Finding Text
Condition The District did not include the necessary suspension and debarment language required for Child Nutrition Cluster related contractors with bids in excess of $25,000. Upon further review, it was determined that the vendors were not suspended or debarred. Questioned Costs None. Context The District did not include proper bidding documentation to verify that selected vendors were not suspended or debarred. Effect Noncompliance with the federal award program's suspension and debarment compliance requirements could occur and not be detected and corrected timely. Cause Proper bidding documentation is not in place to verify if vendors contracted in excess of $25,000 related to the Child Nutrition Cluster program are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded from doing business. Recommendation Procedures need to be implemented to ensure all vendors contracted with have the required suspension and debarment language will be included in the initial bidding documentation, prior to procuring their services. Management's response There is no disagreement with this finding. Upon being notified of the finding in the previous year, certifications regarding debarment and suspension were required with all bids returned by vendors. However, this control was not implemented in time for bids relating to the 2022-2023 school year. All vendors were verified to not be suspended or debarred, but contracts already in place were not updated to include the required language. This issue has now been resolved.