Professional_Auditing_Services_(Addendum_#3_Revision).pdf

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

2024-RFP-289

PROFESSIONAL AUDITING SERVICES

City of Pittsburgh

City-County Building

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

RELEASE DATE: September 20, 2024

DEADLINE FOR QUESTIONS: October 11, 2024

RESPONSE DEADLINE: November 1, 2024, 3:00 pm

RESPONSES MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY TO:

https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/pittsburghpa https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/%7bproject.government.code%7d

City of Pittsburgh

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Professional Auditing Services

I. Introduction II. Instructions to Bidders

III. Scope of Work IV. Proposal Format Requirements V. Evaluation Phases

VI. Equal Opportunity Review Commission Terms VII. Award and Contract

VIII. General Terms & Conditions IX. Miscellaneous Requirements X. Vendor Questionnaire

Request for Proposal #2024-RFP-289 Title: Professional Auditing Services

1. Introduction

1.1. Summary

The City of Pittsburgh Office of Management & Budget, is seeking a professional public accounting firm to perform annual audits on all financial statements, for the fiscal years ending December 2024, 2025, and 2026. There will also be an option, at the City's discretion, to extend the contract to include an audit of two (2) additional fiscal years (2027 & 2028).

All audits must be performed in accordance with the generally accepted auditing standards set forth by the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts for financial audits in the General Accounting Office's

(GAO) Government Auditing Standards (2024), the provisions of the federal Single Audit Act of 1984, the provision of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-133, Audits of State, Local

Governments and Non-Profit Organizations and the provisions of the Municipal Authorities Act of 1945.

1.2. Background

• City of Pittsburgh o The City of Pittsburgh was incorporated on July 20, 1816 and chartered as a home-rule municipality on January 5, 1976. The City is the largest of 130 municipalities in Allegheny

County with a population of 302,971 (2020 Census). It operates under a strong mayor form of government and provides the following services as authorized by its charter: public safety, sanitation, cultural and recreational, public improvements, planning and zoning, and general administrative services.

o The City has a total payroll of approximately $290 million annually, covering approximately

3,250 employees. The accounting and financial reporting functions of the City are centralized. The City's fiscal year begins January 1 and ends December 31.

o More detailed on the information on the government and its finances can be found in:

▪ 2024 Operating

Budget https://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/redtail/images/23255_2024_Operating_Budget.

pdf

▪ 2023 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report

(CAFR) https://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/redtail/images/24770_Pittsburgh,_City_of_ACFR

_FINAL_2023.pdf

• Public Parking Authority of Pittsburgh (PPAP) o The PPAP, a body corporate and politic under the laws of the Commonwealth, was organized in 1947 by the City pursuant to the Parking Authority Law of Pennsylvania (Act of

June 5, 1947, P.L. 458, as amended and supplemented and recodified by Act 22 of 2001, 53

Pa C.S.A. § 5501 et seq. and further amended by Act 110 of 2001, P.L. 926 (collectively the https://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/redtail/images/23255_2024_Operating_Budget.pdf https://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/redtail/images/23255_2024_Operating_Budget.pdf https://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/redtail/images/24770_Pittsburgh,_City_of_ACFR_FINAL_2023.pdf https://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/redtail/images/24770_Pittsburgh,_City_of_ACFR_FINAL_2023.pdf

"Act")). The PPAP is governed by a five-member Board of Directors appointed by the Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh.

o The PPAP owns or manages dozens of parking facilities and neighborhood parking lots with thousands of parking spaces throughout the city. Under various agreements with the City of

Pittsburgh, the PPAP manages all on-street metered parking; enforces City of Pittsburgh parking ordinances; and manages the City's Residential Permit Parking Program.

o The PPAP is also responsible for the Pittsburgh Parking Court operations which are primarily managed by a third part service organization under an operational agreement. A SSAE 16

SOC I Type 2, performed by the third party's independent auditors, will be provided by

March 31. Therefore the auditor will be required to perform whatever procedures are necessary to rely on this report.

o PPAP's fiscal year begins January 1 and ends December 31.

1.3. Contact Information

Jessie Nusser

Sourcing Specialist

414 Grant St

Suite 502

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Email: jessica.nusser@pittsburghpa.gov

Phone: (412) 255-2458

Department:

Finance

1.4. Timeline

The following represents the tentative schedule for this project. Any change in the scheduled dates for the Pre Proposal Conference (if applicable), Deadline for Submission of Written Questions, or Proposal

Submission Deadline will be advertised in the form of an addendum to this RFP. The schedule for the evaluation process and other future dates may be adjusted without notice.

RFP Released September 20, 2024

Pre-Proposal Meeting (Non-Mandatory) October 4, 2024, 10:00am

Virtual via Microsoft Teams-Please use the RSVP

Manager to indicate attendance, and a link will be sent to you prior to the meeting.

Question Submission Deadline October 11, 2024, 3:00pm mailto:jessica.nusser@pittsburghpa.gov tel:(412)255-2458

Proposal Submission Deadline November 1, 2024, 3:00pm

Proposal Review and Supplier Scoring October 2024

Contract Award November 2024

2. Instructions to Bidders

2.1. Submittal Requirements

All proposals must be submitted electronically. No proposal shall be accepted in person, by U.S. Mail, by private courier service, via oral or email communication, telephone or fax transmission.

Respondents are required to provide one (1) electronic copy of their proposal in either MS Word or PDF by the submission deadline.

If additional hard copies are requested, the proposal should be bound or contained in a loose leaf binder. Document pages shall be 8-1/2 inches by 11 inches in size or folded to such a size. Use section dividers, tabbed in accordance with this Section as specified below. All proposals will need to be provided electronically so the following format will apply for the electronic submittal through the

Beacon website.

2.2. Additional Submission Considerations

Late proposals will not be accepted or considered. Respondents should allow enough time to register company on the City's e-Procurement Portal, search the solicitation they wish to respond to and complete the submission process online before the deadline.

The City of Pittsburgh shall not be responsible for proposals delivered to a person or location other than that specified herein.

All submittals, whether selected or rejected, shall become the property of the City of Pittsburgh and will not be returned.

All costs associated with proposal preparation shall be borne by the applicant.

3. Scope of Work

3.1. Tasks

• Financial Statements Audit o The City requests a complete audit of its financial statements.

o A complete audit of the financial statements of the Public Parking Authority (PPA).

o Also any required supplementary information as defined by Governmental Accounting

Standards Board (GASB) No. 34 "Basic Financial Statements-and Management's Discussion and Analysis-for State and Local Governments", for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the presentation of the financial statement and related supplements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

• Single Audit/OMB Circular A-133 o The City requests that the auditor be responsible for performing audit procedures in accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular A-133 with respect to any individual unit of the City's major federal programs.

• Bond Indentures o The City also requests that the auditor be responsible for expressing an opinion on the fair and accurate presentation of the financial statements of bond indentures.

o Also requested is an opinion on the fair and accurate presentation of PPA Rate Covenants.

3.2. Reports

• Reports to be issued after the audit's completion o An opinion on the basic financial statements and all supplemental information for the City and PPAP.

o Reports regarding compliance and internal control of all financial statements based on the audit of the previously mentioned financial statements, performed in accordance with

Government Auditing Standards.

o An opinion on the schedule of expenditures of federal awards in relation to each individual unit's financial statements.

o A report on the compliance with the requirements of bond indentures, including an opinion on the PPAP's compliance with their Rate Covenants.

o A report on the Annual Report of Municipal Authorities Form DCED-CLGS-04.

o A report on Summary Financial Information derived from the financial statements to be published in accordance with the Municipality Authorities Act of 1945, as amended.

o A complete schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs.

o In addition to the annual audit of the City and the other reports mentioned above, the City requires an audit and opinion of the three pension plans: The Municipal Pension Plan, The

Policemen's Relief and Pension Plan, and The Firemen's Relief and Pension Fund.

• Notes about specific reports o Included in the report on internal controls, the City requests that the Auditor communicate in a letter to management any and all reportable conditions found during the audit.

Reportable conditions include any significant deficiency in design or operation of the internal control structure, which could have an adverse effect to the City's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data consistent with the assertions of management.

Reportable conditions that are also seen as material weaknesses will also be identified as such in the report.

o Non-reportable conditions discovered through the audit should be reported in a separate letter to management, which will be referred to in the report on internal controls.

o Both the supplementary schedule of expenditures of federal awards-related auditor's report and the report on internal controls and compliance, will not be included in the

Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). They are to be issued separately.

• Irregularities and Illegal Acts o In the event that the auditors discover irregularities or illegal acts, they will be required to make immediate, written report to the Director of Finance and to the Audit Committee of the PPAP. This report will include all irregularities and illegal acts or indications of illegal acts that the Auditors become aware of.

• Audit Reporting o Auditors shall assure themselves that each respective unit of the City is informed of each of the following:

▪ The auditor's responsibility under generally accepted auditing standards.

▪ Significant accounting policies.

▪ Management judgments and accounting estimates.

▪ Significant audit adjustments.

▪ Other information in documents containing audited financial statements.

▪ Disagreements with management.

▪ Management consultation with other accountants.

▪ Major issues discussed with management prior to retention.

▪ Difficulties encountered in performing the audit.

• Special Considerations o The City will send its CAFR to the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the

United States and Canada for review in their Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in

Financial reporting program. It is expected that the Auditor will work with each individual unit of the City to meet the requirements of that program.

o The City requires assistance with the implementation of the GASB Statement No. 67, Financial Reporting for Pension Plans and GASB Statement No. 68, Accounting and Financial

Reporting for Pensions. The City will also request assistance with the implementation of any additional GASB statements issued throughout the duration of the audit contract.

• Other Deliverables o The City also requires assistance with all portions of the CAFR report preparation. The City may require assistance in staying compliant with any provision of the GASB that the City has already adopted. The documents would be the property of the individual unit of the City and electronic copies would be made available upon completion of the annual engagement.

o If any unit of the City prepares on or more official statements in connection with the sale of debt securities that contain the financial statements and the auditor's report, the auditor shall be required, if requested by the City, to issue a "consent and citation of expertise" as the auditor and any necessary "comfort letters".

• Working Paper Retention and Access to Working Papers o All working papers and reports must be retained, at the auditor's expense, for a minimum of seven (7) years, or any limits required by governmental agencies, unless the firm is notified by the City of the need to extend to retention period.

o The auditor will be required to make working papers available, upon request, to the following parties or designees:

▪ U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO)

▪ Parties designated by the federal or state governments or by the City as a part of an audit quality review process

▪ Auditors of agencies of which the City is a sub-recipient of grant funds.

o In addition, the firm shall respond to the reasonable inquiries of successor auditors and allow successor auditors to review working papers relating to matters of continuing accounting significance.

3.3. Report Issue Dates

• Dates of Completion and Issuance o The City audits must be complete each year, and rendered in a final form within 4 months of the previous fiscal year end (April 30) or as required by the City for a timely issuance of the

CAFR.

o A draft of the financial statements for the City and its other authorities and all proposed journal entries must be provided no later than 3.5 months following the end of the previous fiscal year (April 15).

4. Proposal Format Requirements

4.1. Response Format

All submitted responses shall follow the formatting below, and all proposals will need to be provided electronically through the City's e-Procurement Portal. Each numbered section is to be uploaded as a separate file. If hard copies of submissions are required, each numbered section shall be a removable tab. Document pages shall be 8-1/2 inches by 11 inches in size or folded to such a size.

Response to Scope

Firm’s Qualifications, Experience and References

Describe the firm and provide a statement of the firm’s qualifications for providing the scope of services.

Identify the services which would be completed by your firm’s staff and those that would be provided by sub-consultants, if any. Identify any sub-consultants you proposed to utilize to supplement your firm’s staff.

Provide a summary of the firm’s experience in providing these or similar services. Provide a minimum of three references for related projects, including dates, contact person, phone number, email, and a brief description of the project or scope of work.

Qualifications of Project Team

Provide a brief summary of the qualifications and experience of each team member assigned to this project, including length of service with the firm and resume/bio, and the qualifications /experience of any sub-consultant staff on your project team.

Project Approach and Plan

Provide a detailed discussion of your firm’s approach to the successful completion of the scope of services outlined in this RFP. Include thorough discussions of methodologies you believe are essential to accomplishing this project or completing the scope of services. Include a proposed work schedule to accomplish all of the required tasks within the desired timeline. Identify the staff roles who would be assigned to each major task, including sub-consultants.

Cost Proposal

Provide a total cost proposal for all services to be delivered, and a breakdown of costs delineated by major phase and/or deliverable as described in your project plan. Include a schedule of hourly rates for all proposed staff and the amount of time each person will be devoted to this project. Define any reimbursable expenses (e.g., travel) requested to be paid by the City. Note: If travel expenses are included, the rate assumptions generally should not exceed the United States General Services

Administration (GSA) rates for Pittsburgh.

PLEASE NOTE: The City does not agree to late fees, penalties, interest, attorney’s fees or other contingent liability. In no event shall the City be liable for special, indirect, incidental, reliance, lost profits or other business interest damages.

Demonstration of Good Faith Effort

Include statements of assurance regarding the following requirements detailed in the Equal Opportunity section of this solicitation:

A. Solicit certified MBE/WBE/Veteran-Owned companies for various service categories where opportunities exist to subcontract within their company’s business model.

B. Complete MWDBEVOSB Commitment Form to document good faith effort. Please provide scope of services to be delivered by each subcontractor. If a subcontractor is not chosen, a justification is required describing why services could not be rendered by a sub-contractor.

C. Provide email documentation of solicitation correspondence with MBE/WBE/Veteran-Owned companies.

Failure to include all of the elements specified may be cause for rejection. Additional information may be provided, but should be succinct and relevant to the goals of this RFP. Excessive information will not be considered favorably.

5. Evaluation Phases

Selection Procedure

Your Proposal will be evaluated by a Proposal Committee comprised of the Director or other supervisor of the Using Department, one or more members of the Director’s staff, at least one member of the

Office of Management & Budget and any other department representatives as deemed necessary.

Submittals will be reviewed for responsiveness, and responsive submittals will further be screened by a selection committee in accordance with the criteria listed below. The firm(s) submitting the highest rated proposal may be invited for interviews.

No. Evaluation Criteria Scoring Method Weight (Points)

1. Firm’s Qualifications, Experience and

References

Vendor response demonstrated that the firm has the experience and capabilities to successfully perform the scope of services, including providing references for clients of similar size and scope.

Points Based 15 (15% of Total)

2. Qualifications of Project Team

Vendor response provided a brief summary of the qualifications and experience of each team member assigned to this project, including length of service with the firm and resume/bio, and the qualifications /experience of any sub-consultant staff on your project team.

Points Based 15 (15% of Total)

3. Project Approach and Plan

Vendor response demonstrated a firm understanding of the scope of services, the response included thorough and complete responses to the items outlined in the Section

4, and the vendor has the appropriate expertise, procedures, and methods in place to perform the scope of services.

Points Based 30 (30% of Total)

4. Cost Proposal

Vendor response provided a total cost proposal for all services to be delivered, a breakdown of costs delineated by major phase and/or a schedule of hourly rates.

Points Based 30 (30% of Total)

5. MWDBE/VOSB Good Faith Effort

Vendor response was detailed and demonstrated clear Good Faith Effort to obtain

MWDBE & VOSB Participation.

Points Based 10 (10% of Total)

6. Equal Opportunity Review Commission Terms

6.1. MWE/DBE

The City of Pittsburgh is committed to the ideal of providing all citizens an equal opportunity to participate in City and its Authorities' contracting opportunities. It is therefore the City's goal to encourage increased participation of women and minority groups in all City contracts. The City requires that all respondents demonstrate good faith efforts to obtain the participation of Minority-Owned

Business Enterprises (MBE's) and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (WBE's) in work to be performed under City contracts. The levels of MBE and WBE participation will be monitored by the City of

Pittsburghs Equal Opportunity Review Commission (EORC). In order to ensure that there are opportunities for historically disadvantaged minority groups and women to participate on Covered

Contracts, and consistent with the City's current equal employment opportunity practice and goals, the

EORC will review contracts to include an evaluation of a developer/contractors employment of minority groups and women, encourage goals of eighteen (18) percent and seven (7) percent respectively.

6.2. Veteran-Owned and LGBTQIA+ Small Business Goals

It is also the City's goal to encourage participation by veteran-owned and LGBTQIA+ small businesses in all contracts. The City of Pittsburgh shall have an annual goal of not less than five (5) percent participation by veteran-owned small businesses and not less than three (3) percent participation by

LGBTQIA+ businesses in all contracts. The participation goal shall apply to the overall dollar amount expended with respect to the contracts. The City requires that all respondents demonstrate good faith efforts to obtain the participation of veteran-owned small business in work to be performed under City contracts. The levels of participation will be monitored by the City of Pittsburgh’s EORC.

6.3. Good Faith Commitment

In order to demonstrate good faith commitment to these goals, all respondents are required to complete and submit with their bids the attached MWDBE/Veteran-Owned/LGBTQIA+ Solicitation and

Commitment Form (which details the efforts made by the respondents to obtain such participation).

Failure to submit a properly completed form along with documentation of Good Faith Commitment may result in rejection of the bid. Participants are encouraged to contact the Equal Opportunity Review

Commission at 412-255-8804 to assist further. For further information, including definitions and additional requirements, please see Chapter 177A (Sections 177A.01 et. seq.) of the City Code and

Section 161.40 of the City Code.

7. Award and Contract

7.1. Award

After the City has received all Proposals and conducted its initial Evaluation, described above, the

Proposal Committee may invite one or more Respondents to a follow-up interview to further discuss their Proposal(s).

The Proposal Committee may decide to accept the Proposal of one or more Respondents. It may decide to reject all proposals. Once a Proposal is accepted, the contract negotiation process will commence.

This RFP and your response to it, in the form of your entire Proposal, will become part of the Contract. If a real or apparent conflict should arise between this RFP/Proposal and other language contained in the final Contract, the language of the final Contract shall control.

7.2. Contracting Process

Successful Respondents will be required to enter into a Contract with the City of Pittsburgh, contingent upon the approval of City Council. This Contract will be directed and managed by the issuing department and the Office of Management & Budget.

Work cannot commence on the Scope of the RFP until it a contract is fully executed. The City cannot process invoices nor approve payments until this Contract has been fully executed by the Respondent and all required City signatories, including the issuing department, the Law Department, and the City

Controller.

City laws and policies mandate the incorporation of various custom terms and conditions into all City contracts. For this reason the City will not sign any standard contract proffered by the respondent.

An agreement shall not be binding or valid with the City unless and until it is fully executed by authorized representatives of the City and of the Proposer. Once the Contract is fully executed the City will notify Respondent in writing and give the order to proceed.

8. General Terms & Conditions

8.1. Examination of Proposal Documents

A. The submission of a proposal shall be deemed a representation and certification by the

Respondent that they:

1. Have carefully read and fully understand the information that was provided by the City to serve as the basis for submission of the proposal.

2. Have the capability to successfully undertake and complete the responsibilities and obligations of the proposal being submitted.

3. Represent that all information contained in the proposal is true and correct.

4. Did not, in any way, collude; conspire to agree, directly or indirectly, with any person, firm, corporation or other proposer in regard to the amount, terms or conditions of this proposal.

5. Acknowledge that the City has the right to make any inquiry it deems appropriate to substantiate or supplement information supplied by a proposer, and proposer hereby grants the City permission to make these inquiries, and to provide any and all related documentation in a timely manner.

B. No request for modification of the proposal shall be considered after its submission on the grounds that the proposer was not fully informed to any fact or condition.

8.2. RFP Term

Respondent’s proposal shall remain firm and effective, subject to the City’s review and approval, for a period of one hundred twenty (120) days from the closing date for the receipt of proposals.

The City may enter into negotiations with one or more Respondents during the one hundred twenty

(120) day period during which all proposals will stay effective. The purpose of such negotiations will be to address questions and identify issues as the parties move towards the execution of a final contract or contracts.

8.3. RFP Communications

Unauthorized contact regarding this RFP with employees or officials of the City of Pittsburgh other than the RFP Coordinator named in the header section of this solicitation may result in disqualification from this procurement process.

Neither Respondent(s) nor any person acting on Respondent(s)’s behalf shall attempt to influence the outcome of the award by the offer, presentation or promise of gratuities, favors, or anything of value to any appointed or elected official or employee of the City of Pittsburgh, their families or staff members.

All inquiries regarding the solicitation are to be directed to the designated RFP Coordinator. Outside of pertinent RFP questions directed to the City of Pittsburgh as specified above, any other attempts to contact any City of Pittsburgh personnel regarding this RFP, without prior approval by the RFP

Coordinator will be considered grounds for dismissal and immediate disqualification from the RFP process. This includes, but is not limited to, all verbal, voice, text, e-mail, and social media (e.g. –

LinkedIn) contact.

Please note the following:

A. The City shall not be responsible for nor bound by any oral instructions, interpretations or explanations issued by the City or its representatives.

B. Each proposer shall assume the risk of the method of dispatching any communication or proposal. •The RFP Coordinator must receive all written comments, including questions and requests for clarification, no later than the Deadline for Submission Questions listed in the tentative project schedule.

C. The City reserves the right to determine, at its sole discretion, the appropriate and adequate responses to written comments, questions, and requests for clarification. The City’s official responses and other official communications pursuant to this RFP shall constitute an addendum of this RFP.

D. The City will publish all official responses and communications pursuant to this RFP to the City of

Pittsburgh procurement website. It is the responsibility of each proposer to check the site and incorporate all addenda into their response.

E. All addenda for this RFP will be distributed via the City of Pittsburgh procurement website at procurement.pittsburghpa.gov/beacon/opportunities

F. Only the City’s official, written responses and communications shall be considered binding with regard to this RFP.

8.4. Addenda/Clarifications

Should discrepancies or omissions be found in this RFP or should there be a need to clarify this RFP, questions or comments regarding this RFP must be put in writing and received by the RFP Coordinator within the Question and Answer tab.

8.5. Withdrawal of Proposals

A proposer may withdraw its proposal at any time before the expiration of the time for submission of proposals as provided in this RFP by delivering a written request for withdrawal signed by, or on behalf of, the proposer.

8.6. Public Record

Respondent, by submittal of a proposal, acknowledges that all proposals may be considered public information in accordance with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Right to Know laws. Subject to award of this RFP, all or part of any submittal may be released to any person or firm who may request it.

Therefore, proposers shall specify in their proposal response if any portion of their submittal should be treated as proprietary and not releasable as public information. Proposers should be aware that all such requests may be subject to legal review and challenge.

Any information considered proprietary should be indicated as such or not included in the response.

8.7. Non-Conforming Proposal

A proposal shall be prepared and submitted in accordance with the provisions of these RFP instructions and specifications. Any alteration, omission, addition, variance, or limitation of, from or to a proposal may be sufficient grounds for non-acceptance of the proposal, at the sole discretion of the City.

8.8. Disqualification

Factors such as, but not limited to, any of the following may be considered just cause to disqualify a proposal without further consideration:

A. Evidence of collusion, directly or indirectly, among proposers in regard to the amount, terms or conditions of this proposal;

B. Any attempt to improperly influence any member of the evaluation team;

C. Existence of any lawsuit, unresolved contractual claim, or dispute between the proposer and the

City;

D. Evidence of incorrect information submitted as part of the proposal;

E. Evidence of proposer’s inability to successfully complete the responsibilities and obligation of the proposal; and

F. Proposer’s default under any previous agreement with the City, which results in termination of the agreement.

8.9. Restrictions on Gifts & Activities

The City of Pittsburgh Ethics Code and Chapter 197 of the City Code (Code of Conduct) was established to promote public confidence in the proper operation of our local government. These resources outline the requirements for disclosure of interests and restricted activities as related to public procurement processes. Proposers are responsible to determine the applicability of these requirements to their activities and to comply with its requirements.

8.10. Rights of the City of Pittsburgh

This RFP does not commit the City to enter into a contract, nor does it obligate the City to pay for any costs incurred in preparation and submission of proposals or in anticipation of a contract.

The City reserves the right to:

A. Reject any and all proposals;

B. Issue subsequent Requests for Proposals;

C. Cancel this RFP with or without issuing another RFP;

D. Remedy technical errors in the Request for Proposals process;

E. Approve or disapprove the use of particular sub-consultants;

F. Make an award without further discussion of the submittal with the proposer (therefore, the proposal should be submitted initially on the most favorable terms that the firm or individual might propose);

G. Meet with select proposers at any time to gather additional information;

H. Make adjustments to the scope of services at any time if deemed by the Office of Management and Budget to be in the best interest of the City;

I. Accept other than the lowest offer.

J. Waive any informality, defect, non-responsiveness, or deviation from this RFP that is not material to the Respondent’s proposal;

K. Reject the proposal of any Respondent who, in the City’s sole judgment, has been delinquent or unfaithful in the performance of any contract with the City;

L. Reject the proposal of any Respondent who, in the City’s sole judgment, is financially or technically incapable of performing in accordance with this RFP;

M. Negotiate with any, all, or none of the Offerors and to enter into an agreement with another

Offeror in the event that the originally selected finalist defaults or fails to execute an agreement with the City.

N. Award a contract to the firm(s) that presents the best qualifications and whose proposal best accomplishes the desired results; and/or

O. Enter into an agreement with another proposer in the event the originally selected proposer defaults or fails to execute an agreement with the City.

P. Require a performance bond and/or other “failure to deliver” agreement by the awardee at time of contracting.

8.11. PREVAILING WAGE ORDINANCE

Contractor agrees that section 161.16(e) of the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances, stating that Contractor must pay at least the applicable prevailing wages as will have been determined by the City Controller pursuant to the City Service Worker Prevailing Wage Ordinance, Title I, Article VII, Section 161.38(I)(B), as the same may be amended, and as will have been determined by the Secretary of Labor and Industry to the workers employed in the performance of any contract for public work subject to the Pennsylvania

Prevailing Wage Act approved August 15, 1961 (Act No. 442), as amended August 9, 1963 (Act No. 342), and the regulations issued pursuant thereto, and all supplements and amendments thereto, must be made a part of the Contract as fully as if attached hereto, and that Contractor will comply in all respects with the provisions thereof, insofar as the same implicates the Contract.

8.12. ENSURING EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR PERSONS PREVIOUSLY

CONVICTED

Contractor shall comply with Section 161.16A of the Pittsburgh City Code.

9. Miscellaneous Requirements

9.1. Acknowledgements

A. Conflict of Interest- By submission of a proposal to this solicitation, Respondent agrees that it presently has no interest and shall not have any interest, direct or indirect, which would conflict in any manner with the performance of the services required under this RFP.

B. Code of Ethics- By submission of a proposal to this solicitation, Respondent agrees to abide by the Code of Ethics of The City of Pittsburgh. The full Ethics Handbook can be found here:http://pittsburghpa.gov/humanresources/files/policies/10_Ethics_Handbook.pdf

C. Fair Trade Certification- By responding to this solicitation, the Respondent certifies that no attempt has been made, or will be made, by the Respondent to induce any other person or firm to submit or not to submit a submission for the purpose of restricting competition.

D. Non-Disclosure- By responding to this solicitation, the Respondent acknowledges they may be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement during the contracting process if they are the successful respondent.

E. Debarment - This solicitation is also subject to Section 161.22 of the City of Pittsburgh Code related to debarment from bidding on and participating in City contracts.

F. Financial Interest- No proposal shall be accepted from, or contract awarded to, any individual or firm in which any City employee, director, or official has a direct or indirect financial interest in violation of applicable City and State ethics rules. Entities that are legally related to each other or to a common entity which seek to submit separate and competing proposals must disclose the nature of their relatedness.

G. Full Fee Disclosure- Pursuant to Section 161.36 of the Pittsburgh City Code, a Respondent must include a disclosure of any finder’s fees, fee splitting, firm affiliation or relationship with any broker-dealer, payments to consultants, lobbyists, or commissioned representatives or other contractual arrangements of the firm that could present a real or perceived conflict of interest.

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10. Vendor Questionnaire

10.1. Response to Scope Proposal

Please upload your Response to Scope detailed in Proposal Format Requirements

10.2. Cost Proposal

Please upload your Cost Proposal detailed in Proposal Format Requirements

10.3. Equal Opportunity Review Commission (EORC) Participation Form * Please download the below documents, complete the Pre-Award Good Faith Checklist, and upload.

Failure to complete the Pre-Award Good Faith Checklist may result in the City deeming your proposal/response non-responsive. Any awardees will be required to complete the full EORC

Participation Forms and process prior to contract execution.

• 2024_EORC_Participation_For...

*Response required

10.4. Do you agree with the City's Terms and Conditions?*

☐ Yes

☐ No

*Response required

10.5. Vendor Contact Sheet*

Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Blank_Vendor_Contact_Sheet.pdf

*Response required

10.6. Vendor Registration Form*

Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Blank_Vendor_Registration_F...

*Response required

10.7. W-9*

Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• W9.pdf

*Response required

10.8. Authorized Signatory*

Provide the name, title, & email address of the authorized signatory for your company (for details on who is considered an authorized signatory, please look at our terms & conditions section)

*Response required https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/pittsburghpa/projects/113903/document?section=1041269 https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/pittsburghpa/projects/113903/document?section=1041269 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