External Independent Auditing Services

The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida is issuing Request for Proposals RFP-25-036-CM to procure external independent auditing services from qualified public accounting firms. The District seeks to contract with a firm whose partners or officers are independent Certified Public Accountants licensed to practice in Florida to perform annual financial statement audits and compliance audits of federal financial assistance (Single Audit) for fiscal years when the State of Florida Auditor General does not conduct the audit. The scope of services includes auditing the District's basic financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS) and Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS), reviewing internal controls and information technology systems, providing management letters with findings and recommendations, and conducting annual audits of purchasing card, travel card, and payroll expenditures for School Board Members' offices and direct reports. Deliverables include eight bound copies of annual audit reports to be delivered no later than the week prior to Thanksgiving Week, the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and management letter due no later than five business days prior to Thanksgiving Day, and Single Audit reports with final submission by the end of the second week in January. Proposers must demonstrate a minimum of five years of certified public accounting experience, provide three client references from organizations comparable in complexity and size to M-DCPS, submit evidence of active Florida business registration, maintain membership in good standing with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, provide a current external quality control peer review, and submit a list of recent financial statement audits of governmental entities with annual budgets of $750 million or more. Proposals will be evaluated on proposed approach and methodology (35 points), experience and qualifications including corporate past performance and key personnel (30 points), overall cost (25 points), and certified business enterprise participation (10 points). Key dates include a pre-proposal conference on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. via Google Meet, written questions deadline at 5:00 p.m. on the same date, proposal submission deadline at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, March 5, 2026, via Euna OpenBids, and virtual proposal opening at 2:00 p.m. on March 5, 2026, via Google Meet.

The RFP includes a certified business enterprise participation component in the evaluation criteria (10 points), indicating consideration for disadvantaged or small business enterprises, though no specific set-aside percentages or restrictions limiting bidder eligibility are noted. The contract term spans three years with two optional one-year renewal periods, plus an additional 90-day extension at the District's discretion, with an anticipated Board approval date in May 2026 and projected contract start date of May/June 2026. The initial audit period covers the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, with first-year field work commencing before June 30, 2026. All prices are expected to remain firm for the entire contract and renewal periods, though price adjustments may be requested based on documented market changes subject to District approval. The RFP does not identify an incumbent vendor or current contractor, nor does it specify a budget range or award value in the procurement documents provided. The District reserves the right to terminate the contract for convenience with 30 days' notice or for cause with 15 days' notice to cure, or immediately if safety or fiscal integrity is compromised.