Active SLED Opportunity · FLORIDA · CITY OF SARASOTA
AI Summary
The City of Sarasota seeks proposals from certified public accountants to audit the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program's financial statements for FY2026 and subsequent years, including compliance with federal grant requirements. Audits must follow U.S. and Florida standards. Proposals are due August 6, 2026.
The City of Sarasota is acting as the Purchasing Agent for the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, hereafter referred to as “the Program”, a special district of the State of Florida, is requesting proposals from qualified firms of certified public accountants to audit its financial statements for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, the auditing of its financial statements for each of the two subsequent fiscal years, and two optional one-year renewals. These audits are to be performed in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America and the standards applicable to financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards, issued by the Comptroller General of the United States; the audit requirements of Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance); and Chapter 10.550, Rules of the Auditor General for the State of Florida.
There is no expressed or implied obligation for the Program to reimburse responding firms for any expenses incurred in preparing proposals in response to this request.
Proposals submitted will be evaluated by an Auditor Selection Committee established in accordance with Section 218.391, Florida Statutes.
During the evaluation process, the Auditor Selection Committee and the Program reserve the right, where it may serve the Program's best interest, to request additional information or clarifications from proposers, or to allow corrections of errors or omissions. At the discretion of the Program or the Auditor Selection Committee, firms submitting proposals may be requested to make oral presentations as part of the evaluation process.
The Program was established on July 23, 2004 by an Interlocal Agreement between the City of Sarasota, the City of Bradenton, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Sarasota County, Manatee County, the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Town of Longboat Key. The Program is part of a national network of twenty-eight estuary programs established under the Federal Clean Water Act and administered nationally by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The Program was created and operates pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 163.01, Florida Statutes, and is an independent special district as prescribed in Chapter 189, Florida Statutes. The purpose of the Program is to improve and protect Sarasota Bay, by improving water quality, increasing habitat and enhancing the natural resources of the area for use and enjoyment by the public. The Program is governed by an appointed policy board, which is comprised of the member entities contained in the Interlocal agreement.
The Program has 6 employees with a total payroll of $490,000 in FY26.
The Program receives member contributions from the City of Sarasota, the City of Bradenton, Sarasota County, Manatee County, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, and the Town of Longboat Key and is a recipient of the Environmental Protection Agency’s CWA Section 320 National Estuary Program Grant (ALN 66.456).
The Program will on occasion apply for and be awarded other grants, including additional federal grants that may necessitate a single audit.
More detailed information on the Program and its finances can be found on the SBEP website at: https://sarasotabay.org/about-sbep/financial-records/
Please note that the deadline for questions and due date have been revised.
Please use the See What Changed link to view all the changes made by this addendum.
Includes company qualifications, information, introduction and executive summary.
Personnel qualifications.
Services (past projects) and references that support your comments on the products or services you provide. Past customers related experience with your company.
Details on how you plan to provide your Audit Approach based on the specifications or scope of work provided in this solicitation or proposal request.
Cost of product or services as calculated using formula.
The Proposer with the lowest Price Proposal will be awarded the maximum points as listed below. All other proposals will be scored according to the following formula:
(Lowest Price Proposal / Proposer’s Price Proposal) x Maximum points
For example, the maximum score available for price is 20. If the lowest proposed Price Proposal is $150,000.00, that Proposer will receive the full 20 points. Another Proposer with a Price Proposal of $160,000.00 will receive points calculated as follows:
$ 150,000.00 / $160,000.00 = .9375
.9375 x 20 = 18.75 Points Awarded
Note: Active registration is not required to submit a bid but is a mandatory condition for contract award.
Upload your complete proposal here including price.
Sections 112.313(3) and 112.313(7), Florida Statutes, prohibit certain business relationships on the part of public officers and employees, their spouses, and their children. See Part III, Chapter 112, Florida Statutes and/or the brochure entitled "A Guide to the Sunshine Amendment and Code of Ethics for Public Officers, Candidates and Employees" for more details on these prohibitions. However, Section 112.313(12), Florida Statutes (1983), provides certain limited exemptions to the above-referenced prohibitions, including one where the business is awarded under a system of sealed, competitive bidding; the public official has exerted no influence on bid negotiations or specifications; and where disclosure is made, prior to or at the time of the submission of the bid, of the official's or his spouse's or child's interest and the nature of the intended business. The Commission on Ethics has promulgated this form for such disclosure, if and when applicable to a public officer or employee.
Does any officer or employee of the City of Sarasota, or their spouse or child, hold an interest in this business entity or the proceeds of this bid as defined by Florida Statute 112.313?
Include your full name and position
Offeror shall execute an affidavit, in the form provided by the City, to the effect that they have not colluded with any other person, firm or corporation regarding any response submitted.
Either electronic or hard copy upload is acceptable. Using the electronic Notary Live submission process will cost approximately $25 paid to Notary Live for the service. You are not required to use this service and if you choose not to, simply select NO on this question to upload your notarized form.
Please download the below documents, complete and have notarized. An online notarization option will be provided for you when responding.
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.
Offeror has not been convicted of a public entity crime per Section 287.133, Florida Statutes or environmental law in the past five years.
Either electronic or hard copy upload is acceptable. Using the electronic Notary Live submission process will cost approximately $25 paid to Notary Live for the service. You are not required to use this service and if you choose not to, simply select NO on this question to upload your notarized form.
Please download the below documents, complete and have notarized. An online notarization option will be provided for you when responding.
Please download the below documents, complete, notarize, and upload.
Preference shall be given to businesses with drug-free workplace programs. Pursuant to Section 287.087, Florida Statutes, whenever two or more competitive solicitations that are equal with respect to price, quality, and service are received by the State or by any political subdivision for the procurement of commodities or contractual services, a response received from a business that certifies that it has implemented a drug-free workplace program shall be given preference in the award process. Established procedures for processing tie responses will be followed if none of the tied providers has a drug free workplace program. In order to have a drug-free workplace program, a business shall:
I certify that this firm complies fully with the above requirements.
Section 287.135, Florida Statutes prohibits a company from bidding on, submitting a proposal for, or entering into or renewing a contract for goods or services of any amount if, at the time of contracting or renewal, the company is on the Scrutinized Companies that Boycott Israel List, created pursuant to Section 215.4725, Florida Statutes, or is engaged in a boycott of Israel. Section 287.135, Florida Statutes, also prohibits a company from bidding on, submitting a proposal for, or entering into or renewing a contract for goods or services of $1,000,000 or more, that are on either the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan List or the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector Lists which were created pursuant to s. 215.473, Florida Statutes.
Certification:
As the person authorized to sign on behalf of Respondent, I hereby certify that the company submitting this proposal is not listed on either the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan List or the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List, or the Scrutinized Companies that Boycott Israel List. I further certify that the company is not engaged in a boycott of Israel. I understand that pursuant to section 287.135, Florida Statutes, the submission of a false certification may subject company to civil penalties, attorney’s fees, and/or costs.
Offeror shall provide a list of any subcontractors they intend to utilize.
Complete and submit the Subcontractors List below:
SUBCONTRACTORS LIST
a. Subcontractor/Subconsultant Name
b. Area Of Work
c. Point Of Contact Or Project Supervisor
d. Phone Number and
e. Email Qualified MBE Yes/No
f. Amount or Percentage of Total Bid
Please Provide at least FOUR References
Contact Person & Title:
Email Address
Phone No.
Company Name:
Mailing Address:
Type of commercial work contracted:
Offeror, its principal(s), officers, agents, or proposed subcontractor(s) shall not have any conflicts of interest as it relates to this solicitation.
Attach a statement on company letterhead that discloses any conflict, or potential for conflict of interests, to include any City officer, employee, or attorney or their immediate family (parents, spouse, children) who is also an owner with more than 10 percent ownership interest in Offeror’s business, OR if no conflict of interest exists, provide a statement to that effect.
** The City of Sarasota collects your social
security number for tax reporting purposes.
In the event of an emergency, Respondent will provide priority service for the City of Sarasota.
CONTINUITY OF OPERATION DURING EMERGENCY? Select YES or NO
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.
Either electronic or hard copy upload is acceptable. Using the electronic Notary Live submission process will cost approximately $25 paid to Notary Live for the service. You are not required to use this service and if you choose not to, simply select NO on this question to upload your notarized form.
Please download the below documents, complete and have notarized. An online notarization option will be provided for you when responding.
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.
Please download the below documents, complete and have notarized. An online notarization option will be provided for you when responding.
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.
Respondent acknowledges and warrants that their products, programs and services are currently in compliance and during the Term of this Agreement shall remain in compliance with all applicable Federal disabilities laws and regulations, including without limitation the accessibility requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 794d), and its implementing regulations set forth at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1194. Respondent agrees to promptly respond to, resolve and remediate any complaint regarding accessibility of its products, programs or services in a timely manner and provide an updated version to the CITY at no cost. The CITY reserves the right to request, from the Respondent, a timeline by which accessibility standards will be incorporated into the programs, products or services. The Respondent shall provide such a timeline within a reason time. The Respondent further agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the CITY from any claims arising out of its failure to comply with the requirements of this section. Failure to comply with these requirements shall constitute a material breach of this solicitation and any subsequent agreements and shall be grounds for termination of any agreement by the CITY.
The Respondent, hereby declares that no person or other persons other than the undersigned are interested in this Solicitation as Principal, and that this Solicitation is made without collusion with others; and that we have carefully read and examined the specifications, and with full knowledge of all conditions under which the services herein is contemplated must be furnished, hereby propose and agree to furnish this service according to the requirements set out in the specifications for said service for the prices as listed on the previous pages.
My audit firm is independent.
Upload copy of license.
Upload proof of audit firm's professional personnel's continuing professional education within the past two years.
Upload external quality control review report here.
Please use this area to upload any additional documents that may be required by solicitation.
If you select Admin Scoring, no further action is required
If you select Evaluation Committee, please select Evaluation Commitee in the Evaluation Criteria Section
Q (Prior Fees): What were the fees paid for all services during the most recent contract period?
A: Total cost for FY25 audit was $23,700.
Q (Timeline): What is the preferred timeline for field work, reporting and completion, and board presentations?
A: Audit work can begin late October once the books are closed for the year and ideally should complete in January, prior to our February Board meetings.
Q (Pricing Table): Should the pricing table (quantity hours x cost) be completed solely for the financial statement audit? I see in the maximum price tables for 2026, 2027 and 2028 have that the single audit should be priced separately.
A: We need to know prices for the three years for financial statement audit alone AND a separate price for single audits, because they may or may not be required year to year.
Q (Field work): Is there a preference on the field work portion of the audit to be completed remotely versus in person? If in person, approximately how many days are the prior team members on-site?
A: Typically the auditor does a kick off meeting, 3 or 4 days of onsite work, and the rest of the work can be completed remotely. Then usually one final onsite meeting with the Executive Director to report results and/or attendance at the Policy Board meeting.
SLED stands for State, Local, and Education. These are solicitations issued by state governments, counties, cities, school districts, utilities, and higher education institutions — as opposed to federal agencies.
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