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The Audit Connection Blog

Results for: Procurement management


A folder with the word "vendors" stamped on it. The folder has a padlock secured to it in the top left corner.

Protect your vendor master file from fraudsters

April 6, 2023

Electronic payment fraud is on the rise, and bad actors are using vendor master files to do it. A simple request to change a vendor’s contact information, payment address or banking details can end with thousands or even millions of dollars redirected to fraudulent accounts. This latest blog post from SAO offers tips and strategies for safeguarding your government’s funds.

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Messy buildup in your vendor master file? It’s time for some spring cleaning!

May 18, 2022

Spring has sprung, and it’s time to start cleaning up your financial records from years’ past! Why not tackle the messy buildup in your vendor master file? This database file containing information about your government’s vendors needs a periodic scrubbing. Cleaning your vendor master file will require a well-coordinated plan. It’s likely that the project could span several months. To get you started, we’ve compiled some easy steps to follow.

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Stay on top of piggybacking requirements with SAO’s updated guide

May 11, 2022

Piggybacking is the ability to use another government’s bid award without going through your own competitive process. It can be complicated, which is why we have updated our guide—Piggybacking under Washington State Law—to address your most common questions and alert you to changes in our guidance. Don’t worry: It still includes a step-by-step approach to piggybacking, as well as an optional checklist for you to use!

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Piggy bank

Piggybacking law change eases contract requirement

October 1, 2019

In 2019, the Legislature amended the statute to allow any public agency to use the bid of another public agency for its own purposes if the awarding agency met their own bidding requirements. This is a change to how our Office looks at piggybacking and group purchasing arrangements. For audit purposes, we would expect local governments to evaluate group purchasing contracts as outlined below.

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