Utah Admin. Code R123-5-4 - Procurement of Accounting Services

1. Unless otherwise specified by the Office, the decision to retain an entity's auditor rests with the governing body of the entity. However, the auditor providing the accounting services must meet the peer review and continuing education requirements of Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States. In addition, the auditor must satisfy the periodic workpaper review performed by the Office. The entity must competitively procure accounting services through the following matter at least every five years:

a. The entity shall distribute a "request for proposal" to all auditors who meet the qualification criteria set by the procuring organization and who are interested in submitting a proposal for the accounting services. As a minimum, the request for proposal shall contain the following:

(i) the name and address of the entity requesting the accounting services and its designated contact person,

(ii) the entity for which the accounting services are to be performed, the scope of services to be provided, and specific reports, etc. to be delivered,

(iii) the period(s) pertaining to the accounting services ,

(iv) the format in which the proposals should be prepared,

(v) the date and time proposals are due,

(vi) the criteria to be used in evaluating the proposal,

(vii) the relative weight to be assigned to each criteria in R123-5-4(a)(vi), and

(viii) The overall weight of the cost criteria in relation to other evaluation criteria.

b. The entity must consider proposals from any interested and qualified auditor in the state, which may include the auditor currently performing the entity's accounting services. Notice shall be given to potential auditors through invitation and by notice as described in Section 63G-6a-112(2). To promote competition, it is recommended that at least three auditors participate in proposing for t he accounting services. If the entity fails to receive three qualified proposals, prior to awarding the contract the entity shall notify the Office, and the entity shall provide 5 business days for the submission of additional proposals. The Office may direct the entity to revise and reissue its request for proposal whenever the Office deems the procurement process was not competitive.

c. The entity may reject any and all competitive proposals but must document the justification for each rejection. The entity may reissue its request for proposal at any time prior to the awarding of a contract for accounting services.

d. Management of the entity may not participate in the evaluation of proposals for accounting services.

Notes

Utah Admin. Code R123-5-4

Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2017-22, effective 11/1/2017 Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2019-23, effective 11/7/2019