Strategic Housing Finance Corporation of Travis County (“Strategic HFC”) is issuing this Request for Proposal (“RFP”) to identify and contract for Independent Auditor (“Auditor”) services. All qualified professional service providers (“Respondents”) wishing to apply must submit the materials listed in this RFP to be considered. 

I. Timeline 

Strategic HFC will accept responses until 5:00 PM CST on January 10, 2025. Strategic HFC retains the right to extend the submission deadline and selection period. If selected, Respondents will execute a professional services engagement letter or other agreement with SHFC. 

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II. Communications with Strategic HFC 

All questions and communications concerning the RFP must be submitted to the designated point of contact: Katie Adams, Director of Finance & Administration, via email at [email protected] 

To protect the integrity of the RFP process, members of Strategic HFC’s Board of Directors (“Board Members”) shall not have contact with potential Respondents regarding issues or questions pertaining to this RFP. This contact limitation period begins when the RFP is made available and continues through the selection process. If a potential Respondent contacts a Board Member with an issue or question pertaining to the RFP, that Board Member shall not discuss the RFP and shall forward the inquiry to the designated point of contact. Strategic HFC reserves the right to disqualify submissions from Respondents that fail to adhere to this contact limitation policy. 

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III. About Strategic HFC 

Strategic HFC is a nonprofit entity incorporated under the laws of the state of Texas and created pursuant to Chapter 394 of the Texas Local Government Code. Our focus is to assist in the development of affordable properties through the private activity bond/tax credit program by providing property tax exemption and participation in partnerships allowing the developments to be financially feasible. The primary purpose of Strategic HFC is to provide decent, safe, sanitary, accessible and affordable housing to the residents of Travis County. 

The organization was created on June 11, 2004, pursuant to the Texas Housing Finance Corporations Act, Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 394 and an activating resolution of the Travis County Commissioners Court, adopted on June 1, 2004. Strategic HFC is governed by a seven (7)-member Board of Directors appointed by the Travis County Commissioners Court, which includes officer positions of President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. Two (2) persons serving on the Board of Directors must be current or former residents of an affordable housing property. The officers are elected by Board of Directors, and the organization is authorized to employ attorneys, technical experts, and such officers, agents and employees, permanent and temporary, as it may require. 

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IV. Minimum Requirements 

All proposals must include the following: 

1. Evidence of the firm’s qualifications to provide the scope of services; 

2. Background and experience in auditing nonprofit clients generally, and Housing Finance Corporations or similar entities specifically; 

3. The size and organizational structure of the auditor’s firm; 

4. Statement of the firm’s understanding of work to be performed, including tax and any non-audit services; 

5. A proposed timeline for fieldwork and final reporting; 

6. Proposed fee structure for each of the years of the proposal period (proposals with engagements between 1-3 years will be accepted), including whatever guarantees can be given regarding increases in future years, and the maximum fee that would be charged per year;  

7. Description of your billing rates and procedures for technical questions that may come up during the year, or whether these occasional services are covered in the proposed fee structure; 

8. Names of the partner, audit manager, and possible field staff who will be assigned to our audit and provide biographies. 

9. A copy of your firm’s most recent peer review report, the related letter of comments, and the firm’s response to the letter of comments; and 

10. References and contact information from at least 3 comparable nonprofit audit clients. 

V. Scope of Services 

Services to be provided by Auditor shall include but are not limited to the following (the  “Services”): 

1. Annual Financial Statement Audit 

2. Preparation and filing of IRS Form 990 

3. Management Letter 

4. Meet with selected board and/or staff members to discuss draft and/or final financial statements 

5. Meet at least yearly with Board audit committee (if applicable) 

6. Intermittent auditor guidance on specific scenarios as needed by Strategic HFC staff 

Any additional services that will be provided within the scope of the fee schedule proposed in the response should also be described. Respondents may include a proposed fee structure for a recurring engagement of up to three years, though engagement in multi-year contracts will be at the discretion of Strategic HFC. 

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VI. Review and Selection 

Strategic HFC will evaluate Respondents based upon the following: 

1. Demonstrated competence, experience, knowledge, and qualifications of Respondents; 

2. Reasonableness of the proposed fees for the services to be performed; 

3. Ability and commitment to provide options, alternatives, and/or solutions to issues and obstacles that arise in the execution, improvement and/or modification of applicable programs and business; 

4. Previous experience and performance with similar organizations; 

5. Certification as a Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise; 

6. Texas-based respondents; 

7. Respondents with staff physically present in Travis County, Texas; and 

8. Other pertinent information. 

All things being equal, preference will be given to Respondents with Minority- and Women- Owned Business Enterprise certification, Texas-based Respondents, and Respondents with staff physically present in Travis County, Texas. 

Strategic HFC, at its discretion, reserves the right to (a) change or cancel this RFP; (b) conduct interviews with Respondents or ask for modification or clarification of a Respondent’s submission in order to properly evaluate a response; (c) determine whether a response fails to meet the requirements of this RFP in some material aspect; (d) obtain references regarding any Respondent’s past performance from any source; (e) negotiate with some, all, or none of the Respondents with respect to any term or terms of the responses or contracts; and (f) execute a professional services engagement letter or other agreement with a successful Respondent. Strategic HFC reserves the right to negotiate all elements that comprise the Respondent’s submission to ensure that the best possible consideration is afforded to all concerned. Focused responses that specifically address Respondents’ ability to provide the Services described above are strongly preferred. Generic responses that do not specifically respond to this RFP will be disregarded. Neither issuance of this RFP nor evaluation of any responses obligates Strategic HFC to award a contract from this RFP. 

Scoring Criteria 

Strategic HFC staff and Board Members will review all responses based upon the below scoring criteria and will make a recommendation to Strategic HFC for approval: 

1. Subject matter expertise; 

2. Expertise, experience, and location of personnel on Respondent’s team; 

3. Reasonableness of fees; 

4. Experience working with similar organizations; and 

5. Historically Underutilized Business, Minority-Owned Business, or Woman-Owned Business participation or female/minority representation on Respondent’s team. 

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VII. Additional Information 

This RFP does not commit Strategic HFC to award a contract to any Respondent or to pay any costs incurred by a Respondent to prepare or submit a response or otherwise participate in this RFP process. 

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Conflict of Interest 

Although the Respondent will be an independent contractor for Strategic HFC and not an employee of  Strategic HFC, to avoid all possibility of conflicts of interest, all Respondents must certify that none of the owners, officers, partners, members, or shareholders of the company and none of their families are related within the third degree of consanguinity or the second degree of affinity to any Strategic HFC employee or any Board Member. Respondents must also certify that they are not prohibited from representing an instrumentality of Travis County under Chapter 394 of Texas Local Government Code, the Travis County Code, or applicable law. 

In the event a Respondent, any family member of a member of the Respondent’s team, or any owner, officer, partner, member, or shareholder of a Respondent is a Travis County employee, County officer (as that term is defined by the Travis County Code) or elected official serving a local government body in Travis County, Texas, the Respondent must disclose such relationship in its response. 

Release of Submissions and Proprietary Information 

If a Respondent submits proprietary information that should not be publicly disclosed, the proprietary information must be clearly identified on each page at the time of submission. Strategic HFC will, to the extent allowed by law, endeavor to protect such information from disclosure. If a Respondent fails to identify proprietary information, all information in the submission will be deemed non-proprietary and will be made available upon request pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act, Government Code Chapter 552 after the review process has been completed. The final decision as to what information must be disclosed lies with the Texas Attorney General. Failure to identify proprietary information will result in all unmarked sections being deemed non-proprietary and available upon public request. 

Respondents may not mark an entire response as confidential. Should a response be submitted in this manner, Strategic HFC reserves the right to hold no portion of the response as confidential, unless such a portion is determined as exempt from public access by law. 

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Indemnification 

All Respondents must agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless SHFC, its officers, agents and employees from any and all claims and losses accruing or resulting from the Respondent’s performing professional services for SHFC.

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Federal, State and Local Requirements 

Approved Respondents are responsible for compliance with all laws governing entities doing business in Texas, including both federal and state unemployment insurance coverage and standard workers compensation insurance coverage. Respondents must comply with all federal and state tax laws and withholding requirements. Strategic HFC will not be liable to a Respondent or its employees for any unemployment or workers' compensation coverage or federal and state tax withholding requirements. Respondents shall indemnify Strategic HFC and pay to Strategic HFC any costs, penalties or loss whatsoever occasioned by Respondent's omission or breach of this section. 

Minor Deficiencies 

Strategic HFC reserves the right to waive minor deficiencies and informalities if, in the judgment of SHFC, its best interest will be served. 

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VIII. Submission Directions 

General Firm Information 

1. Provide a brief description of your firm, including but not limited to the following: 

• Name, telephone number, and email address of a representative of the firm authorized to discuss your proposal; 

• Address of the firm’s main office; 

• Number of employees of the firm; and 

• Names, locations and resumes of the primary staff who will provide Services to Strategic HFC (see above), including relevant experience of such staff. 

Experience 

1. Describe your firm and its abilities and experience related to the Services; and 

2. Identify any prior work for a comparable nonprofit organization, and/or Texas housing finance corporation or Texas public facility corporation. 

3. References 

1. A copy of your firm’s most recent peer review report, the related letter of comments, and the firm’s response to the letter of comments; and 

2. Provide at least three client references. Include name, telephone number, and email address. Strategic HFC reserves the right to contact and interview references. 

Timeline 

1. A proposed timeline for fieldwork and final reporting 

2. A proposed timeline for 990 execution and final submission 

Fees 

1. Provide a schedule of fees based on transaction type for providing the Services 

2. Description of your billing rates and procedures for technical questions that may come up during the year, or whether these occasional services are covered in the proposed fee structure; 

3. Provide the hourly rate, if applicable, for each staff person you propose to perform the Services. Hourly rates must be valid through calendar year 2025. 

4. If you elect to submit a multi-year proposal, include whatever guarantees can be given regarding increases in future years, and the maximum fee that would be charged per year 

Conflict of Interest 

1. Identify any conflict of interest that may arise as a result of business activities or ventures by your firm and associates of your firm or employees; and 

2. Describe how your firm will handle actual and or potential conflicts of interest. 

7. Include any other information that will be helpful to Strategic HFC in making its decision. 

Respondents must submit proposals in this manner: 

1. Responses must be submitted electronically via email. 

2. All responses must be signed and dated. 

3. Proposals that do not comply with these instructions may be rejected. Strategic HFC may also reject a proposal that does not include all requested information. 

4. Submission of a response represents Respondent’s representation to Strategic HFC that the response complies with the requirements of this RFP. 

ALL SUBMISSIONS MUST BE SENT TO: 

Katie Adams, Director of Finance & Administration 

Strategic Housing Finance Corporation of Travis County 

[email protected]  

DEADLINE TO APPLY: 

Friday, January 10, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. CST 

Respondents must warrant and represent, by signing the attached RFP above, that they have read and are familiar with the contractual requirements set forth in the RFP. Furthermore, the submission of a proposal shall constitute an incontrovertible representation by the Respondent of compliance with every requirement of the RFP, and that the RFP documents are sufficient in scope and detail to indicate and convey reasonable understanding of all terms and conditions of performance of the work. 

For more information, please see the official RFP attached above.

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