Report 2022-301 Recommendation 2 Responses

Report 2022-301: Judicial Branch Procurement: Although Four Superior Courts We Reviewed Generally Met Procurement Requirements, Glenn County Superior Court Needs to Significantly Improve Its Procurement Practices (Release Date: January 2023)

Recommendation #2 To: Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco

To ensure that it follows contract requirements, San Francisco should add a policy to its local contracting manual by July 2023 that establishes levels of approval authority for entering into contracts.

1-Year Agency Response

The San Francisco Court has fully implemented the recommendation by August 2023 by adding policies to the local contracting manual that establishes levels of authority for entering into contracts. A revised contract manual listing approvers, approval levels and the process of contracting has been sent to the state auditor.

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

San Francisco provided evidence that it added a policy to its local contracting manual that establishes levels of approval authority for entering into contracts.

6-Month Agency Response

A new CEO joined the San Francisco Superior Court in June 2023 and we are in the midst of implementing the recommended changes by establishing clear approval levels and collecting signature authorizations. We anticipate full implementation by September 2023.

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

60-Day Agency Response

San Francisco Superior Court has developed a formal policy that will list of managers with approval levels for contracts, procurement and invoices. This list will be incorporated into the Local Contract Manual and be annually updated. The Local Contract Manual will also have standard operating procedures regarding procurement invoice approval processes. This draft is being circulated for final revisions and departmental approvals and the plan for full implementation is April 30, 2023.

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

All Recommendations in 2022-301

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.