THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450

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1 THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ Request for Proposals For Professional Services Municipal Auditor For the Years 2015 to 2017 PROPOSAL OPENING Date: Thursday, January 28, 2015 Time: 10:00 A.M. Place: Village Hall Level Three Conference Room 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS The Village of Ridgewood is seeking proposals for Professional Municipal Auditing & Accounting Services by a Registered Municipal Accountant (RMA), Licensed by the State of New Jersey for the calendar years 2015,2016 and 2017.

2 INTRODUCTION The Village of Ridgewood, New Jersey is seeking proposals under the fair and open process for accounting & auditing services for the calendar years 2015, 2016 and The current auditor has been appointed by the Council on an annual basis since The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to solicit proposals from qualified accounting /auditing firms, or partnerships to prepare the requested for annual accounting and auditing services. The respondents to the proposal are also requested to complete the unit price sheet for various accounting and auditing services that the work may entail. A. VILLAGE INFORMATION The Village of Ridgewood is responsible for issuing this RFP. Respondents requiring information regarding this project shall direct all questions to: Stephen P. Sanzari, Deputy Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer Village of Ridgewood 131 North Maple Avenue Ridgewood, New Jersey (201) , Extension 224 B. PRE-SUBMISSION CONFERENCE A non-mandatory pre-submission conference will be held in the courtroom, Level 4, Village Hall, 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey on Wednesday, January 21, 2015 at 10:00 AM. Questions regarding this RFP and the scope of the requested for work will be discussed at this conference. C. BACKGROUND The Village of Ridgewood s 2014 operating budget is $46.2 million dollars, Water Utility $12.4 million dollars and Parking Utility of $994 thousand dollars. Gross debt for all funds $81 million. The Village s bond rating of AAA was affirmed on August 2014 by Standard & Poor s with a stable outlook reflecting the Villages stable property tax base and the expectation that the Village s strength in debt management and financial performance will continue. 2

3 The Village is a predominately residential suburban community with most residences being owner occupied single family dwellings. There is virtually no manufacturing or other industry and sparse parcels of undeveloped land. The Village has, however, a substantial central business district and many professional and commercial offices, unique boutiques, popular retail stores, and upscale family eateries. Ridgewood was incorporated as a Village in 1894 from that portion of the County of Bergen previously known as the Township of Ridgewood. The Village form of government is Council-Manager, Plan B under the Falkner Act. Five members, elected at large on a non-partisan basis for a four year overlapping terms make up the Village Council. The Village Council appoints Village Manager to administer its directives and conduct municipal affairs. This form of government provides a stable,non-partisan government with professional administration for all municipal services D. PROPOSED SCOPE OF WORK The services requested include the following:! Statutory audit of all funds.! Preparation of State Budget Document.! Review of Annual Debt Statement.! Preparation, or review of Annual Financial Statement.! Preparation of the financial section of the Annual Report to the Board of Public Utilities for the Water Utility.! Annual Audit of the Ridgewood Free Public Library.! Cost and Forensic accounting services! Hourly rates for additional services broken down by levels of expertise of the employee performing said services Kindly include copies of your latest quality control review opinion, affirmative action compliance, Certificate of Employee Information Report, and Business Registration Certificate. If applicable, conduct audit conformity with the provisions of the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 and the U.S. Office of Management and Budget Circular A- 133, Audits of State and Local Governments, and the State Treasury Circular letter OMB Single Audit Policy for Recipients of Federal Grants, State Grants and State Aid. Additionally, the Village requests each firm present a list of Public Sector clients, contact person and phone number, in which they have been engaged to perform similar work. Include a brief resume of the staff members of your firm who will be assigned to perform the Village s audit. It is required that the proposer be able to send and receive documents electronically and provide the Village with the annual report in an electronic format as well as hard-copy. The criteria for award will be based on price, as well as qualifications of the auditing principals and their support staff, responsiveness and experience. Recommendations will be brought to the Village Council at their February, 2015 workshop meeting. 3

4 E. PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS Respondents who wish to be considered for selection as the municipal auditor for these services must submit a complete response summary sheet to this RFP. Proposals shall become the property of the Village of Ridgewood. All proposals shall be specifically written for this project and shall include: 1.) The firm s clear, concise understanding and approach to the scope of work and ability to adhere to the required schedule. 2.) Qualifications of the firm to perform this project based upon similar past work experience. Past work shall be documented in the respondent s RFP. 3.) Key personnel that will be assigned to this project and their qualifications. 4.) Completed and signed Cost Proposal Form as provided with this RFP. 5.) Satisfactory evidence of Professional Liability Insurance, and other insurances as may be required by the Village. 6.) Copy of the respondent s New Jersey Business Registration Certificate. 7.) A hourly rate schedule in accordance with the requested services. ONE (1) ORIGINAL AND NINE (5) COPIES OF EACH RESPONDENT S PROPOSAL SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, LEVEL 3, VILLAGE HALL, ON OR BEFORE: 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, January 28, F. RIGHT TO REJECT The Village reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to award this project in whole or part; to waive any informalities, if in its sole discretion is in the best interest of the Village. G. ADDENDA The Village reserves the right to amend, add or delete any of the requirements of the RFP. If it becomes necessary, a written addendum will be issued to all firms who were registered at the pre-submission conference. Firms shall acknowledge receipt of such addenda, if issued, in their proposals. 4

5 H. COSTS The Village recognizes that labor efforts and out of pocket expenses will be expended by accounting firms to provide a response to the RFP. The Village shall assume no responsibility or liability in this regard for any costs incurred by a respondent who submits a proposal or a firm who performs some work to submit an RFP and then abandons its effort and does not submit a proposal or is not the selected successful respondent. I. PROPOSAL EVALUATION.. The Village will evaluate all proposals submitted within the guidelines established herein. Evaluation criteria will include: Experience and reputation in the field; Number of years practicing in the field; Availability to accommodate any required meetings of the Village; Available personnel, facilities, and other resources; Other factors determined by the governing body to be in the best interests of the Village of Ridgewood. J. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION REQUIREMENTS During the performance of the contract, the professional consultant agrees to comply with the affirmative action requirements as required by Federal and State laws. 5

6 Village of Ridgewood Proposal for Accounting and Auditing Services 2015, 2016, 2017 FIRM: Contact: Address: Phone: This page must be completed and submitted with your proposal. Please return no later than January 28,2015 to Stephen P. Sanzari, Deputy CFO/Treasurer Village of Ridgewood 131 North Maple Avenue Ridgewood, NJ Fax: Address: 1 Statutory Annual Audit inclusive of all associated State required reports Current, Capital, Other Trust Water Utility Parking Utility Public Assistance Library Subtotal 2 Verification Forms Tax Utility 3 Review of Annual Debt Statement, Annual Financial Statement, and State Budget Document 4 Preparation of State Budget & Annual Financial Documents 5 Review of Disclosure Information for Official Statement 6 Annual Board of Public Utility Report Grand Total Total Estimated Hours 7 Hourly Rates: Partners Managers Seniors Staff Accountants Other Personnel 6

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