SW Naito Pkwy Suite Portland OR Request for Qualifications

							811 SW Naito Pkwy, Suite 410,Portland, OR 97204

Request for Qualifications for Audit Services
December 15, 2008 The Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership is accepting proposals from CPA firms to provide audit services for our organization. We invite your firm to submit a proposal to us by January 31, 2009 for consideration. A description of our organization, the services needed, and other pertinent information follows: Background of the Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership The Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership is one of 28 programs in the National Estuary Program. The Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership works to protect and restore the nationally significant lower Columbia River estuary with on-the-ground improvements and education and information programs. The Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership is a 501(c) (3) organization with a 21 member Board of Directors. Annual revenues are approximately $3 million per year, and the organization employs 16-20 people in one location. The organization has a June 30 fiscal year end, with an internal requirement to present an audited financial statement to the Board of Directors by October 15 of each year. Services to Be Performed Your proposal is expected to cover the following services: 1. Annual audit to be completed in compliance with the above filing requirement and meetings with our board of directors, as necessary. 2. A-133 Audit 3. 990 and CT-12 tax filings for the organization. 4. Intermittent advice as permitted by GAAP and regulations for client – auditor communication. Other Information The Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership uses QuickBooks as our accounting system. Selected firm must demonstrated knowledge, expertise and experience conducting audits with organizations using QuickBooks. Your Response to This Request for Qualifications In responding to this request, we request the following information: 1. Detail your firm’s experience in providing auditing and tax services to companies in the not-for-profit sector, as well as organizations of a comparable size to The Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership. 2. Provide details on experience providing services to related industry organizations, associations or groups. 3. Describe how your firm will approach the audit of the organization, including your firm’s use of technology in the audit. Discuss the communication process used by your firm to discuss issues with the management and Board of Directors. 4. Set forth your fee proposal for the 2008-09 audit with whatever guarantees can be given regarding increases in future years. 5. Provide the names and contact information for at least four similarly sized clients for reference purposes. 6. Describe how and why your firm is different from other firms being considered, and why our selection of your firm as our independent accountants is the best decision we could make. Evaluation of Submittals The Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership’s Executive Director and Finance Manager will review proposals and will interview selected firms with a goal of having an auditor selected by March 31, 2009. Please submit your response to this request by January 31, 2009. Requests for additional information should be directed to Debrah Marriott, Executive Director at marriott@lcrep.org or Kenny Weiner, Finance Manager, at weiner@lcrep.org. Information provided to inquiries made of this request will be made available to all CPA firms expressing interest in responding to this RFQ.