OTSELIC – The Otselic Valley Central School District is taking a second look at its procurement policies upon recommendation from the New York State Comptroller’s Office.

The state comptroller last week released an audit report of the district that highlights school officials’ process of procuring goods and services not subject to competitive bidding.

The audit – which investigated the OV School District between July, 2020 and June, 2021 –  reveals the district didn’t always seek competition when it comes to buying goods and services under the state’s $20,000 competitive bidding threshold, subsequently costing the district more money in the long run.

The comptroller’s office reviewed nine purchases under the competitive bidding threshold, totaling more than $109,000. It also looked at two professional service contracts totaling just over $35,000. Of those nine purchases and two service contracts, school officials didn’t look for competition for a transportation efficiency study ($32,500), purchases of ice melt ($10,845) and information technology equipment ($8,512), or for the school district’s attorney who was paid $21,038 during the audit period, according to the report.

The report states that the school may have saved more than $13,700 on fuel costs had they been able to use state contracts. What’s more, the district’s procurement policies and procedures were sub par and didn’t encourage school officials to seek competition for goods and services.

The NYS Comptroller’s Office has suggested the district update its procurement policies. Recommendations include giving the school board detailed guidance for procuring goods and services, solicit competition among suppliers, and to “seek competition for professional services at reasonable intervals, such as every three to five years.”

Additionally, the report encourages school officials to “periodically compare purchase prices to state contracts and contracts bid by other governments.”

In a letter to the comptroller’s office, OV School Superintendent Dr. Georgia Gonzalez said the district intends to adhere to the state’s recommendations.

“The district understands the findings that indicate the board did not always use a competitive process to procure goods and services not subject to competitive bidding,” said Gonzalez. “We understand and agree with the recommendations for the board of education to update the procurement policy and related procedures to include detailed guidance for procuring goods and services not subject to the competitive bidding requirements and periodically comparing prices for goods and services to state contracts and contracts bid by other governments.”

The OV School Board says it will review its current procurement policies throughout the summer and plans to implement a new set of policies by mid fall.