TOWN OF MCINTOSH REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The Town of McIntosh is soliciting proposals from qualified firms of certified public accountants to audit the financial statements of the Town of McIntosh, Florida for a term not to exceed three (3) years beginning with the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010.

To be considered, an original and five (5) copies of the proposal should be submitted in a sealed package, clearly identified as “Proposal for Auditing Services” to the attention of the Town Manager/Clerk, Town of McIntosh, 5610 Avenue G, PO Box 165, McIntosh, Florida 32664-0165 no later than 4:00 P.M. on Monday, June 7, 2010.

The Town of McIntosh reserves the right to accept such proposals as is deemed to be in the best interests of the town, to waive informalities, or to reject any or all proposals.

RESPONSES

All responses must be presented in the same order as specified in this Request for Proposal. Supporting material may be provided; however, the town’s decision will primarily be based upon a comparison of the information specifically requested. The town reserves the right to accept or reject any and/or all proposals, and to waive any minor irregularities and technicalities. There is no obligation on the part of the town to award the contract to the lowest price and the town reserves the right to award the contract to the lowest responsible price submitted in a responsible proposal with a resulting negotiated agreement that is most advantageous and in the best interest of the town. The town shall be the sole judge of the proposal and the resulting negotiated agreement that is in its best interest and its decision shall be final.

All applicable laws and regulations of the State of Florida and ordinances and regulations of the Town of McIntosh will apply to any resulting agreement.

Proposals shall clearly indicate the legal name, address and telephone number of the party submitting the proposal (company, firm, partnership, individual). Proposals shall be signed above the typed or printed name and title of the signer. The signer shall have the authority to bind the bidder to the submitted proposal.

All expenses for making proposals to the Town are to be borne by the proposer.

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REQUIREMENTS

To be eligible to qualify as auditor, the following minimum requirements must be met.

1. The firm must have been established as a legal entity in the State of Florida and have performed continuous CPA services for a minimum of ten (10) years.

2. The firm must submit an affirmation that the proposer meets the independence requirements of the Standards for Audit of Governmental Organizations, Programs, Activities and Functions, 1981 revision, published by the U.S. General Accounting Office, and as specified by generally accepted governmental auditing standards.

3. The firm must also be a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts and the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accounts.

4. The Certified Public Accountant in charge of the audit to be performed must have completed within the immediate preceding three (3) years at least twenty-four (24) hours of continuing professional education programs that are approved by the Board of Accountancy, and are directly related to the government environment and to governmental auditing.

5. The firm should clearly indicate its available governmental expertise at the local office level.6. The firm must submit an affirmation that the proposer does not have a record of substandard

audit work.7. Information to be included in the Proposal In order to maintain comparability and enhance the review process, it is required that proposals

be organized in the manner specified below.

(a) Title PageShow the proposal subject, the name of the firm, local address, telephone number, name of contact person, and date.

(b) Table of ContentsInclude a clear identification of the material by section and by page number.

(c) Letter of TransmittalLimit to one or two pages1. Briefly state the understanding of the work to be done and make a positive

commitment to perform the work within the specified time period.2. Give names of the persons who will be authorized to make representations for the

proposal, their titles, addresses and telephone numbers.3. Give the firm’s federal taxpayer identification number.

(d) Executed copies of the following documentsPublic Entity Crime Statement (Appendix A)Drug Free Workplace Statement (Appendix B)

(e) Profile of Proposer1. State whether the firm is local, regional, or national.2. Give the location of the office from which the work is to be done and the number of

partners, managers, supervisors, seniors, and other professional staff employed at that office.

3. Describe the range of activities performed by the local office such as audit, accounting, tax service, or management services.

4. Describe the local office’s management and/or computer assistance capability, including the numbers and classifications of personnel skilled in on-line computer auditing.

5. Describe your local office’s experience in preparing governmental financial statements in conformance with the Codification of Governmental Accounting and Financial Reporting Standards Board Pronouncements and interpretations.

6. An affirmative statement should be included indicating that the firm can and will comply with the insurance requirements in Appendix C.

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SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS (in addition to minimum qualifications)

1. Identify the partners, managers, and supervisors who will work on the audit, including staff from other than the local office, if necessary for this audit. An organization chart is required. Resumes for each managerial and supervisory person to be assigned to the audit should be submitted and include the following information:

(a) Formal education(b) Supplemental education relative to governmental accounting and auditing(c) Experience in public accounting in general(d) Experience in private business or government(e) Experience in auditing government units(f) Experience in computerized systems in conjunction with (c), (d) and (e) above(g) Membership in various national and state governmental accounting boards, committees,

or associations (past and present).(h) Professional recognition such as Certified Public Accounting licenses, awards, etc.

2. Describe firm’s local government audit experience within the State of Florida and give the names and telephone numbers of clients' officials. Other experience with non-similar governmental units may be included only as ancillary information.

3. Describe the firm’s experience in preparing the single audit for audits of Federal and State assisted programs.

4. Describe the firm’s participation and experience in peer reviews, specifically the inclusion of governmental audits in the review, at both the local or national level.

5. Describe the firm’s approach to the reporting model GASB 34 and the assistance they can provide.

SCOPE OF SERVICES SECTION

Include a clear description in the scope of services section the required services to be provided assuming that the requested services includes examination of financial statement, a financial audit as defined in F.S. 11.45 and if necessary, a compliance audit required by 0MB Circular A-128 (and other applicable 0MB Circulars) and Rules of the Auditor General.

1. Financial Audit The examination will be made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. The primary purpose of the examination is to express an opinion on the financial statements and that such an examination is subject to the inherent risk that errors or irregularities may not be detected. If conditions are discovered which lead to the belief that material errors, defalcations or other irregularities may exist, or if any other circumstances are encountered that require extended services, the auditor will promptly advise the requester. No extended services will be performed unless they are authorized in the contractual agreement or in an amendment to the agreement.

2. The auditors shall familiarize themselves with and comply with the provisions of any and all Federal, State and Town orders, statutes, ordinances, Charter, bond covenants, Administrative Code or Orders, rules and regulations which may pertain to the work required in the engagement.

3. Review of Internal ControlsAn evaluation is to be made of the system of internal control to assess the extent it can be relied upon to ensure accurate information, to ensure compliance with law and regulations and to provide for efficient and effective operations. The study of internal control should include:

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(a) Review of the system which is primarily the process of obtaining information about the organization and the procedures prescribed and is intended to serve as the basis for tests of compliance and for evaluation of the system. (b) Test of compliance which is to be made to provide reasonable assurance that the accounting control procedures are being applied as prescribed.

4. Management Information ServicesA review is to be made to compare the calculating operations of the computer with the desired results by tests of transactions. A review of controls used to assure protection of files and prevention of processing errors and a review of the data processing shall be made.

5. Management LetterThe audit report shall include a management letter that shall contain the audit findings which, among other matters, may include the following material items discovered within the scope of the audit:

(a) Whether errors or irregularities reported in the preceding annual financial audit have been corrected.

(b) Whether recommendations made in the preceding annual financial audit have been followed.

(c) Recommendations to improve the town’s present financial management, accounting procedures, internal controls, and increase efficiency.

(d) Violation of the laws, rules and regulations discovered within the scope of the financial audit which may or may not materially affect the financial statements.

(e) Illegal or improper expenditures discovered within the scope of the financial audit which do or do not materially affect the financial statements.

(f) Improper or inadequate accounting procedures.(g) Failure to properly record financial transactions.(h) Other inaccuracies, irregularities, shortages and defalcations, if any, discovered by the

auditor.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES

Proposer will be required to prepare the depreciation schedules for use during the audit. The preparation of the schedules will be limited to calculating the depreciation. In accordance with Government Auditing Standards, the Town will be required to determine the key factors relating to the schedule, such as method and rate of depreciation and any salvage value of the assets.

Proposer will be required to provide an in-depth analysis of the Audit document to the Town Council in the form of a public presentation, together with any pertinent findings, and advise the elected officials and staff on such matters as may materially affect the Town’s short- and long-term financial health.

Proposer will be required to respond to questions by telephone and provide bookkeeping assistance to the Town Manager/Clerk.

If, during the contractual period covered by the agreement, additional services, such as grant audits, preparation of bond issues, or management advisory services are needed, the accounting firm may, at the option of the town, be engaged to perform these services at the rates established in the agreement.

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EVALUATIONS OF PROPOSALS

1. Proposals will be evaluated using a predetermined method to ascertain which firm best meets the qualifications needs of the town. In some circumstances, qualifications may be so similar that oral interviews may have to be arranged to assist in making the final selection. Evaluation considerations will include the following:

(a) Responsiveness of the Proposal in clearly stating the understanding of work to be performed.

(b) The quality, availability and adaptability of the audit services to be rendered.(c) Technical experience of the firm.(d) Ability, capacity and skill of the proposer to perform the audit services on a timely

basis.(e) Responses of the client references.(f) Annual fees proposed.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The auditor’s principal contact with the Town of McIntosh will be Debbie Gonano, Town Manager/Clerk, or a designated representative, who will coordinate the assistance to be provided by the Town of McIntosh to the auditor.

Background Information1. The Town of McIntosh has a population of approximately 430 people and is located in

Northwest Marion County, Florida. The town employs three (3) full-time employees and has six elected officials (Mayor and five Council Members).

2. The Town of McIntosh has one General Fund.

Documents available for review

Prior years’ audit reports management letters and budget documents are available for review on the town’s website at www.townofmcintosh.org/TownDepts.html or at Town Hall, 5610 Avenue G, McIntosh, Florida 32664.

Working Papers

Work papers are the property of the audit firm and shall be retained for a period of three years and shall be available to inspect and reproduce upon request of the town or its authorized representatives.

Staff Assignment

The Town reserves the right to approve or reject staff assigned to the town’s audit.

Audit Report

The Auditor shall submit a draft of the audit report to the town by the second Monday in December. The Town Manager/Clerk will complete and submit the Management’s Discussion and Analysis Letter and the Management’s Response to Audit Findings to the proposer by the third Thursday in December to be included in the Financial Statements for Council’s review and approval.

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The Auditor shall submit the audit report on the fair presentation of the financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles no later than 2:00 pm on the Monday preceding the second Thursday in January, subsequent to the town’s fiscal year-end, in order to insure timely acceptance by the Town Council. Within seven (7) days after Council’s acceptance of the audit report, proposer will prepare and deliver an electronic copy and twelve (12) bound copies of the audit report to the Town Manager/Clerk’s office.

Audit Planning

An entrance conference shall be held between the Town of McIntosh’s Manager/Clerk and other designated Officials and the auditor prior to the start of the engagement. The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss prior audit problems and the interim work to be performed. This meeting will also be used to establish overall liaison for the audit and to make arrangement for workspace and other needs of the auditor.

Manner of Payment

A payment in the full contract amount will be made upon completion of the course of the engagement in accordance with an agreement reached during contract negotiations and delivery and acceptance of the firm’s final reports.

Assistance to be Provided to the Auditor and Report Preparations

The Town Manager/Clerk will be available during the audit to assist the firm by providing information, documentation, and explanations.

The Town of McIntosh will provide the auditors with reasonable workspace. The auditor will also be provided with reasonable access to a telephone line and photocopying facilities.

Report preparations and printing shall be the responsibility of the auditor.

Debbie GonanoTown Manager/Clerk

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