Finding 963590 (2023-004)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
I
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-03-28
Audit: 299436
Organization: City of Bell, California (CA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The City failed to check if contractors were suspended or debarred before using federal funds from the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.
  • Impacted Requirements: This violates 31 CFR section 19.300, which mandates verification of contractors' eligibility for federally-funded projects.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The City should create formal policies and procedures to ensure suspension and debarment checks are conducted before awarding contracts.

Finding Text

Identification of the Federal Program: Assistance Listing Number: 21.027 Assistance Listing Title: Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CSLFRF) Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Treasury Federal Award Identification Number: 1505-0271 Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory, or Other Citation): Prior to entering into subawards and contracts with award funds, recipients must verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded pursuant to 31 CFR section 19.300. Condition: During the audit, we noticed that the City did not perform suspension and debarment checks on the contractors that they hired with CSLFRF monies. Cause: The City does not have formal policies and procedures in place to ensure the suspension and debarment review process over vendors that provides goods or services to the City’s programs was conducted prior to entering into a contract. Effect or Potential Effect: Without verifying whether vendors are suspended or debarred from working on federally-funded projects prior to the contract being awarded, the City could be contracting with vendors that are prohibited from working on federally funded projects and incurring potentially disallowed costs. Questioned Costs: None noted. Context: See condition above for the context of the finding. Identification as a Repeat Finding, If Applicable: Yes, see prior year finding 2022-002. Recommendation: We recommended the City develop policies and procedures to incorporate the suspension and debarment verification prior to awarding contracts. Views of Responsible Officials: Management concurs with the finding and agrees to implement necessary corrective procedures.

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Subrecipient Monitoring

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 387148 2023-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $963,863
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $87,600
20.600 State and Community Highway Safety $28,392
20.608 Minimum Penalties for Repeat Offenders for Driving While Intoxicated $19,611
21.016 Equitable Sharing $17,657
16.738 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program $12,467
20.205 Highway Planning and Construction $11,819