Q _ A 2024_024.pdf

Q & A’s RFP 2024-024 FORENSIC AUDIT ON FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS

• May the County provide the period of performance as it relates to this RFP? FY2023- FY2020 (3 years)

• Would the County consider an extension to the response deadline due to the timeline of when the County responds to questions? RFP must be submitted by April 18, 2024.

• Can you clarify the specific date range or specify which fiscal years are to be reviewed during the engagement? The scope of services does not specify which years will be subject to the forensic investigation. 3 years

• Your website states, “All Bids must be received on a Spalding County bid form to be considered.” Would you please provide this form, or the location from which it can be downloaded? See Section IV of RFP

• The RFP states, “All addenda, notices, additional information, etc. will be posted to Spalding County’s website at www.spaldingcounty.com under the Purchasing Departments bid opportunities.” The bid opportunities page (Spalding County Current Solicitations | Vendor Registry) currently says that Spalding county has no open solicitations. The only place this RFP is listed on your website is on the Budget & Finance page (Budget and Finance - Spalding County, GA). Is there a link to a page for us to check for addenda and updates on this specific RFP prior to submitting our proposal? If not, how are we notified when an addendum is issued? The addendums for all Q&A will be posted on the Georgia Procurement Registry and Spaldingcounty.com website by end of day 04/08/2024.

• What software does the County use for financial accounting? Smart Fusion and other departments use Quickbooks

• Will the project work be required to be onsite, or is remote or hybrid onsite/remote available? All of the above. Some data files may be too large to send via email.

• The RFP naturally requires client references and examples of similar work performed.

Prior to recently founding my own forensic practice (The Ledge Company) in New York City, I chaired various forensic accounting sectors at Ernst & Young LLP for 13 years and led over 200 forensic matters (including in government – it’s why I’m passionate about this specific RFP). I want to confirm that it’s acceptable that my client references can come from prior work before launching my own practice. That is acceptable.

• The RFP references “checking, savings, investment, money market, and financial holding accounts”. What is the volume/number of such accounts? Spalding County has 34 bank accounts and 82 Purchase cards.

• Can you please estimate the total number of transactions and accounts to be reviewed?

Spalding County is asking for the last 3 years of transactions and accounts to be reviewed.

• What level of detail is expected for the pricing matrix? Itemized cost estimate for the forensic audit, including all fees, expenses, and any other relevant costs.

• Can you please confirm the due date for submission? April 18, 2024 is a Thursday, but within the Time Schedule on page 2 of the RFP, it states Monday, April 18, 2024.

Thursday, April 18, 2024

• Are there any forms that need to be completed and submitted with our proposal?

Spalding County will ask for W-9 and E-verify form once RFP has been awarded.

http://www.spaldingcounty.com/ https://vrapp.vendorregistry.com/Bids/View/BidsList?BuyerId=add83be6-62b7-4969-accf-7417919b34fd https://vrapp.vendorregistry.com/Bids/View/BidsList?BuyerId=add83be6-62b7-4969-accf-7417919b34fd https://www.spaldingcounty.com/department/budget-and-finance/

• Regarding the financial information to be provided to the Contractor for analysis, what amount of information is estimated to be provided? Any data requested by Contractor that is obtainable by the County

• Can the data be measured in years, months, weeks, GBs, pages, document numbers, etc.? data from accounting software can be extracted by years, months, and weeks

• Can the County indicate which ERP system that is uses for its finance and accounting?

Smart Fusion

• Will such reports necessary to conduct the examination be available electronically? Yes in PDF or Excel format

• Is it permissible for the awarded firm to comply with the Statements on Standards for Consulting and/or Forensic Services issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)? Yes

• Will capital projects and/or special fund accounts be included in this engagement? If so, approximately how many funds are to be included? 2022 TSPLOST and 2016 SPLOST

• Will County employees be available for information gathering interviews either in person or virtually? Yes both

• Has the County previously engaged a firm to conduct any type of forensic accounting engagement? No

• Are you anticipating any potential issues with the availability of supporting documentation for transactions during any of the period under the scope of the project?

No

• Does the County receive any federal funds through ARPA or other federal programs that are in scope for this engagement and may be at risk of noncompliance? Yes

• Has the County’s financial statement auditors identified and reported any internal control deficiencies in the past 3 years? No, FY2023 not finalized yet, due to Tax Commissioner’s office

• Are there any financial management procedures that operate in a decentralized manner? No

• The scope of services includes “assess internal controls and procedures…” – is that intended to only include an assessment of process and control design, or also an assessment of operating effectiveness? Reliability and integrity of financial and operating information, Compliance with laws, policies, plans, procedures, and regulations, Safeguarding of Assets, Economic and efficient use of resources, Accomplishing of established objectives and goals for operations.