213
10.558 Child and Adult Care Food Program $16,224
39.003 Donation of Federal Surplus Personal Property $11,354
84.173 Special Education_preschool Grants $3,466
10.649 Pandemic Ebt Administrative Costs $3,063