RFP 2025-26-08 Internal Audit Services

Eastern Oregon University is seeking qualified firms through this Request for Proposals (RFP 2025-26-08) to provide comprehensive independent internal audit services. The procurement encompasses enterprise-wide risk assessment, development of risk-based annual internal audit plans covering up to three audits per fiscal year, management of the university's Ethics Line to address fraud, waste, and abuse reports, and advisory services aligned with International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing, Government Auditing Standards, and AICPA professional standards. Required qualifications include demonstrated experience with higher education clients, proficiency with Ellucian Banner enterprise systems, and expertise in fraud investigation. Deliverables must include hourly rates by staff classification, estimated annual hours, total cost projections, engagement leadership resumes, a narrative describing the proposed audit approach, a draft engagement letter, a detailed work plan, and the firm's audit philosophy and methodology. Proposals will be evaluated on a 100-point scale comprising background information (15 points), scope of work (30 points), cost summary (25 points), quality of proposal (15 points), and references (15 points). The RFP was issued on February 27, 2026, with clarifying questions due by March 6, 2026, and complete proposals required electronically by 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time on March 20, 2026. The initial contract term is three years with options for two additional one-year extensions, commencing July 1, 2026, with Board of Trustees approval anticipated for May 20-21, 2026.

The RFP does not specify set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types. The incumbent vendor, Kernutt Stokes, has held the contract for the past five years with an agreement concluding June 30, 2026. Respondents must integrate with Ellucian Banner, which currently manages finance, student, financial aid, and human resources modules, and coordinate with the university's external auditor, CLA, which provides financial statement and Single Audit services. The university maintains two internally operated data centers and manages an ethics hotline through NAVEX Global's EthicsPoint tool, generating five to ten reports annually. EOU expects to receive and expend federal grants exceeding $1,000,000 during the fiscal year and does not anticipate co-sourcing arrangements, requiring a single vendor for the full engagement with work performed primarily remotely except for on-site Board presentations. The university has not established a specific budget or predetermined hour allocation; pricing will be determined by vendor proposals based on normal costs for up to three annual audits.