Title
a. Approve and authorize the Contracts/Purchasing Officer or designee to execute a non-standard agreement (“Agreement”) with Crowe LLP, pre-qualified pursuant to Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) #10866, to perform financial audits, performance audits and/or advisory consulting services on an as-needed basis with a term of date of execution by the County, with County signing last, through March 31, 2028, with no initial monetary liability assigned to the Agreement.
b. Accept non-standard risk provisions in the Agreement, as recommended by the Auditor-Controller’s Office (“ACO”).
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Contracts/Purchasing Officer or designee to execute a non-standard agreement (“Agreement”) with Crowe LLP, pre-qualified pursuant to Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) #10866 to perform financial audits, performance audits and/or advisory consulting services on an as-needed basis with a term of date of execution by the County, with County signing last, through March 31, 2028, with no initial monetary liability assigned to the Agreement.
b. Accept non-standard risk provisions in the Agreement, as recommended by the Auditor-Controller’s Office (“ACO”).
SUMMARY:
On October 3, 2022, through the RFQ #10866, the ACO solicited Statements of Qualifications from qualified consultants to establish separate pre-qualified contractor pools for the following as-needed services: 1) Financial Audits, 2) Performance/Operational Audits, and 3) Consulting/Advisory Services.
A total of eleven firms were determined to be qualified. The Contracts & Purchasing Officer signed standard agreements with eight pre-qualified firms. The other three firms requested certain modifications to the standard agreement terms. Two non-standard agreements were subsequently approved by the Board on April 25, 2023, with one remaining Agreement to be approved as the non-standard terms were still being reviewed and negotiated by the ACO and County Counsel teams.
Since the previous agreements’ execution, the Audit & Consulting Pool was used twice on behalf of the Water Resources Agency and the Office of the District Attorney. With a future potential to use this pool again, the ACO recommends the addition of Crowe LLP to the Audit & Consulting Pool. Adding Crowe LLP will enhance the depth and expertise of the approved firms in the Audit & Consulting Pool.
DISCUSSION:
Like the current agreements in the Audit & Consulting Pool, this Agreement with Crowe LLP for as-needed services does not provide for any monetary liability. No guarantee of work is given or implied. When an audit or consulting service project is needed by the County, the ACO will prepare a Task Order Solicitation and disseminate to the pool for selection.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The ACO has reviewed and approved as to financial terms of the non-standard Agreement. County Counsel has reviewed and approved as to form.
FINANCING:
No funding is necessary for the approval of this Agreement.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
These actions will help ensure the timely provision of necessary services to all County Departments.
Mark a check to the related board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
___ Economic Development
_X_ Administration
___ Health & Human Services
___ Infrastructure
___ Public Safety
Prepared by: James Lam, Chief Deputy Auditor-Controller, Internal Audit, 755-5493
Approved by: Rupa Shah, CPA, Auditor-Controller, 755-5084
Appendix 1:
1. List of Agreements and Firms Selected
Attachments:
1. Agreement with Addendum and Exhibit - Crowe LLP