Internal Audit Services

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for internal audit services to evaluate the Agency's Job Order Contracting (JOC) and Minor Repair Programs. The procurement seeks qualified Certified Public Accounting (CPA) firms or Professional Services firms to conduct a comprehensive audit ensuring compliance with Texas Government Code Chapters 2253, 2258, and 2269, and all state purchasing and contracting regulations. Key audit objectives include verifying that the JOC program was designed and implemented in accordance with applicable laws, confirming the existence and operational compliance of written Standard Operating Procedures, and evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of the JOC program in completing minor repair projects on time and within budget through comparative cost and timing analysis. Deliverables include workpapers, risk assessments, fieldwork programs, and final audit reports with management responses. Required qualifications include minimum experience of one year for staff auditors, three years for senior staff auditors, and CPA or Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) designations for workpaper reviewers, along with demonstrated expertise in Texas state procurement and contract management, construction cost estimation, and governmental entity audits. Evaluation criteria comprise statement of qualifications (25 points), performance on past projects and references (25 points), experience with internal audit services to governmental entities (35 points), key staffing profile (35 points), technical proposal (30 points), and potential oral presentations (25 points), totaling 175 possible points. Critical deadlines include questions due by April 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM Central Time and qualifications responses due by April 23, 2026 at 2:00 PM Central Time, with services commencing within thirty days of the Notice to Proceed. The initial contract term runs through September 30, 2026, with a renewal option for up to one additional one-year period subject to mutual written agreement and State Auditor's Office approval, with planning phase completion required within six weeks of contract execution, fieldwork exit conference within six weeks thereafter, and final reporting within four weeks of the exit conference.

The RFQ does not specify set-aside designations or restrictions limiting eligible respondents to particular enterprise categories or disadvantaged business classifications. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are referenced in the procurement documentation, nor are specific existing infrastructure or technology integration requirements identified. Insurance requirements mandate Commercial General Liability coverage with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, with the State of Texas named as additional insured. The contract structure specifies compensation as a single lump-sum payment upon successful project completion, with the awarded firm required to submit a Contract Fee Schedule within three business days of notification, subject to TPWD's approval as fair and reasonable. The contract prohibits billing for administrative staff, law clerks, or interns, which may impact cost proposals. While no specific budget range is provided in the documentation, the lump-sum payment structure and project scope suggest a moderate-value professional services engagement typical of governmental internal audit assignments.