Audit Bids Come in Under $50K

Ten firms responded to the town's request for proposals and bids to do an operational audit of the townside budget, which is $86.1 million this fiscal year, and many of the bids were under the $50,000 budget set by First Selectman Ken Flatto.

The low bid of $43,975 from The Novak Consulting Group in Cincinnati, Ohio says the bid would cover "begin engagement, conduct benchmark analysis, conduct organizational scan, prepare and present interim report, and prepare and present report," but would not include "conduct further analysis." The firm says the fee for a detailed review of specific areas of the townside budget would be based on an incentive plan for shared savings.

The high bid of $123,930 was from Dhillon Management Services in Holden, Mass.

One firm, Work Force Planning Associates, Inc. in South Windsor, did not include a bid amount in its submission; the firm only responded to a request for proposal and listed its qualifications. Another firm, BDO USA, LLP in New York City submitted a bid of $135 an hour for 345 hours to 370 hours of work, which works out to a fee of $46,575 to $49,950.

Town Purchasing Director Twig Holland opened the bids in her office in Sullivan-Independence Hall because none of the bidders came to the bid opening. Town Fiscal Officer Paul Hiller was on hand for the bid opening.

Holland said town officials would review the bids, proposals and qualifications from the firms and narrow down the field by Friday and that interviews would then begin next week.

The other firms that responded were Management Advisory Group Inc. in Lake Ridge, Va., which submitted a bid of $48,800; Matrix Consulting Group in Andover, Mass., which submitted a bid of $48,900 for "organizational staffing analysis;" Blum Shapiro Consulting in West Hartford, which submitted a bid of $50,000; Altran Control Solutions Inc. of New York City, which submitted a bid of $42,000 plus a cap of $6,000 for travel expenses; The Mercer Group Inc. in Marietta, Ga., which submitted a bid of $54,000 - $45,000 for professional fees based on an estimate of 360 hours of work at a billing rate of $125 an hour, and $9,000 in travel expenses; and O'Connor Davies Munns & Dobbins, LLP of Stamford, which submitted a bid of "not to exceed $50,000."

The Board of Education is conducting a separate bid for an operational audit of the Board of Education's $141.6 million budget this year. Bids are due July 16.

Officials hope operational audits of the townside operating budget and Board of Education budget will be completed this fall so results can be incorporated into the preparation of proposed budgets for the 2011-12 fiscal year.