Audit Bid 06-07 vld-JDS 11-06 2

Codell

Informations

• Publié par: Iddo
• Nombre de lectures: 15
• Langue: English

Extrait

Midland County Educational Service Agency
3917 Jefferson Avenue
Midland, MI 48640-3599
989.631.5890


Coleman Community Schools
P.O. Box 522
Coleman, MI 48618
989.465.6060





Request for Proposal
Audit Services
For the Years Ending June 30, 2007, 2008, and 2009


























November 2006
GENERAL CONDITIONS

The Midland County Educational Service Agency (MCESA) is soliciting proposals from
qualified firms of Certified Public Accountants to audit its financial statements, as well as those
of Coleman Community Schools, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2007, 2008, and 2009. The
district reserves the right to extend the minimum three-year contract an additional two years
based on satisfactory performance of audit services.

The following Request for Proposal (RFP) is being provided to you for your consideration. To be
considered for this engagement, your firm must meet the qualifications and satisfy the
requirements set forth in this RFP. Please indicate your intent to submit a proposal by completing
the attached Notification of Interest (page 15) and returning it to the address listed below or fax
by November 15, 2006.

James D. Smith
Business Office Service Consultant
Midland County Educational Service Agency
3917 Jefferson Avenue
Midland, MI 48640-3599
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Completed proposals must be received at the address noted above by 10:00 A.M. EST on
Thursday, November 30, 2006. Proposals must be submitted in a sealed envelope that is clearly
marked “AUDIT PROPOSAL”. Proposals submitted by facsimile will not be accepted, nor will
proposals received after 10:00 A.M.. Any proposals received after that time will be returned
unopened. All bids must be accompanied by a sworn and notarized statement (Public Act 232
form In RFP) disclosing any familial relationship existing between the owner or any employees
of the bidder and any member of the school board, intermediate school board, or board of
directors or the superintendent of the school district or intermediate superintendent of the
intermediate school district. Any bids that do not include this sworn and notarized disclosure
statement shall not be accepted. Accepted proposals will be opened at the specified time and
will be read aloud. The public is welcome to attend this bid opening.

Although cost will be an important factor in awarding the contract, the school district is not
obligated by any statute or regulation to award the purchase of audit services solely on the basis
of cost. Accordingly, the school district reserves the right to evaluate all proposals objectively
and subjectively and to accept or reject any or all proposals or portion thereof. Additionally, the
district reserves the right to negotiate changes in services with the firm determined to have
submitted the proposal that is in the best interest of the district. (See Method of Evaluating
Proposals on page 15)

It is to be understood that this RFP constitutes specifications only for the purpose of receiving
proposals for services and does not constitute an agreement for those services. It is further
expected that each bidder will read these specifications with care. Failure to provide requested
information or meet certain specified conditions may invalidate the proposal(s).

It is the intent of the soliciting school districts to award this audit proposal for a three (3) year
period, however the term of the engagement shall end if the audit contract is violated or if the
audit quality is unacceptable.
Page 2
The information contained herein is believed to be accurate, but is not to be considered in any
way as a warranty.

Proposals must contain in writing all terms and conditions of the offer being made. Verbal
representations made before or after proposals are submitted will not be considered unless they
were made in answer to questions asked by the school district or its representatives.

Audited financial statements for the district for the year ended June 30, 2006 are available upon
request.

Staff of the district will prepare work papers and schedules according to the attached pre-audit
checklist.

All questions and correspondence should be directed to James D. Smith at the address noted
above or by telephone at 989.631.5892 ext. 137 or by email at [e-mail]. In order
to assure consistency of information provided regarding this RFP, contact with the (MCESA’s)
personnel other than James D. Smith or Vicki Duso, Finance Director, is discouraged and may be
grounds for elimination from the selection process.

PARTICIPATING BIDDERS SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT WHILE THE BID IS
BEING SOLICITED JOINTLY, MIDLAND COUNTY EDUCATIONAL SERVICE
AGENCY AND COLEMAN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS WILL BE AWARDING THE
BIDS INDEPENDENTLY. THE PROCESS TIMELINE LISTED IN THIS DOCUMENT
IS FOR MIDLAND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AGENCY ONLY. A SEPARATE
TIMELINE FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF BIDS FOR COLEMAN COMMUNITY
SCHOOLS WILL BE DEVELOPED BY THEM. PLEASE KEEP THIS IN MIND
WHILE DEVELOPING YOUR BIDS. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE BID SUBMISSION
FORM (PAGE 18) LISTS SEPARATE PRICES FOR AUDITING EACH DISTRICT.

WITHDRAWAL OF PROPOSALS:

Proposals shall remain valid for a period of Thirty (30) days after submission. The district will
not accept modifications to proposals, except as may be mutually agreed upon following the
acceptance of the proposal.

TIME TABLE:

1. Release of RFP on or about November 8, 2006
2. Firms return Notice of Interest on or before November 15, 2006.
3. Proposals due at 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, November 30, 2006.
4. Sealed Proposals will be opened at 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, November 30, 2006.
5. Finance Committee Review on December 5, 2006.
6. Notification to all firms as soon as possible after Board Meeting
7. Preliminary audit work for FYE 2006-07 to be conducted during June 2007 and at
a mutually agreeable time for subsequent year audits.
8. Audit for FYE 2006-07 to be conducted during August 2007 and at a mutually
agreeable time for subsequent year audits.
9. Financial Statements completed for distribution in October following each fiscal
year end.
10. Presentation of Financial Statements to the Board of Education during October of
each year.
Page 3 11. The selected firm will provide completed PDF files as required by the State of
Michigan by November 1st of each year to allow the district to submit prior to the
th November 15 deadline.

FIRM/AUDITOR QUALIFICATIONS:

• The firm must maintain a sufficient number of professional staff in order to provide adequate
technical expertise and depth.
• The firm and the partner assigned to the district must have considerable experience in auditing
intermediate school districts and local school districts within the State of Michigan.
• The auditor is expected to be familiar with the types of policies and procedures school districts
follow. (Policies and procedures specific to the MCESA and Coleman Community Schools
will be available to the auditor for review.)
• The auditor will provide a profile of the professional responsible for the overall management
of the audit. The auditor must be fully informed regarding generally accepted accounting
principles and auditing procedures including those in the development stages and those
identified below under Audit Information - Accounting Basis.
• The firm shall identify the audit manager, field supervisors and other staff who will work on
the audit, including staff from other than the local office. Resumes including relevant
experience and continuing education for the audit manager, field supervisor(s) and partner in
charge of the engagement should be included with the proposal.
• Assurance must be given that during the course of the life of the four-year contract there will
be some continuity in the assignment of audit staff. It is to the mutual interest of the district
and the audit firm that there not be dramatic changes in audit staff every year.
• The firm’s professional staff must be trained specifically in auditing and accounting for
intermediate school districts.
• The firm must be actively involved in school financial organizations on a county and state
level.
• All assistants must be properly trained and supervised and that the work be adequately
planned.
• The firm must have an excellent reputation for service in school district auditing.
• A minimum of $1,000,000 Errors and Omissions Insurance. (The successful firm will be
required to provide the district with a certificate of insurance to verify this coverage.)

AUDIT INFORMATION:

1. Accounting Basis –

• Bulletin 1022 (Revised)
• Public Act 621 of 1978 (Uniform Budgeting)
• GAAFR statements and restatements
• Governmental Accounting Standards Board – Pronouncements and Interpretations
• U.S. General Accounting Office – Government Accounting Stand