Thrift Savings Plan Audit Services

DOLOPS17TSPAUDIT Request for Information: US Dept of Labor/ Office of Procurement Services (OPS) Agency/Office: Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) Location: Washington, DC Office of Procurement Services Title: USDOL/EBSA - Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Audit Services The United States Department of Labor (DOL)/Office of Procurement Services (OPS) is conducting market research to determine feasibility for a potential procurement requirement. Per FAR 52.215-3, "Request for Information," this is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified vendors to support a multiple year effort in carrying out the fiduciary compliance audit responsibilities related to EBSA and under the Federal Employees Retirement System Act of 1986 (FERSA or the Act). The anticipated period of performance is one (1) base year with four (4) option years. The scope of this effort includes the following: (1) Perform expanded scope audits of government organizations, program activities and functions which may include some or all of the following elements: a. Financial and compliance - to determine (1) whether the financial statements of an audited entity present fairly the financial position and the results of operations in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and (2) whether the entity has complied with laws and regulations that may have a material effect upon the financial statements. * EBSA DOES NOT audit the TSP's financial statements as this effort is handled by a 3rd party.* However, EBSA does focus more on "performance" audits to ensure the TSP is operationally compliant with FERSA. b. Economy and efficiency - to determine (1) whether the entity is managing and utilizing its resources (such as personnel, property, space) economically and efficiently, (2) the causes of inefficiencies or uneconomical practices, and (3) whether the entity has complied with laws and regulations concerning matters of economy and efficiency. c. Program results - to determine (1) whether the desired results or benefits established by the U.S. Congress or other authorizing body are being achieved, and (2) whether the agency has considered alternatives that might yield desired results at a lower cost. (2) Conduct surveys. A survey is designed to identify problem areas warranting additional review and to gather information, without detailed verification, for use in planning and accomplishing the audit. (3) Design and prepare a program of audits or schedule of individual audits or reviews to be conducted over a three year audit cycle. (4) Write or perform a detailed audit program which outlines detailed steps and procedures to be followed in conducting the audit and preparing the report. (5) Perform pricing reviews, quality control reviews, evaluations, analyses, and follow-ups required by EBSA. (6) Provide other technical assistance, training and support required by EBSA to fulfill its mission under FERSA. a. In performing work required by specific Task Orders, the Contractor shall comply with the following: (1) Standards for Audits of Government Organizations, Programs, Activities and Functions (the "Yellow Book"), issued by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), and publications explaining and supplementing the "Yellow Book" standards, and (2) Requirements included in the following pronouncements promulgated by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA): a. Statements on Auditing Standards and Related Auditing Interpretations, b. Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements and Related Attest Engagements Interpretations, c. Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services and Related Accounting and Review Services Interpretations, d. Statements on Standards for Valuation Services, e. Statements on Standards for Consulting Services, f. Statements on Quality Control Standards, g. Statements on Standards for Tax Services, h. Statements on Standards for Management Advisory Services, i. The Audit and Accounting Guide for Employee Benefit Plans, and j. Applicable AICPA guides and pronouncements enforceable under Rule 203 of the AICPA Code of Professional Ethics. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to this procurement is 541211 Offices of Certified Public Accountants.The size standard is $20.5 million. If your organization has the potential capacity to perform these contract services, please provide the following information: GENERAL INFORMATION 1. Organization name 2. Address 3. Point of Contract 4. CAGE Code / DUNS Number 5. Email address 6. Web site address 7. Telephone number 8. Size and type of ownership for the organization In addition to the above requested information, the government is also requesting written responses to the following questions: 1. How many of the top 100 defined contribution or defined benefit pension plans, in the United States, do you do work for? a. What is the nature of the work performed b. Asset/participant size of the plan c. Fees billed 2. How many of the top 100 leading financial asset management firms do you provide services to? a. What is the nature of the work performed b. Asset size of financial entity c. Fees billed 3. How many of the Fortune 1000 Financial Services firms do you provide services to? a. What is the nature of the work performed b. Asset size of the financial services entity c. Fees billed 4. What are the three largest (by asset size) defined contribution plans for which your firm provides audit (attest) services? a. Asset sizes b. Fees billed 5. What are the three most significant Federal contracts you have performed under within the last five years? a. Dates of service b. Services provided c. Contract amounts 6. Briefly state your experience in utilizing IT auditors, statisticians and other technical specialists in auditing complex IT financial systems. 7. Provide brief summaries of the three largest engagements focusing on complex information technology (IT) systems you have performed in the last three years, including fees billed. 8. Describe your last two years of work experience with small business, minority owned, or woman owned subcontractor businesses. 9. Describe your experience performing fiduciary compliance audits or other performance related audits of large (asset based) defined benefit or defined contribution plans. a. Services provided b. Asset size c. Fees billed 10. Detail your firm's experience auditing cybersecurity threats to large, mainframe based information systems. 11. Describe any other experience you have providing professional services to defined benefit or defined benefit pension plans, or major financial services entities. a. Services provided b. Asset size c. Fees billed 12. Describe your firm's experience auditing nationally based defined contribution pension plans that support participants located in all 50 states and territories of the United States. a. Services provided b. Asset size c. Fees billed 13. Please discuss your degree of experience in examining cybersecurity threats and complex financial information systems. Submission Instructions Interested parties who consider themselves qualified to perform the requirements, as outlined above, are invited to submit a response to this RFI by Thursday August 17, 2017, 3pm (est). All responses must be submitted via email in Microsoft Word or PDF Format. The Government requests that the responses include one cover page and a maximum of 10 pages for the written responses. All responses under this RFI must be emailed to Antoinette Ingram at the following email address: Ingram.Antoinette.H@dol.gov and to Elvis Colbert at: Colbert.Elvis.R@dol.gov Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged. In addition, neither feedback nor evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions.