Finding Text
Finding 2023-001: Procurement, Suspension and Debarment
Federal agency: United States Agency of International Development
Pass-through entity: The University of Arizona
Program: Policy, Evidence, Analytics, Evidence, Research and Learning (PEARL)
Assistance listing number: 98.001
Federal award identification number: 720RFS22IO00003
Criteria: IFPRI’s procurement and assistance policy and procedures manual states that potential research partners, vendors and other parties shall be screened for exclusion from donor and government-required debarment, suspension, and other sanctions by using the Lexis Nexis Bridger Insight XG tool.
Condition and context: IFPRI did not follow its suspension and debarment policy for one vendor with a procurement action of $88,000.
Cause: IFPRI did not follow its suspension and debarment policy for one vendor by not properly documenting that this vendor went through suspension and debarment within the Lexis Nexis Bridger Insight XG tool at the time of the awarding of the contract.
Effect: Given though the vendor in this matter is not suspended or debarred, IFPRI did not have that documented knowledge at the time of the awarding of the contract.
Questioned costs: None
Repeat finding: No
Recommendation: We recommend management enhance its internal controls around suspension and debarment satisfying the compliance requirement detailed above.
Views of responsible individuals: Management agrees with the finding and recommendation. See corrective action plan for further information.