Auditor Needed
www.bentonpha.org/auditor-needed
August 27, 2026
REQUEST FOR AUDIT PROPOSAL (RFP)
The Benton Public Housing Authority (Agency) is requesting proposals for an independent financial audit for the prior completed fiscal year from interested CPA firms until 2:00 PM on September 15, 2026. Questions about the proposal should be provided to the email noted below by 2:00 PM on September 9, 2026. Questions should be directed to Dr. Mae Lewis at the email address listed below. This will provide us with ample opportunity to send clarifications out to all interested parties.
The audit contract will be for a three (3) year period with the option to renew for two
(2) additional one-year renewal terms. The audit contract will include the following fiscal year ends for each agency, with the option to renew for the following years.
| Agency | Year-End | Audit Years | Years in the Option |
| Benton Housing | March | 2026, 2027 & 2028 | 2029 & 2030 |
The audit will be in conformance with GAAP, Uniform Guidance in 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart F, 24 CFR § 902.33, Governmental Auditing Standards issued by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, and the 1996 HUD OIG Single Audit Act. The year-end books will be closed and ready within 45 days of the fiscal year end. Typically, audit fieldwork begins 90 days after the fiscal year end, and the reports are issued within 120 days after the fiscal year end. All accounting records and tenant files are kept at our Office in Benton, AR.
The CPA firm will be responsible for the audited submission to REAC, including the text portion of the audit report, as well as validating each program. The CPA firm is to quote a price for this function in addition to the fixed audit fee. The Agency will submit unaudited financials to REAC by May 31st, and the auditor will submit the audited financials by December 31st.
The CPA firm will complete the Financial Audit by submitting the "Agree" section of the REAC internet submission as part of the fixed fee audit contract.
The CPA firm will include in the printed audit report any audit adjusting journal entries.
The CPA firm will deliver electronically the report draft and any proposed audit findings and/or audit adjusting journal entries to the Agency for concurrence, before publishing the audit report.
"The CPA firm will be responsible for preparing the Agency's Federal Audit Clearinghouse (FAC) submission, as applicable, including entering all required audit information, completing and uploading the required SF-SAC workbooks and audit reporting package, resolving validation errors related to the audit information, and completing the Auditor Certifying Official certification. The CPA firm shall notify the Agency when the FAC submission is complete and ready for Agency review and certification. The Agency, as the auditee, will complete the Auditee Certifying Official certification and perform the final submission to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse."
The fee accountant will provide the Governmental GAAP Enterprise Method FDS financial statements to the CPA firm.
The following are items that should be included in your proposal.
1) Company profile
2) Experience with auditing housing authorities
3) Experience in working with HUD
4) Customer references of Housing Authorities
5) Date and result of the latest peer review
6) A brief synopsis of the audit process from scheduling through audit report issuance
7) Evidence of liability insurance
8) Audit Pricing (broken by Agency/Program and as a whole)
9) Completed HUD-5369-C Form, attached
The following chart provides pertinent data relating to the Agency.
| Agency | # of Low Rent Units | # of HCV Vouchers | Capital Fund Programs | ROSS/FSS Program | Core Software | Fee Accountant |
| Benton Housing | 102 | 489 | Yes | No | Lindsey | Lindsey |
The Agency reserves the right to reject any proposal. The Agency will evaluate all proposals and will award a contract to the responsible proposer whose proposal will be most advantageous to the Agency. It is especially noted that the price will not be the determining factor in awarding the audit contract, and that price will be considered according to the attached evaluation criteria list.
Offerors shall comply with Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 (12 U.S.C. 1701q), as amended, and HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 75, prioritizing employment and contracting opportunities for low- or very low-income public housing residents and businesses that meet Section 3 benchmarks. Additionally, proposers commit to utilizing Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (WBEs) to the greatest extent feasible, in accordance with Agency policy and 2 CFR 200.
Offerors must submit a Section 3/MBE/WBE Plan detailing outreach efforts, proposed participation levels, and good faith efforts, including certifications and documentation of notifications to eligible firms. Failure to demonstrate compliance may result in proposal rejection or contract termination. The selected firm shall include this clause in all subcontracts and report progress quarterly to the Agency.
If you intend to respond to this RFP, please send an electronic copy of the proposal to the address listed below or via e-mail at [email protected]. Failure to confirm receipt of this document will not disqualify any vendor from the bidding process. However, we will not be responsible for sending updated information to those who do not confirm.
Please mail proposals to:
Benton Public Housing Authority Attn: Dr. Mae Lewis
1200 W. Pine St.
Benton, AR 72015
AUDIT PROPOSAL EVALUATION CRITERIA
Firm experience in PHA auditing 20 Points
Experience of firm members assigned to the audit 35 Points
Demonstrated GAAP -- PHA experience 35 Points
Price 10 Points
Total Possible Points 100 Points
Sincerely,
Dr. Mae Lewis
Chief Executive Officer
Benton Public Housing Authority
