REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Reference Number: RFQ 2026-010

Project Title: Financial Audit Services

ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE

RFQ Issue Date January 10, 2026

RFQ Publication Dates January 10, 2026 January 17, 2026

Virtual Pre-Submittal Meeting January 20, 2026 @ 9:00 AM

Deadline for Questions January 23, 2026 @ 3:00 PM

Statement of Qualifications (SOQs) Due January 29, 2026 @ 2:00 PM

Projected Interviews (if applicable) Week of February 9, 2026

Recommendation to City Council (tentative) March 23, 2026

Important Information The City of Burleson will receive sealed statements of qualifications (SOQ) for the services specified until the deadline indicated above. SOQ will only be received electronically through the City’s e-procurement system, Bonfire, at https://burlesontx.bonfirehub.com (registration required). Extensions will not be granted. Late submittals will not be accepted.

Questions and requests for additional information should be made in writing and no later than the questions deadline above and shall be directed to the Purchasing Agent via https://burlesontx.bonfirehub.com.

Any interpretations, corrections, clarifications, or changes to this Request for SOQ or specifications will be issued via addendum. Addenda will be posted at https://burlesontx.bonfirehub.com. It is the responsibility of the Proposer to monitor the Bonfire website for addenda. Proposers shall acknowledge receipt of each addendum by submitting a signed copy with their proposal. Oral explanations will not be binding.

The City of Burleson reserves the right to reject any proposal in its sole discretion, for any reason and for no reason, and to waive defects in proposals. No officer or employee of the City of Burleson shall have financial interest, direct or indirect, in this or any contract with the City of Burleson. Minority and small business vendors are encouraged to submit bids/proposals on applicable City solicitations.

https://burlesontx.bonfirehub.com/ https://burlesontx.bonfirehub.com/ https://burlesontx.bonfirehub.com/

City of Burleson RFQ 2026-010 Financial Audit Services

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Request for Qualifications

1. Introduction …………………………………………………….2

2. Definitions …………………………………………………

3. General Information ……………………………………………3

4. RFQ Withdrawals and/or Amendments………………………...4

5. Statement of Qualifications Requirements …………………

6. SOQ Evaluation and Contract Award …………………….……4

Appendix A – Scope of Services

1. Scope of Services Descriptions ……………………………… A-1

Appendix B –Statement of Qualifications

1. Cover page for online submittals ………………………….… B-1

2. Required Information …………………………………...…... B-2-5

Appendix C – Standard Terms & Conditions

1. Terms & Conditions ………………………………………….C-1

1. Introduction

A. Project Overview:

The City of Burleson, Texas (“City”) is requesting Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) from qualified firms of certified public accountants to audit the City’s financial statements for the fiscal years ending September 30, 2026, 2027, and 2028, with the option to audit up to two additional subsequent fiscal years.

B. Project Description:

The City of Burleson is a full-service municipality with annual operating expenditures of approximately $160 Million. The City maintains approximately 29 governmental and enterprise funds, including enterprise operations related to utilities. The City reports blended component units as part of its Annual Financial Report.

Audits shall be performed in accordance with Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (U.S.

GAAS); U.S. Comptroller General’s Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS); the federal Single Audit Act Amendments; and Title 2 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance).

The Finance Department submits its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (also referred to as the Annual Financial Report) to the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program. Accordingly, the City seeks a firm with demonstrated experience providing technical assistance to governmental entities that participate in these programs.

Although the City does not typically meet the threshold for a Single Audit, it has required compliance audits in accordance with the Federal Single Audit Act due primarily to federal funding received as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and, at times, federal funding received for capital improvement projects.

SOQs will be evaluated in accordance with the process described in the SOQ Evaluation and Contract Award section of this RFQ.

2. Definitions

Statement of Qualifications (SOQ):

The signed and executed submittal of the entirety of Appendix B – Proposal.

Proposer:

The Proposer and the Proposer’s designated contact signing the first page of the SOQ.

City of Burleson (“City”):

The City of Burleson, Texas.

Project:

The name of this Request for Qualifications as identified on the cover sheet and first page of Appendix A – Scope of Services.

Purchasing Agent:

The City of Burleson Purchasing Agent is Jennifer Swim.

Phone: (817) 426-9602 E-Mail: purchasing@burlesontx.com

Request for Qualifications (RFQ):

The entirety of this document, including all Appendices and Addenda.

3. General Information

A. Professional Service:

This solicitation is issued pursuant to Texas Government Code Chapter 2254, the Professional Services Procurement Act, and seeks services that fall within the definition of “professional services” under Section 2254.002, including certified public accounting services for the audit of the City’s financial statements and related compliance and Single Audit services.

B. No Price Information:

The selection of a proposer under this RFQ shall be in accordance with Chapter 2254 of the Texas Government Code. Do not include any price information within the submission. Submissions containing price information will be automatically disqualified.

C. Public Inspection of SOQ:

The City strictly adheres to the Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 552.001, et seq.) and all other governing statutes, regulations, and laws regarding the disclosure of RFQ information. SOQ are not available for public inspection until after the contract award. If the Proposer has notified the City, in writing, that the SOQ contains trade secrets or confidential information, the City will generally take reasonable steps to prevent disclosure of such information, in accordance with the Public Information Act. This is a statement of general policy only, and in no event shall the City be liable for disclosure of such information by the City in response to a request, regardless of the City’s failure to take any such reasonable steps, even if the City is negligent in failing to do so.

D. Notification of Errors or Omissions:

Proposers shall promptly notify the City of any omissions, ambiguity, inconsistency or error that they may discover upon examination of this RFQ. The City shall not be responsible or liable for any errors and/or misrepresentation that result from the solicitations which are inadvertently incomplete, ambiguous, inconsistent or obviously erroneous.

E. Anti-Boycotting Provisions:

Vendor acknowledges this Agreement may be terminated and payment withheld if this certification is inaccurate.

i. Pursuant to Section 2271.002 of the Texas Government Code, Vendor certifies that either (i) it meets an exemption criterion under Section 2271.002; or (ii) it does not boycott Israel and will not boycott Israel during the term of the Agreement. Vendor acknowledges this Agreement may be terminated and payment withheld if this certification is inaccurate.

ii. Pursuant to SB 13, 87th Texas Legislature, Vendor certifies that either (i) it meets an exemption criterion under SB 13, 87th Texas Legislature; or (ii) it does not boycott energy companies, as defined in Section 1 of SB 13, 87th Texas Legislature, and will not boycott energy companies during the term of the Agreement. Vendor acknowledges this Agreement may be terminated and payment withheld if this certification is inaccurate.

iii. Pursuant to SB 19, 87th Texas Legislature, Vendor certifies that either (i) it meets an exemption criterion under SB 19, 87th Texas Legislature; or (ii) it does not discriminate against a firearm entity or firearm trade association, as defined in Section 1 of SB 19, 87th Texas Legislature, and will not discriminate against a firearm entity or firearm trade association during the term of the Agreement. Vendor acknowledges this Agreement may be terminated and payment withheld if this certification is inaccurate.

4. RFQ Withdrawals and/or Amendments

A. RFQ Withdrawal:

The City reserves the right to withdraw this RFQ in its sole discretion, for any reason or for no reason.

B. RFQ Amendments:

The City reserves the right to amend any aspect of this RFQ by formal written addendum prior to the Proposal submittal deadline and will endeavor to notify all potential Proposers, but failure to notify shall impose no obligation or liability on the City.

C. Official Documents:

If requested, the auditor may be required to provide consent letters or other assistance related to official statements or debt issuances, subject to applicable professional standards and separate agreement, if necessary.

5. SOQ Submittal Requirements

A. Submittal Packet – Required Content:

All SOQ must be submitted electronically. The Proposer must visit https://burlesontx.bonfirehub.com/login and register. Once registered for this complimentary service, the Proposer may submit SOQ documents electronically by selecting the appropriate SOQ identification.

B. Submittal Deadline:

It is the Proposer’s responsibility to have the SOQ Documents correctly electronically submitted by the submittal deadline. No extensions will be granted and no late submissions will be accepted.

C. SOQ Received Late:

Proposers are encouraged to submit their SOQ as soon as possible. The time and date of receipt as recorded within the Bonfire electronic system shall be the official time of receipt. The City is not responsible for late submission regardless of the reason. Late SOQ will not be considered under any circumstances.

D. Alterations or Withdrawals of SOQ Document:

Any submitted SOQ may be withdrawn or a revised SOQ substituted prior to the submittal deadline.

SOQ documents cannot be altered, amended or withdrawn by the Proposer after the submittal deadline, unless such alteration, amendment or withdrawal notice is approved in writing by the Purchasing Agent.

The auditor shall cooperate fully with any successor auditor and shall provide reasonable access to prior year working papers, as permitted by law and professional standards.

6. SOQ Evaluation and Contract Award

A. SOQ Evaluation:

https://burlesontx.bonfirehub.com/login

The City will evaluate all Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) to determine which proposers are reasonably qualified for award of the contract. Evaluation will be conducted in accordance with the requirements of this RFQ, and the City reserves the right to determine which SOQ is most advantageous to the City.

During the evaluation process, the City may request additional information or clarification from respondents and may allow the correction of errors or omissions when doing so is in the City’s best interest. At the City’s discretion, firms submitting SOQs may be requested to participate in oral presentations or interviews as part of the evaluation process.

The City of Burleson reserves the right to retain all SOQs submitted and to use any ideas contained therein, whether or not the SOQ is selected. Submission of a SOQ constitutes acceptance of the conditions and requirements contained in this Request for Statements of Qualifications unless clearly and specifically noted in the SOQ and subsequently confirmed in a contract executed between the City and the selected firm.

It is anticipated that selection of a firm will be completed by February 2026 and presented to the City Council for approval on March 23, 2026.

B. Evaluation Firms meeting the minimum requirements outlined in this RFQ will have their Statements of Qualifications evaluated for technical quality. Detailed scoring will be conducted in accordance with the evaluation criteria and weighted values identified in Appendix B.

Each SOQ will be evaluated using the criteria listed in Appendix B, which are presented in order of importance to the City. The City may shortlist the highest-ranked firms and, at its discretion, conduct interviews to further evaluate qualifications.

Each Statement of Qualifications will be evaluated using the criteria listed below, which are presented in order of importance to the City.

Emphasis Criteria

40 Experience & Qualifications

25 Audit Team & Staffing Plan

20 Audit Approach & Responsiveness

15 References

100 Total Points

+15 possible Interview (If conducted)

C. Negotiations Proposers will be ranked in the City’s order of preference, and final contract negotiations will begin with the top-ranked Proposer. Should negotiations with the highest-ranked Proposer fail to yield a contract, or if the Proposer is unable to execute the contract, negotiations will be formally ended and may then commence with the second highest ranked Proposer, etc.

If an agreement can be reached, a formal written agreement, which will include insurance documentation will be drafted and such may require consideration by the City of Burleson City Council. An agreement may not be finalized until the City Council takes formal action at an appropriately posted public meeting to approve said agreement.

D. Contract Award Award of the contract shall be based on demonstrated competence and qualifications, so long as the professional fees are consistent with, and not higher than the published recommended practices and fees of the various professional associations and do not exceed any maximums provided by state law.

E. Completeness:

If the SOQ is incomplete or otherwise fails to conform to the requirements of the RFQ, the City alone will determine whether the variance is so significant as to render the SOQ non-responsive, or whether the variance may be cured by the Proposer or waived by the City, such that the SOQ may be considered for award.

F. Ambiguity:

Any ambiguity in the SOQ as a result of omission, error, lack of clarity or non-compliance by the Proposer with specifications, instructions and all conditions shall be construed in the favor of the City.

In the event of a conflict between these standard RFQ requirements and details provided in Appendix A – Scope of Services or Appendix B – SOQ, the Appendices shall prevail.

G. Additional Information:

The City may request any other information necessary to determine Proposer’s ability to meet the minimum standards required by this RFQ.

H. Terminate for Cause:

The occurrence of any one or more of the following events will justify termination of the contract by the City of Burleson for cause:

i. The successful Proposer fails to perform in accordance with the provisions of these specifications; or

ii. The successful Proposer violates any of the provisions of these specifications; or

iii. The successful Proposer disregards laws or regulations of any public body having jurisdiction; or

iv. The successful Proposer transfers, assigns, or conveys any or all of its obligations or duties under the contract to another party(ies) without written consent of the City.

v. If one or more of the events identified in subparagraphs H.i through H.iv occur, the City may terminate the contract by giving the successful Proposer seven (7) days written notice. In such case, the successful Proposer shall only be entitled to receive payment for goods and services provided before the effective date of termination. The successful Proposer shall not receive any payment on account of loss of anticipated profits or revenue or other economic loss resulting from such termination.

vi. When the contract has been terminated by the City, such termination shall not affect any rights or remedies of the City then existing or which may thereafter accrue.

I. Terminate for Convenience:

The City reserves the right to terminate this contract, in whole or in part, without cause and for its convenience, upon thirty (30) days' prior written notice to the Contractor. In the event of such termination, the Contractor shall be entitled to compensation for services satisfactorily performed up to the effective date of termination. No other costs or fees, including anticipatory profits, will be paid.

A-1

Appendix A – Scope of Services

A. Scope of Services Description The selected firm shall perform an independent audit of the City’s basic financial statements, including:

• Governmental activities

• Business-type activities

• Discretely presented and blended component units

• Each major fund and aggregate remaining fund information

The selected firm shall assist in the preparation of the City’s ACFR, based on trial balances and supporting schedules provided by management. Preparation of the ACFR shall be considered a nonattest service. The City retains responsibility for the ACFR, including reviewing and approving the final document prior to issuance.

The auditor shall express an opinion on the fair presentation of the financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

The auditor is not required to audit the introductory or statistical sections of the Annual Financial Report but shall provide an “in-relation-to” opinion on required supplementary information and combining schedules.

B. Reporting As applicable, the auditor shall issue:

1. Independent auditor’s report on the financial statements

2. Report on internal control over financial reporting and compliance

3. Reports required under the Single Audit Act, if applicable

4. Management letter identifying significant deficiencies or material weaknesses

5. Any additional reports required by federal or state granting agencies or professional standards

6. An affirmative statement of independence in accordance with U.S. GAAS and

GAGAS, including independence from the City and all discretely presented and blended component units.

C. Reporting Timeline The auditor shall coordinate annually with the City’s Finance Department to establish an audit schedule that supports timely completion of the Annual Financial Report (AFR).

For planning purposes, the City anticipates the following target milestones, which may be adjusted by mutual agreement:

• Delivery of a draft audited AFR by approximately January 20th of each fiscal year

• Issuance of the final audited AFR by approximately February 20th of each fiscal year

The City intends to submit its AFR to the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program. The auditor shall provide reasonable assistance related to the GFOA review process, including responding to reviewer comments associated with the audit, as applicable.

A-2

D. Advisory and Technical Assistance The auditor shall provide ongoing advisory guidance to City staff related to accounting standards, GASB implementation, disclosure requirements, and best practices necessary to maintain compliance and GFOA reporting standards.

E. Working Papers & Retention All audit working papers shall be retained by the auditor for a minimum of five (5) years and made available upon request to the City, oversight agencies, and successor auditors, as permitted by law.

F. Audit Fieldwork Interim and final fieldwork schedules shall support timely completion of the Annual Financial Report and applicable submissions.

The auditor shall provide a list of client-prepared schedules (PBC list) annually in advance of fieldwork to facilitate efficient audit completion.

The auditor shall promptly communicate significant audit issues, findings, or emerging risks to City management as they arise during fieldwork.

B-1

Appendix B – Statement of Qualifications Submittal Checklist: (To determine validity of SOQ)

______Appendix B (Pages B-1 through B-5) must be included in the SOQ

______Conflict of Interest Questionnaire (Public files in Bonfire)

______Form 1295 Certificate of Interested Party (Public files in Bonfire)

______W9 (Public files in Bonfire)

All SOQ submitted to the City of Burleson shall include this page with the submitted SOQ.

RFQ Number: RFQ 2026-010

Project Title: PROFESSIONAL AUDIT SERVICES

Submittal Deadline: January 29, 2026 @ 2:00 PM (CST)

Submit Electronically* to:

https://burlesontx.bonfirehub.com/login

* Requires email account login and password.

Proposer Information:

Proposer’s Legal Name:

Address:

City, State & Zip

Federal Employers Identification Number #

Phone Number: Fax Number:

E-Mail Address:

Proposer Authorization

I, the undersigned, have the authority to execute this SOQ in its entirety as submitted and enter into a contract on behalf of the Proposer.

Printed Name and Position of Authorized Representative: ________________________________________

Signature of Authorized Representative: ____________________________________________

Signed this __________(day) of _________________________(month),________(year)

B-2

Appendix B – SOQ (continued)

1. Minimum Requirements To be considered responsive, the Proposer must demonstrate all of the following:

• The firm is independent and licensed to practice as a certified public accounting firm in the State of Texas.

• The firm has demonstrated experience performing financial statement audits for Texas municipalities in accordance with U.S. GAAS and GAGAS.

• The firm has experience performing Single Audits under the Federal Single Audit Act, or demonstrates the ability to do so if required.

• The firm has received a “pass” rating on its most recent external peer review and submits a copy of that report.

• The firm affirms that no conflicts of interest exist that would impair independence.

• The firm has sufficient staffing capacity and resources to meet the City’s audit schedule and reporting requirements.

• Failure to meet any minimum qualification may result in rejection of the SOQ.

2. Evaluation Criteria A. Experience & Qualifications– 40 Points

This criterion evaluates the firm’s overall qualifications and governmental audit experience. Proposers should address:

• Firm history and years of governmental audit experience

• Experience auditing Texas municipalities and component units

• Experience with GFOA Certificate of Achievement submissions

• Experience with federally funded programs and Single Audits

• Results of recent peer reviews and quality control processes

B. Audit Team & Staffing Plan – 25 Points Proposers shall identify the engagement partner, audit manager, and key staff to be assigned to the engagement for the duration of the contract term and provide:

• Relevant governmental audit experience

• Professional certifications and Texas licensure status

• Continuing professional education related to governmental accounting and auditing

• Approach to staffing continuity and quality assurance

B-3

C. Audit Approach & Responsiveness – 20 Points Proposers should demonstrate a clear understanding of the scope of services and describe:

• Proposed audit methodology and work plan

• Approach to coordination and communication with City staff

• Issue identification and resolution process

• Ability to meet required timelines and deliverables

D. References – 15 Points Provide a minimum of three (3) references from Texas municipalities or governmental entities for which similar audit services have been performed.

• Each reference must include:

• Entity name and approximate annual operating budget

• Primary contact name, title, phone number, and email

• Description of services provided

• Length of engagement

Preference may be given to references from municipalities of similar size and complexity to the City of Burleson.

E. Interviews (+ 15 points) At the City’s discretion, interviews may be conducted with the highest-ranked firms. If interviews are conducted, up to 15 additional points may be awarded based on interview performance.

Reference # 1 Entity Name:

Approximate Annual Operating Budget: Primary Contact Name, Title:

Phone: Email:

Description of Services Provided & Length of Engagement:

B-4

Reference #2 Entity Name:

Approximate Annual Operating Budget: Primary Contact Name, Title:

Phone: Email:

Description of Services Provided & Length of Engagement:

Reference #3 Entity Name:

Approximate Annual Operating Budget: Primary Contact Name, Title:

Phone: Email:

Description of Services Provided & Length of Engagement:

3. Federal, State and/or Local Identification Information

A. Centralized Master Bidders List registration number: ______________________________.

B. Prime contractor HUB / MWBE registration number: ______________________________.

C. An individual Proposer acting as a sole proprietor must also enter the Proposer’s Social Security Number: #_______-_______-_______.

4. Compliance with HB 89: Proposer agrees per HB 89 vendor shall not boycott Israel at any time while providing products or services to the City of Burleson.

[ ] Yes, we agree [ ] No, we do not agree

5. Compliance with SB 252: Proposer agrees per SB 252 vendor shall not do business with Iran, Sudan or a foreign terrorist organization while providing products or services to the City of Burleson.

[ ] Yes, we agree [ ] No, we do not agree

B-5

6. Compliance with SB 13: Proposer agrees per SB 13 vendor does not boycott energy companies as those terms are defined in the Texas Government Code § 809.001, and will not boycott energy companies during the term of any contract with the City of Burleson.

[ ] Yes, we agree [ ] No, we do not agree

7. Compliance with SB 19: Proposer agrees per SB 19 vendor does not have a practice, policy, guidance, or directive that discriminates against a firearm entity or firearm trade association as those terms are defined in the Texas Government Code § 2274.001, and that vendor will not so discriminate during the term of any contract with the City of Burleson.

[ ] Yes, we agree [ ] No, we do not agree

City of Burleson RFQ 2025-002 Delinquent Tax Collection Services

C-1

Appendix C – Standard Terms & Conditions

1. CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS. EXCEPT WHERE PROPOSER MAKES SPECIFIC

EXCEPTION IN THE SUBMITTED SOQ, ANY CONTRACT RESULTING FROM THIS RFQ WILL

CONTAIN THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OUTLINED IN THE PROVIDED SAMPLE

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT, WHICH PROPOSER HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES,

AND TO WHICH PROPOSER AGREES BY SUBMITTING A SOQ.