ARRA Race to the Top General and Procurement Compliance Requirements
This document highlights some of the ARRA Race to the Top compliance requirements that the OSBM auditors would like brought to your attention following their initial audit visits. This is not an exhaustive list of all the ARRA Race to the Top rules and regulations. Please review the items listed below and if you have any questions contact Sam Fuller at or 919-807-4063.
· Race to the Top funds are ARRA funds (also known as “recovery funds”).
· Competition is the fundamental component of procurement using recovery funds; you must follow bidding requirements.
· You must use the Statewide Interactive Procurement System (IPS) to list informal and formal solicitation documents when using recovery funds, and use the words “Recovery Funds” in the description column of the IPS system.
· For any bid solicitation exceeding $5,000, you must advertise the opportunity in the local newsprint outlet.
· Federal law requires that all vendors and contractors are checked against the State and Federal debarment list prior to transactions taking place. You must maintain documentation of a vendor’s eligibility.
· You must include ARRA contract provisions as part of any solicitation for procurement of goods, services, and construction projects, including design services for which recovery funds will be used as payment in part or whole.
· OERI Directives for recovery funds can be located at the following link: https://www.ncrecovery.gov/compliance/OERIDirectives.html
· ARRA fund CFDA numbers are available at the following link (overview of funding available though DPI – chart): http://www.ncpublicschools.org/fbs/arra/allotments/
· Race to the Top CFDA number is 84.395; Federal Award Number is S395A100069.
· Whistle Blower Provisions:
o You must post Whistle Blower rights to report fraud, waste, and abuse of funds; and remedies for wrongful treatment of whistle blowers.
o You must post physical posters in a visible place in LEA and Charter school buildings.
o It is recommended that you also post links on LEA/Charter website leading to state and federal Whistle blower websites.
· Whistle Blower Links:
o http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/internalaudit/fraud/
o https://www.ncrecovery.gov/reportFraud/reportFraud.aspx
o US Education Department Office of Inspector General Hotline 1-800-MIS-USED
· Fund CFDA numbers are available at the following link (overview of funding Available though DPI – chart): http://www.ncpublicschools.org/fbs/arra/allotments/
· Sole Sourcing: http://it.ncwiseowl.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_4500932/File/RttT/Sole-sourcing_RttT_Guidance.pdf