Finding 628442 (2022-002)

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Requirement
I
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-10-01
Audit: 52797
Organization: Primecare Community Health, INC (IL)
Auditor: Forvis LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Organization entered a sole source purchase contract without proper documentation to justify the vendor selection and limitation on competition.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with Uniform Guidance for Procurement (2 CFR 200.318(i)) and contract provisions outlined in Appendix II to Part 200 were not met.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Strengthen controls to ensure all procurement documentation is collected and retained, and include required contract provisions in future agreements.

Finding Text

Information on the Federal Program Federal Program Name: Health Center Program Cluster Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Assistance Listing Title and Number: Consolidated Health Centers (Community Health Centers), 93.224; Affordable Care Act (ACA) Grants for New and Expanded Services Under the Health Center Program, 93.527 Criteria or Specific Requirement: Under Uniform Guidance compliance requirements for Procurement (2 CFR 200.318(i)), contract files must be sufficient to detail the history of procurement. These records will include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following: rationale for the method of procurement, selection of contract type, contractor selection or rejection, and the basis for the contract price. In cases where competition was limited, such as scenarios where specific qualifications and competence are required, the files should provide evidence that the limitation on competition was justified. Also, the Uniform Guidance compliance requirements for Procurement (Appendix II to Part 200), require that Federal agency or non-Federal entity, all contracts made by the non-Federal entity under the Federal award must contain provisions enumerated in Appendix II to Part 200 (A) to (L). Condition: The Organization entered to a purchase contract with a vendor that is considered a sole source purchase agreement. The Organization did not maintain and retain appropriate documentation to justify the limitation on competition related to the vendor selection and why the purchase is a sole source purchase agreement. The sole source purchase agreement entered also did not include the contract provision required by Appendix II to Part 200. Questioned Costs: $0 Context: During our testing of procurement requirements, the sole vendor purchase charged to the grant did not have appropriate documentation to evidence the basis of vendor selection or documentation to justify the limitation on competition vendor selection and why the purchase is a sole source purchase agreement. Also, the sole source purchase agreement does not contain the provisions enumerated in Appendix II to Part 200 (A) to (L). Effect: Vendor purchase was made without appropriate documentation to comply with Uniform Guidance requirements. Also, contracts were entered into and approved without the require provision of Appendix II to Part 200 of the Uniform Guidance. Cause: Adequate supporting documentation on the procurement was not obtained or maintained within vendor files including the justification on the limitation on competition on vendor selection. The vendor contract does not contain the necessary contract provision and language required by the Uniform Guidance. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend the Organization revisit controls over this compliance requirement to ensure that appropriate documentation is gathered and retained within its procurement files to support all Federally funded purchasing decisions including the justification on the limitation on competition on vendor selection for sole source contract arrangement. We also recommend the Organization to include the contract provision required by Appendix II to Part 200 CFR on all its contracts. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: See corrective action plan prepared by management attached.

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment

Other Findings in this Audit

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.224 Consolidated Health Centers (community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care) $2.92M
93.526 Affordable Care Act (aca) Grants for Capital Development in Health Centers $262,095
93.323 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases (elc) $157,197
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $116,318
93.527 Affordable Care Act (aca) Grants for New and Expanded Services Under the Health Center Program $78,004