Town of Carmel - Procurement (2019M-179)

Issued Date
April 03, 2020

[read complete report - pdf]

Audit Objective

Determine whether Town officials procured goods and services according to the purchasing policy and General Municipal Law (GML).

Key Findings

  • The Board-adopted procurement policy does not provide a clear method for procuring professional services.
  • The Town procured professional services from 16 providers with payments totaling $870,909 without competitive methods.
  • The Town did not obtain the required number of quotes for 34 purchases totaling $59,426, a proposal for one purchase totaling $13,404 or competitively bid three purchases totaling $911,044.

Key Recommendations

  • Revise the procurement policy to provide a clear method for procuring professional services.
  • Ensure Town officials and employees obtain the required number of proposals or quotes for purchases or competitively bid purchases when required. Employees and officials should consider purchases in aggregate when determining if competition is needed.

Town officials disagreed with certain aspects of our findings and recommendations, but indicated they have initiated corrective action. Appendix B includes our comments on issues raised in the Town’s response letter.