Request for Proposal
Audit Services
Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Inc. (OMEP) is requesting proposals from CPA firms that have extensive experience in providing audit, single audit, and tax services for not for profit organizations. We invite your firm to submit a proposal to us by March 20, 2026, for consideration. A description of our organization, the services needed, and other pertinent information follows.
Background of OMEP
OMEP is an Oregon nonprofit public benefit corporation recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a charitable, tax-exempt organization pursuant to section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. OMEP was founded in 1996 with a defined mission to help small to mid-sized Oregon manufacturers become more competitive. We have a Finance Committee comprising 6 OMEP board members who will approve the final selection of the audit firm. OMEP staff, including the OMEP President and OMEP Finance staff will prepare a recommendation of which firm to select to the Board Finance Committee.
OMEP is part of the national MEP program administered through the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Our funding is derived from a combination of federal and state grants and fee-for-service payments from manufacturing clients. We collaborate with key state and regional economic development groups including Business Oregon to provide as many resources as possible to help Oregon companies. We have worked with more than 1000 Oregon manufacturers since we began in 1996.
Our annual operating budget is approximately $8 million per year and we employ 22 employees. OMEP has a June 30 fiscal year-end, with a requirement to file an audited financial statement, a single audit report, and federal and state information returns each year.
OMEP maintains all accounting records in-house and uses Accounting Seed (on the Salesforce platform) for the accounting system, Paychex for payroll and human resources, Emburse for travel and employee reimbursements, and Salesforce for client management. The Finance department consists of a VP of Finance and Administration, Director of Finance (retiring as of 6/30/2026), a Controller, and a staff accountant (to be hired in the next couple months).
Other pertinent agency information can be found on www.omep.org.
Services to Be Performed
Your proposal is expected to cover the following services:
- Annual audit of the financial statements for the year ending June 30 and meetings with the Finance Committee and/or Board of Directors, as necessary.
- Uniform Guidance Single Audit (OMEP currently has 8 grants, with 1-2 being a major program).
- Management letter containing comments and recommendations with respect to accounting and administrative controls and efficiency.
- Preparation of federal and state information returns for the organization.
- Availability throughout the year to provide advice and guidance on financial accounting and reporting issues.
Relationship with Prior CPA Firm
These services have been provided by Kern & Thompson for the past 9 years. The OMEP Board of Directors would like to rotate accounting firms every 5-8 years. In preparing your proposal, be advised that management will give permission to contact the prior auditors.
Timeframe
The following is the anticipated timeframe for the services to be provided:
May/June: Planning and interim testing (if needed)
July: Receive a list of client-provided documents and requests
Late Aug/Early Sept: Begin fieldwork (approximately 3-5 days)
October 15: Financial statement draft audit report and comments
November 15: Present audit report to OMEP Board
November 30: Issue final audit report
October 31: Provide draft information returns for management review
November 15: File final information returns
Proposal Content
In order to simplify the evaluation process and obtain maximum comparability, OMEP requires that all responses to the RFP be organized in the manner and format described below:
- Executive Summary – Describe your understanding of the work to be performed and your firm’s ability to perform the work within the time frame provided.
- Professional Experience – Describe how and why your firm is different from other firms being considered. This should include an explanation of the firm’s philosophy, size, structure, and qualifications with serving not for profit organizations with similar size and operations. Describe your firm’s resources devoted to not for profit organizations and provide copies of newsletters or other resource materials addressing issues relevant to not for profit organizations. Discuss the firm’s independence with respect to OMEP.
- Team Qualifications – Identify the specific partners, managers, and in-charge staff who will be assigned to this engagement if you are successful in your bid. Provide their bios specifying relevant experience to the type of services requested. Also discuss commitments you make to staff continuity, including your staff turnover experience in the last three years.
- Audit Approach – Describe how your firm will approach the proposed audit services, including the use of affiliates or staff from other locations, areas that will receive primary emphasis, and the type of assistance that will be required from OMEP’s staff. Also discuss the firm’s use of technology. Finally, discuss the communication process used by the firm to discuss issues with management and the Board.
- Fees – Please provide a firm estimate of fees for the services to be provided. It has been OMEP’s practice for management to negotiate a fee for services each year prior to such services being rendered. Given that the time required in the first year will be more substantial than subsequent years, please feel free to include the fees for subsequent years if there is a significant differential in cost from year one as well as provide any guarantees that can be made in increases in future years.
- Client References – Include a list of the relevant not for profit clients the firm has served within the past three years and furnish the names and telephone numbers of any references whom we may contact.
- Additional Information – Please provide a copy of your most recent peer review report. Please provide any additional information, not specifically requested, but which you believe would be useful in evaluating your proposal.
Proposal Timetable
Feb 27: RFP Distributed
Mar 20: Proposals due to OMEP
Mar 30: Management contacts finalists to schedule presentations
April 17: Finalists make presentations to the Finance Committee and/or OMEP staff (if deemed necessary)
April 30: CPA firm selected and notified
Evaluation of Proposals
While price is an important factor, OMEP will evaluate proposals on price and the following criteria:
- Prior experience auditing similar organizations
- Qualifications of staff to be assigned to the engagement
- CPA firm’s understanding of work to be performed
- References
- Completeness and timeliness of the proposal
Key Contacts
Qualified firms or individuals should submit a response via email no later than March 20, 2026, at 5:00pm PST to Denise Masanga at dmasanga@omep.org. Subject line should read: Audit Services RFP.
Any inquiries should be submitted via email to dmasanga@omep.org. No phone calls, please.
OMEP is located at:
7650 SW Beveland Road, Suite 170
Portland, OR 97223
