Request for proposals to assist in conducting performance audit follow-up

The Arizona Auditor General (Office) is requesting proposals from qualified firms to assist it in conducting followup work to the Office’s 2019 performance audit of the Arizona Department of Health Services long-term care facility complaint and self-report prioritization and investigation processes. This work must be completed and results must be submitted to the Office no later than March 1, 2024.

The selected Firm must conduct its work in consultation with the Office. The selected Firm must also seek input from auditee representatives to understand their perspectives on and concerns related to the auditee’s operations. The work statement is intended as a listing of the minimum tasks required.

The Firm must have staff and assign staff to this work who are Surveyor Minimum Qualifications Test (SMQT) certified. In addition, the Firm’s assigned staff must be knowledgeable of CMS laws, regulations, State Operations Manual, and official guidance memos.

In addition, the Firm must have no conflict of interest with regard to any other work performed for the State of Arizona or auditees. The Firm must also provide information on other areas that may result in independence issues, such as participation on a board or having a direct or indirect financial interest. The Firm must submit this information using the Independence Disclosure Form in Attachment A to this Request for Proposal (RFP). If the Auditor General determines that an independence issue exists, the Firm’s proposal may not be considered. The Auditor General is the sole authority in determining whether any conflicts of interest or independence issues exist.

The Office will hold a preproposal conference scheduled for November 13, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. (Mountain Standard Time), to provide information about the performance audit followup and to answer any questions. The conference will be held at the Auditor General’s Office in Phoenix at 2910 N. 44th St. in the 4th-floor boardroom. For those unable to join in person, you may request a virtual meeting link by emailing Rebecca Foley, Accounting Specialist, at rfoley@azauditor.gov or calling (602) 553-9786. Inquiries regarding the Request for Proposals may be referred to Rebecca Foley.

Previously issued documents can be found at https://www.azauditor.gov/reports-publications/state-agencies/health-services-department/report/arizona-department-health-6 

RFP Key Dates

Questions and Answers

We have received an inquiry asking if the Office would consider changing the March 1, 2024, deadline for firms to submit documentation to a later date. Based on the Office’s time frame for issuing the next follow-up report, we have determined that we can extend the deadline to receive final documentation to April 30, 2024. As stated in section E(2) of the Request for Proposals, the Office requires the selected firm to prepare and submit by December 29, 2023, an overview of the key work it will complete and a project timeline for completing its work. With the extension of the deadline to April 30, 2024, we would request that the selected firm include in its project timeline the submission of some project documentation prior to the final deadline.

We have received an inquiry asking if the Office would consider changing the November 27, 2023, deadline for firms to submit proposals, due to the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Based on the Office’s time frame for contract award and notice to proceed, we have determined that we can extend the deadline to receive proposals to Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. Phoenix time.