Report 2011-120 Recommendation 35 Responses

Report 2011-120: California Department of Transportation: Its Poor Management of State Route 710 Extension Project Properties Costs the State Millions of Dollars Annually, Yet State Law Limits the Potential Income From Selling the Properties (Release Date: August 2012)

Recommendation #35 To: General Services, Department of

To ensure that the construction unit complies with the State's procurement laws and policies, General Services should provide training to its construction unit employees regarding the State's procurement laws and policies.

1-Year Agency Response

As discussed in response to the previous recommendation, subsequent to the audit, DGS has significantly changed its policies, procedures and responsibilities for procurement which alleviates the need for this recommendation. Specifically, effective July 1, 2013, DGS consolidated its purchasing and contracting functions in a new office within its Administration Division, the Office of Business and Acquisition Services (OBAS). Consequently, DCU is no longer responsible for those activities. Instead, the responsibility rests with OBAS' professional procurement staff.

It should be noted that, although no longer directly responsible for the procurement function, DCU has continued to enroll its purchasing staff in California Procurement & Contracting Academy courses which are offered to provide acquisition specialists with the knowledge essential to conduct purchases in compliance with state requirements. Further, all DCU personnel involved in the requisition and receipt of goods activities have attended OBAS training on the new operating practices.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Resolved

6-Month Agency Response

General Services stated that the construction unit has scheduled its staff to attend the Services Contract Workshop course offered by the Cal-PCA, which will be held in April 2013. General Services stated that the Cal-PCA courses provide acquisition specialists with the knowledge essential to conduct purchases in accordance with state requirements.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Partially Implemented

60-Day Agency Response

General Services stated that, based on course availability, the construction unit is actively enrolling its purchasing staff in Cal-PCA courses that provide acquisition specialists with the knowledge essential to conduct purchases in accordance with state requirements. (See 2013-406, p. 176)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Partially Implemented

All Recommendations in 2011-120

Agency responses received after June 2013 are posted verbatim.