Approve agreement with Lance, Soll, & Lunghard, LLP Certified Public Accountants for independent countywide auditing services for fiscal years 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26, with the option to extend the agreement for two additional fiscal years. (General fund impact $143,580) (Haynes)

Approve and authorize the Chair and Chief Financial Officer to sign agreement with Lance, Soll, & Lunghard, LLP Certified Public Accountants for independent countywide auditing services for fiscal years 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26, with the option to extend the agreement for two additional fiscal years.

The contract with Lance, Soll, and Lunghard, LLP (LSL), the County's current independent auditor, expires on June 30, 2024. In anticipation of the contract expiration, the Department of Financial Services released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for independent audit services in January 2024. Two proposals were received by the RFP deadline. 

An RFP evaluation panel was formed which included staff from the Internal Audit division, the Health & Human Services Agency, and a member of the County's Financial Oversight Committee. Neither the Chief Financial Officer nor the Deputy Chief Financial Officer participated in the evaluation. The panel scored the technical merits of each proposal in a variety of categories, including qualifications and experience, understanding and approach to the project, ability to meet County timelines, and customer references. Once evaluations were completed, County Procurement staff consolidated the technical scores and completed the cost scoring. Both firms were then invited back for interviews in order to allow the panel to ask additional questions. 

As a result of the competitive solicitation process, LSL was determined to be the best qualified bidder.  The scorecard reflecting the evaluation panel's score is included as Attachment A. Staff recommend the Board approve the contract with LSL included as Attachment B. 

The Financial Oversight Committee (FOC) charter provides that in order to carry out financial and audit oversight, Committee members may "participate in the selection of the independent audit firm which will conduct the annual financial audit and Single Audit, in accordance with state laws and auditing standards." To fulfill this role, a member of the FOC participated on the RFP evaluation panel. In addition, at the February 22, 2024 meeting of the FOC staff provided an overview of the competitive solicitation process and the criteria by which proposals would be scored. 

Request for Proposals (RFP) Service Requested: Independent Audit Services

Evaluation Criteria Included in RFP

Vendor Performance

Satisfactory Performance Example:
The Department of Financial Services confirms that Lance, Soll, & Lunghard, LLP (LSL) has performed satisfactorily on the current agreement.