Policy 5413

PURCHASING
5413 PROCUREMENT:  UNIFORM GRANT GUIDANCE FOR FEDERAL AWARDS


The District will follow all applicable requirements in the Uniform Grant Guidance (2 CFR Part 200) whenever it procures goods or services using federal grant funds awarded through formula and/or discretionary grants, including funds awarded by the United States Department of Education as grants or funds awarded to a pass-through entity, such as the New York State Education Department, for subgrants. 

Uniform Grant Guidance Requirements 

Under the Uniform Grant Guidance, the District will, among other things:

a) Use its own documented procurement procedures which reflect applicable state, local and tribal laws and regulations, provided that the procurements conform to applicable federal law and the standards identified in the Uniform Grant Guidance.
b) Establish and maintain effective internal controls that provide reasonable assurance that the District is managing the federal award in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award. Internal controls means a process, implemented by the District, designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the achievement of objectives in the following categories: 

1. Effectiveness and efficiency of operations;
2. Reliability of reporting for internal and external use; and
3. Compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

c) Comply with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal awards.
d) Evaluate and monitor the District's compliance with statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of federal awards.
e) Take prompt action when instances of noncompliance are identified including noncompliance identified in audit findings.
f) Take reasonable measures to safeguard protected personally identifiable information and other information the federal awarding agency or pass-through entity designates as sensitive or the District considers sensitive consistent with applicable federal, state, local, and tribal laws regarding privacy and obligations of confidentiality.
g) Maintain oversight to ensure contractors perform in accordance with the terms, conditions, and specifications of their contracts or purchase orders. 
h) Maintain written standards of conduct covering conflicts of interest and governing the actions of its employees engaged in the selection, award, and administration of contracts. 
i) Have procurement procedures in place to avoid acquisition of unnecessary or duplicative items. Consideration should be given to consolidating or breaking out procurements to obtain a more economical purchase.
j) Award contracts only to responsible contractors possessing the ability to perform successfully under the terms and conditions of a proposed procurement. Consideration will be given to matters such as contractor integrity, compliance with public policy, record of past performance, and financial and technical resources. 
k) Maintain records that sufficiently detail the history of the procurement including, but not limited to: 

1. Rationale for the method of procurement; 
2. Selection of contract type;
3. Contractor selection or rejection; and 
4. The basis for the contract price.

l) Use time and material contracts, only after a determination that no other contract is suitable and the contract includes a ceiling price that the contractor exceeds at its own risk.
m) Conduct all procurement transactions in a manner providing full and open competition consistent with the standards of the Uniform Grant Guidance.
n) Conduct procurements in a manner that prohibits the use of statutorily or administratively imposed state, local or tribal geographical preferences in the evaluation of bids or proposals, except in those cases where applicable federal statutes expressly mandate or encourage geographic preference.
o) Have written procedures for procurement to ensure that all solicitations:

1. Incorporate a clear and accurate description of the technical requirements for the material, product, or service to be procured; and 
2. Identify all requirements which the offerors must fulfill and all other factors to be used in evaluating bids. 

p) Ensure that all prequalified lists of persons, firms, or products which are used in acquiring goods and services are current and include enough qualified sources to ensure maximum open and free competition.
q) Use one of the following methods of procurement, which include:

1. Micro-purchases;
2. Small purchase procedures;
3. Sealed bids;
4. Competitive proposals; and
5. Noncompetitive proposals.

r) Have a written method for conducting technical evaluations of the proposals received and for selecting recipients.
s) Take all necessary affirmative steps to assure that minority businesses, women's business enterprises, and labor surplus area firms are used when possible.
t) Include in all contracts made by the District the applicable provisions contained in Appendix II of the Uniform Grant Guidance -- Contract Provisions for Non-Federal Entity Contracts Under Federal Awards. 
u) Perform a cost or price analysis in connection with every procurement action in excess of the Simplified Acquisition Threshold including contract modifications.
v) Negotiate profit as a separate element of the price for each contract in which there is not price competition and in all cases where an analysis is performed.
w) Comply with the non-procurement debarment and suspension standards which prohibit awarding contracts to parties listed on the government-wide exclusions in the System for Award Management (SAM).


Policy References:
2 CFR §§ 200.61, 200.303, 200.318, 200.319, 200.320, 200.321, 200.323, and 200.326
2 CFR Part 200, App. II 

NOTE:  Refer also to
Policy 5410 - Purchasing:  Competitive Bidding and Offering
Policy 5411 - Procurement of Goods and Services
Policy 5570 - Financial Accountability
Policy 5670 - Records Management 
Policy 6110 - School District Officer and Employee Code of Ethics
Policy 6161 - Conference/Travel Expense Reimbursement


Adopted: 6/22/99
Revised: 9/6/22

Policy 5413