Finance Audit Bid 2026

4700 Drexel Drive, Highland Park, Texas 75205
Telephone: (214) 521-4161
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
FOR
PROFESSIONAL AUDITING SERVICES
April 2026
Proposals Due: 3:00 p.m. CDT on Monday, April 27, 2026

TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION
A. General Information 1
B. Term of Engagement 2
C. Subcontracting 2
II. NATURE OF REQUIRED SERVICES
A. Scope of Work to be Performed 2
B. Auditing Standards to be Followed 3
C. Reports to be Issued 3
D. Special Considerations 4
E. Working Paper Retention and Access to Working Papers 4
IV. TIME REQUIREMENTS
A. Proposal Calendar 4
B. Notification and Contract Dates 5
C. Audit Schedule 5
V. ASSISTANCE TO BE PROVIDED TO THE AUDITOR AND REPORT PREPARATION
A. Finance Department and Clerical Assistance 5
B. Statements and Schedules to be Prepared by the Staff of the Town 5
C. Work Area, Telephone, Photocopying, Scanning, and WIFI 5
VI. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS
A. General Requirements 5
B. Submission of Proposals 5
C. Technical Proposal 6
D. Specific Audit Approach 7
E. Identification of Anticipated Potential Audit Problems 7
F. Report Format 7
G. Dollar Cost Proposal 7
H. Rates for Additional Professional Services 7
I. Manner of Payment 8
J. Status of Auditor 8
K. Warranties 8
VII. EVALUATION PROCEDURES
A. Review of Proposals 8
B. Evaluation Criteria 9
C. Oral Presentations 10
D. Final Selection 10
E. Right to Reject Proposals 10
APPENDICES
A. Sample Audit Schedule 11
B. Cost of Proposal Form 13
C. Proposers Warranties 14
D. Town Insurance Requirements 15

TOWN OF HIGHLAND PARK
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
I. INTRODUCTION
A. General Information
The Town of Highland Park, Texas, ("Town") is a premier residential community located
approximately three miles north of downtown Dallas. The Town operates as a full-service
municipality, providing a comprehensive range of services including public safety, public
works, community development, parks and recreation, a pool, library services and
administrative functions.
The Town is requesting proposals from qualified Proposers of certified public accountants,
hereafter "Proposer" or "Auditor" to audit its financial statements for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2026, with the option of auditing its financial statements for each of the four (4)
subsequent fiscal years. The initial term of the resulting agreement shall be for three (3)
consecutive fiscal years (2026, 2027, 2028) from the effective date. The agreement may be
renewed for two (2) additional fiscal years 2029 and 2030, provided both parties agree in
writing. The Town Council reserves the right to approve each annual audit.
The audits are to be performed, as applicable, in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards, the standards set forth for financial audits in the General Accounting Office's (GAO)
Government Auditing Standards, latest revision, and as applicable, the provisions of the federal
Single Audit Act of 1984 (as amended) and U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Circular A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations.
There is no expressed or implied obligation for the Town to reimburse responding Proposers
for any expenses incurred in preparing proposals in response to this request.
Proposals must be submitted electronically in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format. All submissions
shall be directed to: bids@hptx.org. All submitted proposals are valid for 90 days from the due
date and time.
Please include "Proposal for Auditing Services" in the subject line of your email submission.
Proposals received after the stated deadline will not be considered. The Town reserves the right
to reject any or all proposals submitted.
During the evaluation process, the Finance & Audit Advisory Committee and the Town reserve
the right, where it may serve the Town's best interest, to request additional information or
clarifications from proposers, or to allow corrections of errors or omissions. At the discretion
of the Town or the Finance & Audit Advisory Committee, Proposers submitting proposals may
be requested to make oral presentations as part of the evaluation process.
The Town reserves the right to retain all proposals submitted and to use any ideas in a proposal
regardless of whether that proposal is selected. Proposer may designate any information as
proprietary and confidential; however, such confidentiality will be recognized only to the extent
permitted by applicable law. Submission of a proposal indicates acceptance by the Proposer of
the conditions contained in this request for proposals, unless clearly and specifically noted in
the proposal submitted and confirmed in the contract between the Town and the Proposer
selected.
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It is anticipated that the selection of a Proposer will be completed on or before June 24, 2026.
Following the notification of the selected Proposer it is expected a contract will be executed
between both parties on or before July 22, 2026.
B. Term of Engagement
The initial term of the resulting agreement shall be for three (3) consecutive fiscal years (2026,
2027, 2028) from the effective date. The agreement may be renewed for two (2) additional
fiscal years 2029 and 2030, provided both parties agree in writing.
The contract is subject to the annual review and recommendation of the Finance & Audit
Advisory Committee, the satisfactory negotiation of terms (including a price acceptable to both
the Town and the selected Proposer), the concurrence of the Town Council and the annual
availability of an appropriation. The Town reserves the right to review the Proposer's
performance at the end of each twelve (12) month period and cancel all or part of the agreement
or continue the agreement through the next period. The Town will require a Letter of
Engagement executed by the Proposer on or before July 1st each year.
C. Subcontracting
Proposers submitting proposals may consider subcontracting portions of the engagement to
other audit firms. If this is to be done, that fact, and the name of the proposed subcontracting
firm, must be clearly identified in the proposal. Following the award of the audit contract, no
additional subcontracting will be allowed without the express prior written consent of the Town.
II. NATURE OF REQUIRED SERVICES
A. Scope of Work to be Performed
The Town desires the Auditor to express an opinion on the fair presentation of its governmental
activities, its business-type activities, each of its major funds, and its aggregated remaining fund
information in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
The Auditor is not required to audit the combining fund financial statements and supporting
schedules. However, the Auditor is to provide an "in-relation-to" report on the combining fund
financial statements and supporting schedules based on the auditing procedures applied during
the audit of the basic financial statements.
The Auditor is not required to audit the introductory and statistical sections of the report, but
those sections should be reviewed for consistency with the audited financial statements.
The Auditor shall also be responsible for performing certain limited procedures involving
required supplementary information required by the Governmental Accounting Standards
Board ("GASB") as mandated by generally accepted auditing standards.
The Auditor's assistance and consultation will be required in implementing new GASB
statements as soon as possible, even if prior to the required effective date.
The Auditor will prepare a draft of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for
management's review. The Auditor agrees to provide the issued financial statements, the
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Independent Auditor's Report, and the Report on Internal Controls in electronic (PDF) format
on or before the date specified in the preaudit schedule. Any extensions or alternate dates must
be agreed upon in writing.
The introductory and statistical sections of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report will be
prepared by the Auditors, with assistance from the Town staff. The Auditor will compile and
prepare all financial statements and schedules in the financial section. The notes to the financial
statements will be a joint effort between the Town and the Auditors and will be prepared by the
Auditor. Further, the Auditor will assist in the preparation of the Management Discussion and
Analysis section by providing a pre-populated template to the extent possible. All services
described in this paragraph shall be performed only to the extent they do not impair the
Auditor's independence under applicable auditing standards.
The Town's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the fiscal year ended September 30,
2025, plus the prior seven fiscal years is available on the Town's webpage located at:
https://hptx.org/330/Open-Government
B. Auditing Standards to be Followed
The audit shall be performed, as applicable, in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards as set for by the American Institute of Certified Public accountants (AICPA), U.S.
GAO Government Auditing Standards, latest revision, the provisions of the federal Single Audit
Act of 1984 (as amended) and U.S. OMB Circular A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments,
and Non-Profit Organizations. If a single audit is required, the work will be conducted in
accordance with generally accepted governmental auditing standards to meet all federal grant
audit requirements.
C. Reports to be issued
Following the completion of the audit of the fiscal year's financial statements, the Auditor shall
issue a report on the fair presentation of the financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles as well as a report on internal controls over financial reporting
and on compliance and other matters based on an audit of financial statements performed in
accordance with Government Auditing Standards.
The Auditor shall communicate in a letter to management any reportable conditions found
during the audit. A reportable condition shall be defined as a significant deficiency in the design
or operation of the internal control structure, which could adversely affect the organization's
ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial data consistent with the assertions of
management in the financial statements.
Irregularities and illegal acts. Auditors shall be required to make an immediate written report
of all irregularities and illegal acts of which they become aware to the following parties:
Mayor of the Town of Highland Park
4700 Drexel Drive
Highland Park, Texas 75205
(214) 559-9318
Committee Chairperson
Finance and Audit Advisory Committee
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4700 Drexel Drive
Highland Park, Texas 75205
(214) 521-4161
Reporting to the Finance and Audit Advisory Committee. Auditors shall assure themselves that
the Town's Finance and Audit Advisory Committee is informed of each of the following:
1. The Auditor's responsibility under generally accepted auditing standards and government
auditing standards
2. Significant accounting policies
3. Alternative accounting treatments
4. Management judgments and accounting estimates
5. Financial statement disclosures
6. Significant audit adjustments
7. Auditor's judgement about the quality of the Town's accounting principles
8. Other information in documents containing audited financial statements
9. Disagreements with management
10. Management consultation with other accountants
11. Major issues discussed with management prior to retention
12. Difficulties encountered in performing the audit
D. Special Considerations
The Town will send its comprehensive annual financial report to the Government Finance
Officers Association of the United States and Canada for review in their Certificate of
Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting program. It is anticipated that the Auditor
will be required to provide special assistance to the Town to meet the requirements of that
program.
E. Working Paper Retention and Access to Working Papers
All working papers and reports must be retained, at the Auditor's expense, for a minimum of
five (5) years, unless the Proposer is notified in writing by the Town of the need to extend the
retention period. The Auditor will be required to make working papers available, upon request,
to the Town or its designees.
In addition, the Proposer shall respond to the reasonable inquiries of successor Auditors and
allow successor Auditors to review working papers relating to matters of continuing accounting
significance.
IV. TIME REQUIREMENTS
A. Proposal Calendar
The following is a list of key dates up to and including the date proposals are due to be
submitted:
Request for proposal issued April 2, 2026
Due date for proposals (before 3:00 p.m. CDT) April 27, 2026
Interviews with Proposers selected as finalists, if necessary Week of May 18, 2026
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B. Notification and Contract Dates
Selected Proposer notified (on or before) June 24, 2026
Contract date (on or before) July 22, 2026
C. Audit Schedule
A proposed audit schedule for the Fiscal Year 2026-27 is included herein as Appendix A. A
similar time schedule will be developed for audits of future fiscal years if the Town exercises
its option for additional audits
V. ASSISTANCE TO BE PROVIDED TO THE AUDITOR AND REPORT
PREPARATION
A. Finance Department and Clerical Assistance
The finance department staff and responsible management personnel will be available during
the audit to assist the Proposer by providing information, documentation and explanations. The
preparation of confirmations will be the responsibility of Town.
B. Statements and Schedules to be prepared by the Staff of the Town
In your proposal, please include a sample listing and brief description of schedules and other
items that you will require to be prepared by Town staff.
C. Work Area, Telephones, Photocopying, Scanning, and WIFI
The Town will provide the Auditor with reasonable workspace, desks and chairs. The Auditor
will also be provided with access to a telephone line, photocopying facilities, scanning, and
WIFI.
VI. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS
A. General Requirements
Technical proposals, including proposed cost, must be submitted electronically in Adobe
Acrobat (PDF) format. All submissions shall be directed to: bids@hptx.org. Please include
"Proposal for Auditing Services" in the subject line of your email submission.
Inquiries regarding the RFP may be addressed to John Samford, Director of Finance, by phone
at 214-559-9360 or by e-mail at jsamford@hptx.org. Inquiries to any other person other than
the person so named in this RFP may result in elimination of the proposal from any further
consideration.
B. Submission of Proposals
Proposals should include the following:
Title Page showing the request for proposals subject; the Proposer's name; the name, address,
phone number and e-mail address of the contact person; and the date of the proposal.
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Table of Contents
Signed Transmittal Letter briefly stating the proposer's understanding of the work to be done,
the commitment to perform the work within the time period, a statement why the Proposer
believes itself to be best qualified to perform the engagement and a statement that the proposal
is a firm and irrevocable offer for ninety (90) days from the due date and time.
C. Technical Proposal
1. General Requirements
The purpose of the Technical Proposal is to demonstrate the qualifications, competence
and capacity of the Proposers seeking to undertake an independent audit of the Town of
Highland Park in conformity within the requirements of this request for proposals. As
such, the substance of proposals will carry more weight than their form or manner of
presentation. The Technical Proposal should demonstrate the qualification of the Proposer
and of the staff to be assigned to this engagement. It should also specify an audit approach
that will meet the request for proposals requirements.
The Technical Proposal should address all the points outlined in the request for proposals.
Independence - The Proposer should provide an affirmative statement that is independent
of the Town of Highland Park as defined by generally accepted auditing standards.
License to Practice in Texas - An affirmative statement should be included that the
Proposer and all assigned key professional staff are properly licensed to practice in Texas.
Proposer Qualifications and Experience - The proposer should state the size of the
Proposer, the size of the Proposer's governmental audit staff, the location of the office from
which the work on this engagement is to be performed and the number and nature of the
professional staff to be employed in this engagement on a full-time basis and the number
and nature of the staff to be so employed on a part-time basis.
The Proposer is also required to submit a copy of the local office's most recent peer review
and its status under the AICPA peer review program.
Please note that the Town will not consider proposals from joint ventures or
consortiums.
Partner, Supervisory and Staff Qualifications and Experience - Provide as much
information as possible regarding the number, qualifications, experience and training,
including relevant continuing professional education of the staff to be assigned to this
engagement. Indicate how the quality of staff over the term of the agreement will be
assured.
Similar Engagements with Other Government Entities - The proposer should provide a list
of local government clients served in the past five (5) years by the local office. Current
clients should be identified with contact name, e-mail address and telephone number for
each.
Pending and Settled Litigation - Describe all major pending and settled litigation of the
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Proposer during the past three (3) years. Please identify any litigation involving the local
office.
Disciplinary Action - The Proposer is also required to submit a copy of the report on its
most recent external quality control review, with a statement whether that quality control
review included a review of specific government engagements.
The Proposer shall also provide information on the results of any federal or state desk
reviews or field reviews of its audits during the past three years. In addition, the Proposer
shall provide information on the circumstances and status of any disciplinary action taken
or pending against the Proposer during the past three years with state or federal regulatory
bodies, oversight committees, or professional organizations.
D. Specific Audit Approach
The proposal should set forth a work plan, including an explanation of the audit
methodology to be followed to perform the services required.
E. Identification of Anticipated Potential Audit Problems
The proposal should identify and describe any anticipated potential audit problems, the
Proposer's approach to resolving these problems and any special assistance that will be
requested from the Town.
F. Report Format
The proposal should include sample formats for required reports.
G. Dollar Cost Proposal
Total All-Inclusive Maximum Price.
The dollar cost proposal should contain all pricing information relative to performing
the audit engagement as described in this request for proposal. The total all-inclusive
maximum price to be proposed is to contain all direct and indirect costs including all
out-of-pocket expenses. Such costs shall include, but are not limited to, labor,
supervision, travel, lodging, per diem, printing, report production, and any
subcontractor costs. A cost proposal form has been provided in Appendix B, which
shall be completed and submitted in a separate submission from the technical proposal.
The Town will not be responsible for expenses incurred in preparing and submitting
a response to this request for proposals, the technical proposal, or the dollar cost
proposal. Such costs should not be included in the dollar cost proposal.
H. Rates for Additional Professional Services
If it should become necessary for the Town to request the Auditor to render any
additional services to either supplement the services requested in this RFP or to perform
additional work as a result of the specific recommendations included in any report
issued on this engagement, then such additional work shall be performed only if set
forth in an addendum to the contract between the Town and the Proposer. Any such
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additional work agreed to between the Town and the Proposer shall be performed at the
same rates set as specified herein.
I. Manner of Payment
Progress payments will be made based on hours of work completed during the course
of the engagement and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in accordance with the
Proposer's dollar cost proposal. Interim billing shall cover a period of not less than a
calendar month and will be paid net 30 from the date the invoice is received.
J. Status of Auditor
It is the intent of the parties that the Auditor shall be considered an independent
contractor and that Auditor, and anyone else for whom it is legally liable, shall not be
considered employees, servants or agents of the Town for any purpose. Furthermore,
this Agreement shall not be construed to be a partnership or joint venture.
Neither Auditor nor any of its employees or contractors shall be eligible to participate
in Town's industrial insurance, unemployment, disability, medical, dental, life or other
insurance programs, or any other benefit or program that is sponsored, financed or
provided by Town for its employees.
Auditor agrees that it shall be Auditor's exclusive responsibility to pay all federal, state,
or local payroll, social security, disability, industrial insurance, self-employment
insurance, income and other taxes and assessments related to this Agreement. Neither
FICA (Social Security), FUTA (Federal Unemployment), nor local state or federal
income taxes will be withheld from payments to Auditor. Auditor shall at the Auditor's
expense pay and be fully liable and responsible for, and indemnify and hold harmless
Town from, any assessments, fines or penalties relating to Auditor's failure to uphold
any of these responsibilities.
K. Warranties
Proposer warrants that it will not delegate or subcontract its responsibilities under an
agreement without the express written permission of the Town. Proposer shall complete
the Proposer's Warranties form provided in Appendix C.
VII. EVALUATION PROCEDURES
A. Review of Proposals
The Town will use a point formula during the review process to score proposals based on each
of the criteria described below. Members of the Town's Finance & Audit Advisory Committee
will be invited to participate in the selection process, including the oral interviews, if any.
Proposers with an unacceptably low technical score will be eliminated from further
consideration.
After the technical score for each Proposer has been established, the dollar cost proposal will
be opened for those Proposers meeting the minimum technical threshold. Additional points will
be added to the technical score based on the price proposed. The maximum score for price will
be assigned to the Proposer offering the lowest total all-inclusive maximum price.
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