HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/07/2008 - Report: 2008 Purchasing Processes Audi - City Council - Audit Committee
Performance Audit of
The City’s Purchasing Processes
October 7, 2008
City Internal Auditor’s Office
City of College Station
File #02.07
October 7, 2008
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council:
The Purchasing Processes Audit was conducted in accordance with the fiscal year
2008 audit plan. This audit report contains seven sections. The audit findings
from these sections are summarized below:
Administrative review: The City of College Station’s purchasing functions are
effectively administered by competent, well trained purchasing professionals.
Organizationally, purchasing administration is appropriate structured to promote
procurement best practices, ethical behavior, and legal compliance.
Procedural review: Purchasing policies and procedures are well documented,
comply with State and municipal purchasing laws, and assist in the efficient and
economical procurement of goods and services.
Standards and specifications review: Items ordered are appropriately
standardized to control the proliferation of products ordered and to promote
purchasing economy. Specifications are designed to establish minimum
standards for acceptability and equitable vendor selection.
Competitive bidding and proposals review: The City of College Station’s
competitive bidding policies, procedures, and processes adequately encourages
competition, prevents favoritism, and secures the best work and materials at the
lowest practicable price. These policies, procedures, and processes were also
found to be in compliance with State and municipal purchasing laws.
Cooperative purchasing review: The City of College Station actively pursues
cooperative purchasing opportunities in order to realize cost savings through
increased purchasing power.
TY ELLIOTT
City Internal Auditor
telliott@cstx.gov
CITY INTERNAL AUDITOR’S OFFICE
1101 TEXAS AVENUE
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS 77842
TEL: (979) 764-6269
FAX: (979) 764-6377
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Councilmember Lawrence Stewart
Councilmember Lynn McIlhaney
Councilmember James Massey
Internal control review: Purchasing controls could be strengthened in order to
prevent fraud, abuse, or potential errors. First, the city should require
supervisory approval of requisitions within their purchasing information system.
Second, certain purchasing duties should be segregated.
Legal review: City of College Station purchasing policies, procedures, processes,
and contractual agreements comply with State and municipal law requirements.
The Audit Committee has reviewed this report and is releasing it for your acceptance. I
appreciate the courtesy and cooperation of city staff throughout the audit.
Sincerely,
Ty Elliott
City Internal Auditor
Purchasing Processes Audit
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................. 1
Background ............................................................................................................ 1
Findings and Analysis.................................................................................................... 3
Administrative Review .......................................................................................... 3
Procedural Review ................................................................................................. 5
Standards and Specifications ................................................................................ 7
Competitive Bidding and Proposals ...................................................................... 8
Cooperative Purchasing .......................................................................................12
Internal Controls ..................................................................................................13
Legal Review and Requirements..........................................................................17
Recommendations .......................................................................................................21
Appendices
Appendix A Purchasing Information System Interim Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Appendix B Management Response to Audit Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Purchasing Processes Audit 1
Introduction
The City Internal Auditor conducted this performance audit of the city’s
purchasing processes pursuant to Article III Section 30 of the College
Station City Charter, which outlines the City Internal Auditor’s primary duties.
A performance audit is an objective, systematic examination of evidence to assess
independently the performance of an organization, program, activity, or function.
The purpose of a performance audit is to provide information to improve public
accountability and facilitate decision-making. Performance audits encompass a
wide variety of objectives, including those related to assessing program
effectiveness and results; economy and efficiency; internal control; compliance
with legal or other requirements; and objectives related to providing prospective
analyses, guidance, or summary information.
A performance audit of the city’s purchasing processes was included in the fiscal
year 2008 audit plan based on the results of a citywide risk assessment conducted
in October 2007. On October 25, 2007, the City Council approved the City
Internal Auditor’s audit plan.
Background
This audit was conducted in accordance with government auditing standards,
which are promulgated by the Comptroller General of the United States. Audit
fieldwork was conducted from March 2008 through September 2008.
The purchasing processes audit criteria and objectives were primarily obtained
from the latest edition of the Model Purchasing Manual developed by the State of
Texas Comptroller’s Office. The Model Purchasing Manual is a guide designed to
assist cities and counties, as well as other local government entities, in the
complex and technical area of purchasing. The purchasing processes audit plan
was derived from Chapter 8 of this manual, which contains a comprehensive audit
program.
Due to the size and comprehensiveness of the audit, the auditor created a check
list for the audit objectives outlined in this report. Green check marks indicate
areas where the auditor found adequate evidence to make a positive conclusion.
The red marks indicate areas that needed further review to determine if any
corrective action is needed. Audit recommendations are summarized at the end
2 Purchasing Processes Audit
of the report. The auditor did not recommend corrective action for every
objective marked with an . In some cases, the auditor found adequate
evidence indicating that no corrective action is needed.
Purchasing Processes Audit Insert Report Title Here 3
Findings and Analysis
Administrative Review
The administrative review scope and methods included:
• Examining written policies and procedures documented in the city’s
purchasing manual and budget documents.
• Conducting interviews to determine whether written or unwritten
procedures are in use.
• Observing purchasing processes performed by purchasing office
personnel and examining documented flow charts of purchasing
processes.
• Verifying professional designations recorded by the Institute of Supply
Management.
• Reviewing purchasing office travel and training expenditures.
• Comparing job duties and qualifications found in the city’s purchasing job
postings with the Purchasing Office’s duties and responsibilities found in
the purchasing manual.
Y N Administrative Review Objectives:
1. Is the authority to purchase centralized in one office or with one person?
2. Are all purchases and contracts coordinated through this office or person
(except minor items urgently needed to prevent interruptions of service)?
3. Are contracts exceeding bid limits authorized or approved by the governing
body?
4. Are the purchasing officers and all assistants encouraged to expand their
skill and knowledge by attending continuing education seminars when
practical, and to belong to a professional purchasing association?
5. Does the government assume the cost of: (a) the continuing education, or
(b) the professional purchasing association’s dues?
6. Is there a written procurement policy statement that describes the overall
goals and objectives of purchasing?
7. Does the statement or another authoritative document specify the
authority of the purchasing officer to act as the government’s purchasing
agent? The City Manager or his designee, in consultation with appropriate
city departments, determine the procurement method for goods and
services that provides the best value to the city—which is also appropriate.
8. Does the statement or another authoritative document specify the
authority of the purchasing officer to evaluate and rank bids and proposals
and to make recommendations to the governing body as to which to
accept?
9. Does the statement or another authoritative document specify the
4 Purchasing Processes Audit
authority of the purchasing officer to perform quality assurance testing and
to recommend products?
10. Does the statement or another authoritative document specify the
authority of the purchasing officer to recommend which properties and
assets should be declared surplus or salvage, and to dispose of such
surplus and salvage property?
11. Does the statement or another authoritative document specify the
authority of the purchasing officer to inventory and maintain records of
fixed assets? Purchasing, selling, and accounting for capital assets in
addition to internal controls and policies and procedures for safeguarding
capital assets, property, equipment and inventory is handled through the
Accounting Division—which is also appropriate.
12. Does the government prepare a schedule of capital asset acquisitions,
taking into account expected cash flow, requirements of the using
department, and the most advantageous time of the year to purchase that
asset?
13. Is the purchasing officer involved in scheduling capital asset acquisitions?
14. Do the purchasing office’s policies clearly state that service to the user
departments is one of its highest priorities?
15. Is there an adequate library of catalogs and price lists for frequent
vendors?
16. Is there a written code of ethics for the purchasing officer and all
purchasing employees?
17. Do all members of the purchasing office annually certify that they have
read, understand and will abide by the code of ethics?
18. Is the purchasing office independent of control by any department head?
If not, is the purchasing office under a compatible department such as
finance or support services?
19. Is there a specific written authority that says purchasing may issue policies
and directives to implement its procedures?
20. Do fully qualified people fill staff positions?
21. Are valid, comprehensive job standards established for purchasing
positions and are purchasing personnel assigned or hired based on their
qualifications in relation to the established job standards and
requirements?
22. Are training programs in purchasing practices established, or outside
training programs made available to purchasing personnel?
Administrative Review Findings
Overall, the city’s purchasing functions are effectively administered by
competent, well trained purchasing professionals. Organizationally,
purchasing administration is appropriate structured to promote procurement
best practices, ethical behavior, and legal compliance. Noteworthy
administrative review findings are described as follows.
Purchasing Processes Audit Insert Report Title Here 5
Decentralized receiving risks are mitigated. The Purchasing Office is
responsible for assisting the individual departments in developing quality and
quantity specifications for goods and services to be purchased along with
required delivery schedules. However, the Purchasing Office does not perform
quality assurance testing of products received because the city does not have
a central receiving point. The Purchasing Office does mitigate the risks
associated with decentralized receiving by requiring departments to report any
shortages, late deliveries, damaged merchandise or other problems relating to
the vendors' performance to the Purchasing Office and following up with a
written explanation of the situation utilizing a vendor performance form.
Scheduling of capital asset acquisitions is handled adequately. All
requests for the purchase of new and replacement vehicles and equipment is
coordinated through the Fleet Services Division of Public Works. Based on
pre-established vehicle replacement criteria, the Fleet Superintendent annually
runs a report and analyzes the report to identify vehicles to be replaced and
make recommendations to the Purchasing Division for the most cost effective
purchasing method. Although Finance is involved through the budget
process, the Purchasing Office is not directly involved in the scheduling of
capital asset acquisition. On the other hand, the Purchasing Office assists
departments to procure the best value products and services. This is
accomplished through competitive bids, proposals, and quotes. The Budget
and Fiscal Policy Office is involved in the annual preparation of the five-year
Capital Improvements Program (CIP). Although the Director of Fleet Services
develops the fleet replacement schedule, the Budget Office conducts work to
provide oversight of the fleet replacement program.
Annual certification of code of ethics should be practiced. The City’s
written code of ethics for the purchasing officer and all purchasing employees
is sufficiently documented and useful. Generally, it is a good practice to
develop a formal procedure where the members of the Purchasing Office
certify in the writing that they have read, understand and will abide by the
code of ethics.
Procedural Review
The procedural review scope and methods included:
• Examining written policies and procedures documented in the city’s
purchasing manual, budget documents, and employee handbook.
• Conducting interviews to determine whether written or unwritten
procedures are in use.
• Observing purchasing, accounting, and inventorying processes performed
by purchasing, accounting, warehouse personnel.
• Examining the purchasing information system manual to gain an
understanding of the system’s control ability and options.
6 Purchasing Processes Audit
• Interviewing purchasing information system experts to identify proper
system control setup options; and comparing actual system setup to
appropriate setup options.
• Analyzing blanket purchase order data between April 1, 2003 and March
31, 2008 using auditing software, tools, and techniques.
Y N Procedural Review Objectives:
1. Are requisitions required for all purchases processed by the purchasing
office, except for occasional urgent, minor purchases of supplies that may
be requested orally and followed by a proper authorization later? NOTE:
With proper safeguards, such as confidential codes, computer-generated
requisitions are as good or better than written requisitions.
2. Does the Purchasing Office require that requisitions be signed or otherwise
properly authorized by persons designated by the responsible department
head and are requisitions checked for the signature or confidential code of
a properly authorized person prior to processing by the Purchasing Office?
3. Is there a written policy or order naming the people authorized to sign (or
approve) the requisitions for goods or services?
4. If an oral requisition is processed, is it always confirmed by a written
requisition (or computer-generated requisition with proper safeguards)?
The city does not process oral requisitions.
5. Are requisitions checked to ensure that the purchase is covered by a
budget line item authorization before the purchasing office issues a
purchase order?
6. Are requisitions checked to ensure that the budget line item has a
sufficient unencumbered balance to cover the purchase before the
Purchasing Office issues a purchase order?
7. Does the Purchasing Office monitor requisitions and purchase orders to
ensure that they are executed on a timely basis?
8. Has the cost of processing a purchase order been determined?
9. Does the Purchasing Office schedule purchases for centrally stocked
supplies and materials so that out-of-stock conditions are rare?
10. Are centrally stocked supplies and materials normally inventoried on a
continuing basis so that the Purchasing Office is aware of the amount
invested at all times?
11. Do blanket purchase orders fall into one of the following categories: (1)
vendors for blanket purchase orders are selected on a transparent and
equitable basis, to maximize the scope of competition, (2) there are
multiple items on blankets for low dollar amounts, which could enable
users to make frequent low dollar purchases to the same vendor, (3) the
City Council or City Manager approved the blanket agreement, (4) there
were discounts on blanket items, or (5) the blankets were cooperative
agreements?
12. Are receipts for blanket purchase order purchases retained and matched to
the monthly invoice from the vendor?
13. When blanket purchase orders are negotiated, are discounts routinely
received?
Purchasing Processes Audit Insert Report Title Here 7
14. Does the purchasing office have a procedures manual?
15. Are procedures strictly enforced?
16. Are written procedures developed for all duties commonly performed in the
purchasing office, including emergency procedures?
17. Are procedures reviewed at regular intervals to ensure that they are the
most efficient, and maintain effective controls?
Procedural Review Findings
Purchasing policies and procedures are well documented, comply with State
and municipal purchasing laws, and assist in the efficient and economical
procurement of goods and services. The city does not require supervisory
approval of purchase requisitions. Controls regarding this issue are addressed
in the internal control section of this report (see page 14).
Standards and Specifications
The standards and specifications review scope and methods included:
• Examining written policies and procedures documented in the city’s
purchasing manual.
• Conducting interviews to determine whether written or unwritten
procedures are in use.
• Observing inventorying processes performed by purchasing and
warehouse personnel.
• Examining the purchasing information system manual to gain an
understanding of the system’s purchasing catalog setup.
• Reviewing all documented vendor performance forms.
• Examining 30 randomly selected fiscal year 2007 bid specification
documents.
• Reviewing a standard form purchase order agreement.
Y N Standards and Specification Objectives:
1. Does the city have a policy for standardizing products when the same type
of item is used in more than one department?
2. Is there a standardization committee to control the proliferation of
products ordered?
3. Does the purchasing office standardize items commonly used by two or
more departments?
4. Are generic products purchased if they can replace more expensive, brand-
name items?
5. Is there a central stockroom from which all departments draw commonly
used supplies and materials?
6. Is there a catalog or list of items available from the stockroom?
7. Are departments required to justify in writing the purchase of a non-
8 Purchasing Processes Audit
standard item if a similar standard item is centrally stocked?
8. Is there a product evaluation committee?
9. If so, is the purchasing officer or another member of the purchasing office
a member?
10. Is a value analysis made of products to be sure which best meet the
intended needs of the city?
11. If so, does the value analysis consider: (a) new sources of supply, (b)
standardization of items, (c) identification of alternative products, including
price and quality, (d) availability, ease of maintenance and delivery when
needed, or (e) amortization and trade-in schedule?
12. Are brand names avoided or used only as descriptions?
13. Are vendor performance files maintained?
14. Are performance or design specifications rather than descriptive
specifications, such as name brands, used whenever possible?
15. Does the purchasing office use commercial standards or specifications
developed by federal, state, other local governments, professional
associations or other entities whenever possible, instead of developing new
specifications?
16. Do the specifications establish minimum standards for acceptability?
17. Do the specifications allow adequate competition among vendors, without
specifications slanted toward one vendor’s product or service?
18. Do the specifications contain provisions for test methods to determine
whether the items comply with the specifications?
19. For items where quality is critical, or the cost of inspection and testing is
too expensive, are qualified products lists developed?
20. Are listed products tested prior to inclusion on the list?
21. Are vendors invited to submit their product for testing?
22. When specifications are developed, do the authors consider whether the
product will be stocked when it is delivered, delivered in installments to be
stocked in smaller quantities or delivered as needed?
23. Does the purchase order include delivery information?
Standards and Specification Review Findings
Items ordered are appropriately standardized to control the proliferation of
products ordered and to promote purchasing economy. Specifications are
designed to establish minimum standards for acceptability and equitable
vendor selection.
Competitive Bidding and Proposals
The competitive bidding and proposals review scope and methods included:
• Examining written policies and procedures documented in the city’s
purchasing manual.
Purchasing Processes Audit Insert Report Title Here 9
• Conducting interviews to determine whether written or unwritten
procedures are in use.
• Comparing the city’s competitive bidding policies and procedures to
applicable state regulations and city ordinances.
• Reviewing the city’s online vendor registration process.
• Observing the invitation to bid process performed by purchasing
personnel, and reviewing the city’s invitation to bid standard terms and
conditions.
• Reviewing all documented vendor performance forms.
• Examining 30 randomly selected fiscal year 2007 bid specification
documents.
• Reviewing bid tabulation and purchase order documents for all active
blanket purchase orders over $25,000 (as of June 19, 2008).
• Examining all fiscal year 2007 purchase orders for evidence of compliance
with competitive bidding requirements. In addition, I reviewed council
agendas, council minutes, bid documents, and contracts.
• Using auditing software, tools, and techniques to analyze purchases from
September 1, 2004 to August 31, 2007 to identify separate, sequential
and/or component purchases to avoid competitive bidding requirements.
• Comparing 30 randomly selected fiscal year 2007 bid specifications to
their corresponding bid responses and bid evaluation documents.
Y N Competitive Bidding and Proposals Objectives:
1. Are requirements for supplies and materials consolidated annually to
determine whether competitive bids are required?
2. Are all substantial purchases subject to competition even if law does not
require it? NOTE: Buyers may make some smaller purchases without
seeking quotes based on their experience and professional judgment.
3. Are competitive bids used for all fiscal year 2007 non-exempt items with an
annual aggregate cost of $25,000 or more (effective September 1, 2007,
the competitive bidding requirement for expenditures changed increasing
the amount required for competitive bidding to $50,000 as provided in the
Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 252-B, Sections 252.021 and
252.0215)?
4. Do standard purchasing procedures comply with the provisions of the
statutes concerning competitive bidding and proposals?
5. Do purchasing procedures comply with other pertinent authorities, such as
city ordinances concerning competitive bidding?
6. Are procedures in place to prevent purchase splitting, such as carpeting
one room per purchase order, to avoid submitting them for competitive
bidding?
7. Are separate, sequential and/or component purchases of items ordered or
purchased each fiscal year treated as a single purchase?
8. Are notices of competitive bids for non-exempted purchases advertised or
posted as required by state statutes?
10 Purchasing Processes Audit
9. Does the purchasing office have written procedures for securing
competitive bids?
10. Does the purchasing office have written procedures governing the receipt,
control and opening and reading of bids?
11. Does the purchasing office have written procedures governing the review
and evaluation of bids?
12. Does the purchasing office examine all bids received for compliance with
the terms and conditions of the bid invitation?
13. Does the purchasing office contract for professional services?
14. Does the purchasing office submit contracts for professional services to
competition in a way that will attract qualified professionals at a fair price
to the government?
15. Does the purchasing office maintain a list, classified by commodity or
service, of prospective, qualified bidders?
16. If so, does the purchasing office periodically review the list to remove
bidders that prove unresponsive, unqualified or have a history of poor
performance?
17. Does the purchasing office maintain sufficient records of bids and contracts
to help identify problem areas such as non-responsive or unqualified
vendors, or vendors possibly engaging in collusive bidding practices?
18. Does the purchasing office consolidate requirements for similar items such
as office supplies when extending invitations to bid?
19. Are bid invitations for contracts involving categories of items such as office
supplies structured so that the city may award contracts on selected items
to the low bidder on those items, rather than awarding the whole contract
to the lowest overall bidder (i.e., cherry-picked items)?
20. Are bid invitations written to allow the city to choose: (a) one-time delivery
of the entire order, or delivery on an “as needed” basis, (b) single or
multiple payments, or (c) single, multiple or designated delivery points?
21. Does the purchasing office have a written policy requiring informal bids or
quotes on all items except minor purchases when the statutes do not
require sealed, competitive bids?
22. If the purchase price exceeds a set level, does the policy require those
quotes to be in writing?
23. Does the policy state a period during which the price will be valid?
24. Are emergency purchases recorded and tracked to see that the process is
not abused?
25. Does the purchasing office have a written guide for vendors to keep them
informed of all relevant local policies and procedures?
26. Does the city have a program for notifying and encouraging new suppliers
to compete for the city’s business?
27. Does the city have a program that ensures adequate supplies of critical
items by using multi-award bids, such as the first contract awarded
supplies 70 percent of commodity, while the second contract awarded
supplies 20 percent, etc.? If this were the case, the bid invitation would
need to specify two or more contracts.
28. Does the purchasing office use two-step bids when the city is unsure of its
Purchasing Processes Audit Insert Report Title Here 11
needs or system specifications? Step one is a request for information with
as many bidders as possible to formulate requirements; step two is normal
bidding.
29. Does the purchasing office make sole-source purchases only after the lack
of alternate sources is determined?
30. Are all bids received made on time given full consideration, including those
not issued bid invitations, unless the bids are restricted to a qualified
bidders list?
31. Are all late bids disqualified?
32. Are bidders encouraged to attend bid openings so they will better
understand the bidding process?
33. Are bid tabulations made available to the public?
34. Does the purchasing office have a written procedure for emergency
purchases?
35. When the city purchases items without bids under the emergency
purchasing exemptions, do the written procedures require a signed
acknowledgement from the department head that the purchase falls within
the exemptions of the statutes?
The department heads provide purchasing with a memo outlining the
necessity for the emergency purchase. The Purchasing Office advises the
department facing the emergency of the bids received and request their
recommendation. This is also an adequate procedure.
36. Do bid invitations contain adequate details to allow bidders to develop
good bids?
37. Is the lowest-cost, most-responsible bidder awarded the contract? If not,
are all bids rejected?
38. Do the requests for proposals specify the relative weight given the
evaluation factors used to award the contract?
39. Are contracts awarded in this manner given to the most-responsible bidder
whose proposal is the highest-rated proposal using the weighted
evaluation factors?
40. If provided in the request for proposals, are proposals opened without
disclosing their contents to other bidders and kept secret during the
negotiation process?
41. After a contract is awarded, are all proposals opened for public inspection,
except those that contain trade secrets and confidential information?
42. Are discussions held with all bidders who are reasonably qualified for
selection?
Competitive Bidding and Proposals Findings
The City of College Station’s competitive bidding policies, procedures, and
processes adequately encourages competition, prevents favoritism, and
secures the best work and materials at the lowest practical price. These
policies, procedures, and processes were also found to be in compliance with
State and municipal purchasing laws. The following noteworthy competitive
bidding findings are described below.
12 Purchasing Processes Audit
No split purchases were identified, but additional procedures could
be implemented to prevent purchase splitting. Purchases from
September 1, 2004 to August 31, 2007 were scrutinized using auditing
software, tools, and techniques. No separate, sequential and/or component
purchases to avoid competitive bidding requirements were made during this
period. In March 2008, the Purchasing Office began to run reports for field
purchase orders to identify if any split purchases are being made to avoid the
$3,000 limit for decentralized purchasing. However, there are no formal
processes, procedures, or system controls currently implemented to identify
split purchases to avoid the $50,000 threshold for competitive bidding
requirements.
Fiscal year 2007 purchases satisfied competitive bidding
requirements. All fiscal year 2007 purchase orders were examined. In
addition, council agendas, council minutes, bid documents, and contracts were
reviewed. There was adequate documentary evidence from these sources to
determine that all fiscal year 2007 purchases satisfied competitive bidding
requirements.
Cooperative Purchasing
The cooperative purchasing review scope and methods included:
• Examining city policies, procedures, and ordinances.
• Interviewing key purchasing personnel.
• Reviewing all fiscal year 2007 purchase orders.
Y N Cooperative Purchasing Objectives:
1. Does the city have an ordinance or order allowing the purchasing office to
purchase goods or services in cooperation with other governments when it
is to their mutual benefit?
2. Does the purchasing office enter into cooperative purchasing agreements
with other local governments?
3. Does the purchasing office maintain contact with other local governments’
purchasing offices through the regional council or association of
governments to exchange information and engage in cooperative
purchasing contracts?
4. If a government is in the area of a larger government, has the purchasing
office investigated the possibility of buying from its contracts?
5. Is the city represented on a regional purchasing committee?
6. Does the purchasing office have an active program to search for ways to
extend savings through cooperative purchasing?
7. Does the purchasing office have a program for evaluating the savings or
costs of cooperative purchasing?
8. Has the city considered creating joint service contracts with nearby
governments?
Purchasing Processes Audit Insert Report Title Here 13
9. Does the purchasing office, when possible, enter into agreements to
purchase from state contracts?
Cooperative Purchasing Findings
The City of College Station actively pursues cooperative purchasing
opportunities in order to realize cost savings through increased purchasing
power.
Internal Controls
The review of principals of internal control scope and methods included:
• Examining written policies and procedures documented in the city’s
purchasing manual and interviewing purchasing personnel to determine
whether written or unwritten procedures are in use.
• Observing purchasing, accounting, and inventorying processes performed
by purchasing, accounting, warehouse personnel.
• Examining the purchasing information system manual to gain an
understanding of the system’s control ability and options.
• Observing purchasing processes and system control setups selections.
• Identifying purchasing internal control best practices from professional
publications and organizations such as the Institute of Internal Auditors
and the Certified Public Accountant Journal.
• Interviewing purchasing information system experts to identify proper
system control setup options; and comparing actual system setup to
appropriate setup options.
• Analyzing user functional access to the city’s financial system using
auditing software, tools, and techniques.
• Examining the results of the last two inventories conducted by warehouse
personnel.
• Reviewing the external auditors’ reports for the last three fiscal years, for
which the external auditors opinion reflected well on the city in terms of
accurate and fair financial reporting.
Y N Internal Control Objectives:
1. Does the city have clear, well-defined, written policies on purchasing?
2. Are reports on purchasing periodically forwarded to the governing body?
3. Are pre-printed, pre-numbered receipts, requisitions, purchase orders,
inventory forms and other forms that have the city’s name and address
used for all transactions that may constitute part of the audit trail?
4. Does the city have well-defined policies for the authorization of capital
acquisitions, such as advance approval by the governing body prior to
major acquisitions and planned scheduling of major purchases during the
14 Purchasing Processes Audit
year?
5. Is there a requirement for an authorization or verification when goods or
services are requisitioned (authorized by department head or
representative);
6. Is there a requirement for an authorization or verification during the
vendor selection stage of the purchasing cycle (purchasing officer or
governing body for bidding process)?
7. Is there a requirement for an authorization or verification when price and
terms are selected (purchasing officer)?
8. Is there a requirement for an authorization or verification at the purchase
invoice stage of the purchasing cycle (user – verifies satisfactory
performance)?
9. Is there a requirement for authorization or verification when payment is
made and the account/fund charged (accounting manager)?
10. Are authorizations verified by the purchasing office?
11. Does the government have a policy that, whenever possible, keeps the
person with authority to approve a requisition from entering the
transaction into the accounting records?
12. Does the policy state that the person with authority to approve a
requisition should not have custody of the asset?
13. Does the policy state that when possible, a person who enters a
transaction in the accounting records should not have custody of the
asset?
15. Does the office use pre-numbered forms for all sensitive documents, such
as purchase requisitions, purchase orders and receipts?
16. Are all pre-numbered forms strictly controlled and accounted for and are all
copies of spoiled and voided pre-numbered forms retained for control?
17. Are warehoused assets not released to users without a proper requisition
and are assets in the custody of individuals recorded on issue cards and
signed for properly?
18. Are assets received from vendors counted and examined for compliance
with the purchase order and is this information properly documented on
receiving reports or copies of the purchase orders to be sent to
accounting?
19. Are all items classified as capital assets accurately recorded in detailed
records?
20. Are the city’s assets periodically inventoried by comparing them with the
fixed asset records to determine losses or oversupply?
21. Are there procedures in place for returning all unneeded or obsolete
materials to the purchasing office for disposal?
Internal Control Review Findings
Purchasing controls could be strengthened in order to prevent fraud, abuse, or
potential errors. First, the city should require supervisory approval of
requisitions within their purchasing information system. Second, certain
purchasing duties should be segregated.
Purchasing Processes Audit Insert Report Title Here 15
Requisition approval hierarchies should be implemented. The city’s
financial system has the ability to create approval hierarchies for the following
purchasing functions: blanket order receipts, field purchase orders (FPO),
FPO department approval, FPO payment approval, invoice review, purchase
orders, purchase requisitions, and stock requisitions. Approval levels were not
setup for any of these purchasing functions. Therefore, the system control is
not activated that would require the requestor to get approval from his/her
supervisor. On May, 2008, the City Internal Auditor issued an interim audit
report that identified several purchasing system controls weaknesses (see
Appendix A). The lack of approval hierarchies was one of the system control
weaknesses identified in this report.
The person with authority to approve a requisition should be
restricted from entering the transaction into the accounting records.
The city does not have a policy restricting the person with authority to
approve a requisition from entering the transaction into the accounting
records. Because no approval hierarchies have been established in the city’s
purchasing system, a consistent and verifiable authorization function for all
city purchases could not be identified.
The person with authority to approve a requisition should not have
custody of the asset. The city doe not have a policy that states that the
person with authority to approve a requisition should not have custody of the
asset. In addition, all purchasing information system users (except those with
inquiry only access), have the ability to requisition and receive ordered goods
or services—without supervisory requisition approval. Therefore, the same
employee could requisition items (without supervisory approval), receive
custody of those items, and record the receipt of those items into the
accounting system. Ideally, the following duties should be performed by
different employees (1) requisitioning goods, services, or inventory; (2)
approving requisitions (performed by the requisitioner’s supervisor); and (3)
taking receipt of requisitioned items and recording the receipt into accounting
records. On May, 2008, the City Internal Auditor issued an interim audit
report that identified this system control weakness along with a
recommendation of how duties should be separated in the purchasing system
(see Appendix A).
Invoice processing and the ability to create authorized city checks
should be separated. The city does not have a policy that states that a
person who enters a transaction in the accounting records should not have
custody of the asset. Invoice processing in the purchasing system is an
essential element of the accounts payable cycle. Therefore, invoice
processing should be limited to accounts payable employees who do not have
the ability to create city checks or perform key procurement responsibilities
such as purchase order processing. On May, 2008, the City Internal Auditor
issued an interim audit report that identified that the Accounting Customer
16 Purchasing Processes Audit
Service Supervisor and the Payroll Assistant have access to invoice processing
and the ability to create authorized city checks (see Appendix A).
Utilizing stock requisitions would strengthen controls over
inventoried assets. The purchasing system has the ability to setup stock
requisitions. A stock requisition is a formal request to remove stock from
inventory. After a stock requisition is setup, an authorized person can
approve, cancel, or return the stock requisition to the originator for more
information. When approving the stock requisition, an authorized person can
also verify expense account information and the availability of funds.
Warehouse personnel can then issue the items from inventory or return the
stock requisition to the sender. However, the purchasing system’s stock
requisition functionality is not used by city personnel wishing to order items
from inventory. In order to issue inventory, warehouse personnel require a
valid work order number or account number. There are two basic ways to
acquired inventoried assets. (1) Email or call the warehouse requesting assets
and provide a work order or account number. Warehouse staff will then issue
a ticket and delivered the requested assets to the requester. Issue tickets are
signed to signify receipt, but warehouse staff does not keep these tickets on
record. Record of the item issued is contained in the purchasing system
based on the data entered into the system by warehouse personnel when the
ticket was issued. (2) City personnel can stop by the warehouse and request
an item directly provided they have a valid account number or work order
number. No supervisory approval is checked when issuing assets from
inventory. As long as an employee has a valid account number or work order
number, warehouse personnel will issue assets from inventory.
System setup should be tightly controlled. Purchasing system
administrators have access to all purchasing system setup and maintenance
functions. System setup functions allow the user to set up system controls,
create approval hierarchies, assign users’ functional access, clear physical
inventory, and purge transaction history. Currently, all employees in the
purchasing office have access to these functions. Although multiple
purchasing personnel may need access to system maintenance functions,
system setup should be tightly controlled and limited to as few employees as
possible. On May, 2008, the City Internal Auditor issued an interim audit
report that identified this system control weakness along with a
recommendation of how duties should be separated in the purchasing system
(see Appendix A).
Vendor creation needs to be segregated from purchasing and
receiving functions. Vendor creation and maintenance of the vendor
master file should be segregated from inventory control, purchasing, and
receiving. Therefore, the vendor master file should be maintained by
employees that have limited access to other purchasing functions. Purchasing
personnel, however, have access to all purchasing system functions—including
the ability to create vendors and maintain the vendor master file. Although
Purchasing Processes Audit Insert Report Title Here 17
vendor file maintenance is performed by accounting employees, purchasing
personnel should not have access to change the vendor master file. The
accounting employees responsible for maintaining the vendor master file do
not have access to inventory control or purchase order functions—but have
the ability to requisition and receive goods without requisition supervisory
approval. On May, 2008, the City Internal Auditor issued an interim audit
report that identified this system control weakness along with a
recommendation of how duties should be separated in the purchasing system
(see Appendix A).
Legal Review and Requirements
The scope and methods for the review of compliance with applicable legal
requirements included:
• Conducting interviews to determine whether written or unwritten
procedures are in use.
• Reviewing standard terms and conditions for request for proposals,
invitation to bid, field purchase orders, and purchase orders.
• Examining the city’s standard form contract agreements.
• Examining state laws, city ordinance, and written policies and procedures
to determine requirements and whether the city’s policies and procedures
match the law requirements.
Y N Legal Review Objectives:
1. Have federal regulations been examined closely to determine their impact
on the purchasing program, such as for more stringent purchasing or
reporting requirements?
2. Have state statutes (Local Government Code, Chapter 252 and 271, as well
as other applicable statutes) been closely examined to determine their
impact on the purchasing program?
3. Have city ordinances been examined closely to determine their impact on
the purchasing program?
4. Have the terms and conditions on purchase order forms been thoroughly
checked by an attorney to ensure that the government is fully protected
under applicable common law and the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC)?
5. Are all proposed contracts to purchase goods or services examined by the
attorney to ensure that the government is fully protected under applicable
common law and the UCC?
VTCA Govt. Code, Ch. 2258 – (Prevailing Wage Rates)
6. Does the city pay the prevailing wage to laborers, workmen and
mechanics?
7. Does the city monitor contractors and subcontractors to ensure that they
pay the prevailing wage to laborers, workmen and mechanics?
8. Does the city determine the general prevailing wage for work of a similar
18 Purchasing Processes Audit
character in the locality in which the work is performed?
9. Does the city understand that if they do not determine the prevailing wage
and specify that the contractor shall pay the prevailing wage, the
contractor is relieved from liability under this act?
10. Do contracts for such projects contain a provision that if the prevailing
wage is not paid in accordance with this statute, the contractor or
subcontractor must pay to the city a penalty of $60 per worker per day?
VTCA Local Govt. Code, Ch. 171 – (Conflicts of Interest)
11. Does a member of city’s governing body always file an affidavit stating the
nature and extent of any interest in a business entity or real property on
which the governing body is discussing or voting, including contracts for
the purchase of goods or services?
12. Does the member then abstain from discussion or voting on the issue,
unless a majority of the members of the governing body have also filed
affidavits of similar interests in the same official action?
13. Does the city take a separate vote on any budget item in which any
member has a substantial interest?
14. Does a member with a substantial interest in the budget matter abstain
from the vote on that matter?
15. Does a member with a substantial interest in any budget matter participate
in the final vote on the budget only after complying with this chapter and
only after the matter in which the member is concerned has been
resolved?
VTCA Govt. Code, Ch. 573 – (Degrees of Relationship; Nepotism
Prohibitions)
16. Does the city’s management require the disclosure of the relationships
between related elected or appointed officials and vendors and contractors
so that conflicts of interest under VTCA Local Government Code Chapter
171 can be detected and prevented?
VTCA Code of Criminal Procedures, Ch. 18, Article 18.17 –
(Disposition of Abandoned or Unclaimed Property)
17. Are all items of abandoned or unclaimed property covered by this act
delivered for sale to the purchasing agent or the person designated by the
city in which the property was seized and is held?
18. Are all provisions of the act pertaining to notice and advertising of the sale
properly carried out?
VTCA Code of Criminal Procedures, Ch. 59, Article 59.06 –
(Disposition of Forfeited Property)
19. Does the law enforcement agency understand that all statutes governing
purchasing will apply to purchases made with funds from forfeitures?
20. Does the city have special procedures to ensure that purchasing
requirements do not compromise the confidentiality of investigations and
ensure proper controls and authorizations?
VTCA Govt. Code, Ch. 791 – (The Interlocal Cooperation Act)
NOTE: This provides enabling legislation for local governments to
improving their collective ability to deliver services to their citizens.
Questions on this article which are marked with an asterisk are phrased so
Purchasing Processes Audit Insert Report Title Here 19
that a NO answer indicates an area where improvement might result by
considering the action, but does not necessarily indicate noncompliance
with a statute.
21. *Does the city contract with other governments to perform government
duties and services?
22. *Are these agreements renewed annually?
23. Does an agreement under this act state the purpose, terms, rights,
objectives, duties and responsibilities of each contracting party?
24. Do such agreements state that payments for contracted services will be
paid from current revenues?
25. Does the contract between governments state which of the governments’
rules and regulations will apply?
26. Does any contract allowed by this article provide that no tax revenues shall
be pledged to make payments for the contract?
VTCA Govt. Code, Ch. 2251 – (Payment for Goods & Services)
27. Does the city have written procedures to ensure that all undisputed
payments owed to suppliers on contracts executed on or after September
1, 1987, are paid no later than the 30th day after the date the goods or
services are received (45 days if the governing body meets only once a
month), or the date the invoice is received, whichever is latest?
28. On payments disputed because of errors on the invoices, does the
government have a procedure for notifying the vendor of the alleged error
no later than the 21st day after the date on which the invoice is received?
Also, in cases where an exception to the Prompt Payment Act is claimed, is
it only because: (a) there is a dispute between the political subdivision and
a vendor, contractor, subcontractor or a supplier concerning the supplies,
materials or equipment delivered or the performance of services that
causes the payment to be late; (b) there is a dispute between the vendor
and a subcontractor or between a subcontractor and its supplier
concerning the delivery of supplies or materials or the performance of
services that causes the payment to be late; (c) the terms of a federal
contract, grant regulation or statute prevent the government from making
a timely payment; or (d) the invoice is not mailed to the addressee in strict
accordance with instructions on the purchase order covering the payment?
29. Do purchase orders issued by the government clearly specify the office
where invoices must be received prior to the 30-day or 45-day period
begins?
30. On undisputed invoices or invoices where the dispute is resolved in favor of
the vendor where the payment is not made within the required period of
time, does the government pay interest on the overdue payment as
specified by this Act (see section 2251.025)?
VTCA Govt. Code, Ch. 2252, Subchapter B – (Interest on Retained
Public Works Contracts)
31. On contracts exceeding $400,000 for which the government retains more
than 5 percent of the payment to ensure performance, does the
government deposit the retainage into an interest-bearing account and pay
the earnings to the contractor upon completion of the contract?
20 Purchasing Processes Audit
VTCA Govt. Code, Ch. 2253 – (Public Works Performance & Payment
Bond)
32. For public works contracts exceeding $25,000 does the contract require a
bond for payment of labor and materials by the contractor and
subcontractors?
33. For public works contracts exceeding $100,000 does the contract require a
bond to guarantee faithful performance of the contract?
VTCA Govt. Code, Ch. 2254, Subchapter A – (Professional &
Consulting Services)
34. Does the government have procedures other than sealed competitive
bidding to contract for professional services based on the professionals’
qualifications and demonstrated competence?
35. For professional architectural or engineering services, does the government
negotiate a contract with the professional or firm at a fair price, and if
unable to do so, does the government proceed to the next most-qualified
professional, until a contract is negotiated?
Worker’s Compensation Agency Rule 110.110
37. Does the bid/contract have the required language regarding the availability
of workers compensation?
VTCA Local Govt. Code Ch. 252 – (Purchasing & Contracting Authority
of Municipalities)
38. For all expenditures of more than $3,000 but less than $50,000, does the
city contact at least two disadvantaged businesses from the county on a
rotating basis from a list provided by the Office of Small Business
Assistance of the Building and Procurement Commission?
If no disadvantaged businesses are identified by the list, the city is exempt
from this requirement.
39. If the safety record of bidders is considered in determining their
responsibility, has the city adopted a written definition and criteria for
determining the safety record and does the specification contain notice
that safety will be a consideration?
40. On contracts for public works, does the city require the bidder to furnish
the city with a performance bond for the amount of the contract before
work on the contract begins?
41. Do contracts state that the unit price basis quantities listed are
approximate, and payment will be for the actual quantity received?
42. Does the governing body approve changes that increase the cost of the
contract when provisions for payment are made, either by appropriating
other available funds or by authorizing the issuance of time warrants?
Legal Review Findings
City of College Station purchasing policies, procedures, processes, and
contractual agreements comply with State and municipal law requirements.
Purchasing Processes Audit Insert Report Title Here 21
Recommendations
The City of College Station’s purchasing processes need a few slight
improvements, encompassed in the following audit recommendations.
Implementing these recommendations would strengthen internal controls to
further prevent fraud, waste, or abuse of city assets.
1. The Department of Fiscal Services should create a policy requiring all city
purchasing employees to annually certify in writing that that they have
read, understand, and will abide by the code ethics documented in the
City of College Station’s Purchasing Manual.
2. The Department of Fiscal Services should consider setting up approval
hierarchies for the following purchasing system functions: blanket order
receipts, field purchase orders (FPO), FPO department approval, FPO
payment approval, invoice review, purchase orders, purchase requisitions,
and stock requisitions. At the very least, requisition approval levels should
be set up in the purchasing system. The requisition approval hierarchy
should include two to three levels, with at least the following two levels:
(1) departmental or supervisory approval and (2) budget or finance review
to verify budget sufficiency and account accuracy.
3. The Department of Fiscal Services should limit access of purchasing
personnel so that they are unable to create vendors or make changes to
the vendor master file. In addition, the accounting personnel who create
and maintain the vendor maintenance file should not have access to
requisition and receive goods without requisition supervisory approval.
4. The Department of Fiscal Services should segregate the duties of
requisitioning, requisition approval, and receiving by setting up requisition
approval hierarchies and separating purchasing system user access to
these functions.
5. The Department of Fiscal Services should reevaluate the needs of those
who have administrator access to the purchasing system in order to more
tightly control this access.
6. The Department of Fiscal Services should limit invoice processing to
accounts payable employees who do not have the ability to create city
checks or perform key procurement responsibilities such as purchase order
processing.
22 Purchasing Processes Audit
Appendices
Purchasing Processes Audit Insert Report Title Here 23
APPENDIX A: Interim Purchasing Audit Report
24 Purchasing Processes Audit
APPENDIX A (continue): Interim Purchasing Audit Report
Purchasing Processes Audit Insert Report Title Here 25
APPENDIX A (continue): Interim Purchasing Audit Report
26 Purchasing Processes Audit
APPENDIX A (continue): Interim Purchasing Audit Report
Purchasing Processes Audit Insert Report Title Here 27
APPENDIX A (continue): Interim Purchasing Audit Report
28 Purchasing Processes Audit
APPENDIX B: Management Response to Audit Recommendations
Purchasing Processes Audit Insert Report Title Here 29
APPENDIX B (continue): Management Response to Audit Recommendations
30 Purchasing Processes Audit
APPENDIX B (continue): Management Response to Audit Recommendations