TEA Posted two TAA letters yesterday.
One that you will want to take note of is related to
new guidance from TEA related to increasing LEA's micro-purchasing flexibility. According to the guidance, the micro-purchase threshold is $10,000. The threshold applies to "like" items. TEA notes that each LEA must define "like" items and be prepared to submit their like-type definitions to auditors and monitors. They point out that once the LEA reaches the $10,000 threshold, it must follow small purchase procedures and collect at least two price quotes for additional purchases of items for that like-type. They also note the following:
- A like-type may correlate to a subcategory of a commodity code (not to the commodity code itself).
- Like-type may not be defined as a single purchase order or a single vendor.
- For each like-type that the LEA defines in its local policies and procedures, it may expend up to the $10,000 threshold across all its federal grant funds for the entire fiscal year.
- TEA does not limit the number of like-types that the LEA may define, nor does TEA limit the cost of the items categorized as like-types. LEAs must be aware, however, that their like-type definitions are subject to monitoring and audit.
A second describes the process for requesting indirect cost rates for 2019-2020 (note that the deadline is January 18).