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Central Management Services JPMC GAAP Services
24-416CMS-BOSS4-B-40614
Questions and Answers 3/5/2024
| Q1 |
| Section A.17 indicates the State will award to three vendors in differing percentages. How will the |
State determine which vendor will perform the services at each of the requesting State agencies?
| A1 |
| The State intends to award up to three (3) Vendors to provide GAAP Services as percents of the total of 100%. I.E. Primary would be awarded at 50%, Secondary would be awarded at 30% and Tertiary would be awarded at 20%; to the total of 100% of estimated services awarded over the term of the solicited project. |
| Q2 |
| Will a selected vendor be allowed to decline performance of services to certain governmental |
entities if the vendor has an independence conflict due to performing the entities audit?
| A2 |
| In the event of multiple awards, a vendors request for services from a governmental unit may be succeeded by the next available vendor awarded vendor, if the Primary vendor expressly states a conflict of interest (direct or indirect) with previous services they have provided, to the requested vendor Secondary would be allowed to proceed if justification provided by the Primary to the government unit is approve. Stated conflicts of interest must be provided in writing with detail supporting the claim including sufficient information for the requesting government unit’s clear determination of stated issue as a conflict. Additional guidance for JPMC succession processes are provided in the attachment titled (JPMC Service Contracts Usage)* Attached. |
| Q3 |
| Sections 1.3.6, 1.3.7, and 1.3.8 all appear to indicate the vendor may be asked to perform audit |
work under this contract. Can CMS please clarify what type of audit work may be requested?
| A3 |
| Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) audit requests/accounting services will primarily require the four basic audit principles of GAAP be provided, as follows: Cost Principle; Revenues Principle; Matching Principle and Disclosure Principle for services provided. |
| Q4 |
| Section 1.4.11 states vendor must provide documentation that team members hold an accounting |
related degree and have 27 semester hours in accounting. If a vendor provides team member diplomas indicating an accounting degree, would this suffice for providing documentation of meeting the 27 credit hours? Accounting programs require the 27 credit hours in order to receive an accounting degree.
| A4 |
| Yes. Educational requirements can be located at the following link as prescribed by the Illinois Board of Examiners https://www.ilboe.org/education - Accounting and Business Courses, standards. Transcript Requirements can be reviewed at the following referenced links: https://nasba.org/products/nasbainternationalevaluationservices/requirements/, Illinois |
Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) https://idfpr.illinois.gov/profs/pa.html Admin. Code/Rules for Certified Illinois Public Accountants.
| Q5 |
| Section 1.8 requires the respondent to indicate the address where services will be performed. If |
the vendor has multiple US locations from which team members work, would it be appropriate to include the address of our US Headquarters (which is in Illinois)?
| A5 |
| Yes, the Main or US Head Quarters would be acceptable to populate Section 1.8 of the contract portion of the solicitation. |
| Q6 |
| RFP Section 1.3.6 states that the vendor will prepare reports for audit work that is requested. Does |
CMS anticipate the vendor will perform audits under the scope of an awarded contract? If so, what types of audits may the vendor perform?
| A6 |
| Per the response given in A3, please find the following: Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) audit requests/accounting services will primarily require the four basic audit principles of GAAP be provided, as follows: Cost Principle; Revenues Principle; Matching Principle and Disclosure Principle for services provided. |
| Q7 |
| Section 1.4.3 states the vendor shall possess experience providing Good Manufacturing Practices |
(GMP) reporting. Was this intended to state vendor shall possess experience providing Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) Reporting specific to the State of Illinois GAAP process?
| A7 |
| Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) are audits for the purposes of assessing Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Production, Materials, Facilities/ Equipment, Packing/ Labeling, Laboratory Controls reporting reviews and best practices considerations reporting https://www.thefdagroup.com/blog/gmp-auditsand U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/auditing/gmprequired services standards for distribution centers, aggregators etc. For the purposes of this solicitation and the resulting contract (US GAAP Manufacturing and Supply) analysis and reporting for Federal and State requirements. This solicitation is intended to establish Joint Purchasing Master Contract(s) (JPMC) for which multiple state agencies will be allowed to use; GMP review may be requested. The links in this response above provide additional information on this process. |
| Q8 |
| Section 1.4.10 states project managers must maintain an active Illinois CPA license. Would CMS |
accept project managers with CPA licensure in other States?
| A8 |
| (225 ILCS 450/5.2) (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2029), Sec. 5.2. Substantial equivalency. (a) An individual whose principal place of business is not in this State shall have all the privileges of a person licensed under this Act as a licensed CPA without the need to obtain a license from the Department or to file notice with the Department, if the individual: https://ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp meet the requirements under section (a, b or c). |
| Q9 |
| Is the amount paid to the sub equal to 22% of the BEP requirement? Do we need the check boxes in Section 5? What are BEP Waivers and the requirements? Are Prime Vendors intended to contact the vendors on the BEP spreadsheet on the Bid? |
| A9 |
| Yes, the BEP participant goal for this solicitation is 22% of the overall awarded amount to the Prime Vendor. This can be met using one (1) BEP Vendor or multiple BEP vendors, each providing a portion of the total BEP Goal of 22%. I.E. BEP Vendor #1 provides 12% and BEP Vendor #2 provides 10% for a total of 22%. Yes, the boxes in Section 5 need to be checked in agreement with the information and or requirements. BEP Waivers are documents provided by the BEP oversight committee signifying approval of the bidders documents efforts to secure the BEP goal for a solicitation. BEP Waivers granted can be provided to reduce and or absolve the requirement if sufficient and accurate information is provided and subsequently approved. Option three in the BEP Uplan is selected and utilized to process requests for BEP Waiver on a solicitation. If you choose this option, please be sure to provide all required documented efforts in the required quantities as specified in the directions for this option. Yes, Prime vendors have been provided with a list of Vendors that are BEP certified with BEP Illinois in the applicable NIGP codes, attached to the Bid opportunity in Bidbuy. |
| Q10 |
| Can a list of the Pre-submission conference attendees be provided? |
| A10 |
| Following posting of the Notice of Award, solicitation information will be public per procurement transparency requirements. If you are seeking addition information regarding or related to this procurement please submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request using the following email contact: CMS.FOIA@Illinois.gov |