Project Information

Bid Title

RFP FIN # 26-01 Auditing Services

Issuing Agency

City of New Bern

Location

North Carolina

Published Date

Mar 2, 2026

Closing Date

Mar 30, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

RFP FIN # 26-01

NOTICE TO PROPOSERS

Request for Proposal (RFP # FIN 26-01)
Audit Services

The City of New Bern, North Carolina, is soliciting proposals from qualified independent certified public accounting firms to provide audit services for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, with the option to renew annually for up to four additional years, subject to Board approval.

The audit shall be conducted in accordance with Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS), Government Auditing Standards (Yellow Book), Uniform Guidance (if applicable), the North Carolina Local Government Commission (LGC) requirements, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations.

Sealed proposals will be received until:

March 30, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
City of New Bern – Finance Department
Attn: Jenna Lanfor, Purchasing Manager
606 Fort Totten Drive
New Bern, NC 28560

Proposals shall be clearly marked:
“RESPONSE TO RFP # FIN 26-01 FOR AUDIT SERVICES.”

Proposals must be submitted in two separate sections as outlined in the RFP. Late proposals will not be considered.

A copy of the full Request for Proposal may be obtained from the City’s website at www.newbernnc.gov or by contacting:

Helen Stephens
Assistant Director of Finance

All questions regarding this RFP must be submitted in writing no later than March 9, 2026, by 5:00 p.m.

The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, waive informalities, and award the contract in the best interest of the City. Award of contract is subject to approval by the City of New Bern Board of Aldermen and the North Carolina Local Government Commission.

RFP FIN 26-01

Attachment Preview

City of New Bern

Request for Proposal RFP # FIN 26-01

To Provide Audit Services

__________________________________________________________

_____

Date of Issue: March 02, 2026

Responses Due: March 30 at 2:00 pm

__________________________________________________________

____

City’s Contact Information:

Name:

Title:

Address:

Phone:

Email:

Helen Stephens

Assistant Director of Finance, City of New Bern

606 Fort Totten Drive, New Bern, NC 28560

(252) 639-2722

StephensH@newbernnc.gov.

Request for Proposal

The City of New Bern, in New Bern, North Carolina (hereinafter called the “City”) invites

qualified independent auditors (hereinafter called “auditor”) having sufficient governmental

accounting and auditing experience in performing an audit in accordance with the specifications

outlined in this Request for Proposal (RFP) to submit a proposal.

There is no expressed or implied obligation for the City of New Bern to reimburse firms for any

expenses incurred in preparing proposals in response to this request.

The specific detail shown herein shall be considered minimum unless otherwise shown. The

specifications, terms, and conditions included with this RFP shall govern in any resulting

contract(s) unless approved otherwise in writing by the City of New Bern. The bidder consents

to personal jurisdiction and venue in a state court of competent jurisdiction in Craven County,

North Carolina.

Time Schedule for Proposals and Awarding the Contract

RFP Release Date

Deadline for RFP Questions*

Questions to be Answered No

Later Than

Deadline for Receipt of

Proposals**

Notice of Recommended Firm

Board Approval

March 2, 2026

March 9, 2026, by 5:00 pm

March 13, 2024

March 30, 2026, by 2:00 pm

City of New Bern, Finance Department

Attn: Jenna Lanfor

606 Fort Totten Drive

New Bern, NC 28560

April 3, 2026

April 14, 2026

*Any questions regarding bid submission should be directed to Jenna Lanfor, Purchasing

Manager, via email lanfor.jenna@newbernnc.gov.

**Proposals must be submitted by March 30, 2026, by 2:00 pm. Envelopes containing proposals

on paper should be clearly identified on the front with the words “RESPONSE TO RFP # FIN 26-

01 FOR AUDIT SERVICES”. See Section Submission of Questions Concerning RFP for detailed

instructions.

Page 2 of 20

Type of Audit

1. The audit will encompass a financial and compliance examination of the unit’s Annual

Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) in accordance with the laws and/or regulations of

the State of North Carolina, which include requirements for the minimum scope of the

audit. The financial and compliance audit will cover federal, state, and local funding sources

in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards; Governmental Auditing

Standards, most recent revision; the provisions of Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations

(CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit

Implementation Act; and all other applicable laws and regulations.

2. The scope of the audit and all fee quotes presented should include all approved and known

pronouncements through the date of proposal submission. This includes, but is not limited

to, the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) statements and Government

Auditing Standards. Although some pronouncements will not be in effect until after the first

year of the audit, estimates for future years should include pronouncements that will

become effective during that contract period. The audit firm will be expected to advise

appropriate City staff on the applicability of accounting and reporting standards as they

become effective.

3. The financial audit opinion will cover the financial statements for the governmental

activities, the business-type activities, each major fund, discretely presented component

units (as applicable), and the remaining fund information, which collectively constitutes the

basic financial statements. The combining and individual financial statements, schedules,

and related information are not necessary for fair presentation, but will be presented as

additional analytical data. This supplemental information, as required by GASB 34, will be

subjected to the tests and other auditing procedures applied in the audit of the basic

financial statements, and an opinion will be given as to whether the supplemental

information is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial

statements taken as a whole. The auditor shall express an opinion on the budgetary

comparison information for the General Fund, annually budgeted major and special revenue

funds. An opinion will not be given on the Management Discussion and Analysis.

The working papers shall be retained and made available upon request for no less than

three years from the date of the Audit report.

4. The audit will also include the following:

a. Pre-planning conference with the Finance Department staff, where both the auditor

and Finance staff discuss their expectations of the audit.

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b. The Lead Auditor/Audit Manager responsible for directly overseeing the City’s audit

shall attend up to three (3) Audit Committee Meetings:

• Pre-audit Workshop to educate and discuss planning, timeline,

expectations, and roles of the audit staff and the audit process with the

committee (June)

• Mid-audit update to discuss progress and address any challenges (August)

• Audit Workshop following the completion of the audit to discuss the

outcome of the audit and answer questions from the committee (late

September)

c. Interim audit work prior to June 30th and/or prior to final closing.

d. Attendance no later than the January Board of Aldermen meeting for the

presentation of the financial statements by the Manager or Partner of the Audit

Staff, with the expectation to address comments and potential questions from the

Board as requested.

5. The audit should encompass all funds and entity-wide activities as reported in the City’s

Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) on June 30, 2025, and any additional funds

or entity-wide activities that may be added subsequent to that date.

6. If required, the audit firm will issue a management letter to the Board of Aldermen after

completion of the audit and assist management in implementing recommendations, as is

practical. City staff also request that an informal letter be addressed to the Finance Officer

with any efficiency, internal control, or accounting improvements that could be made based

on the audit staff’s observation during their fieldwork. All content must be discussed with

the Finance Officer prior to issuance.

7. The City staff may require the auditor’s guidance or input on the completion of certain

schedules/documents as to proper format and content, so that they can be used in the audit

process, as well as inclusion in the City’s financial statements. Guidance may be required for

new note disclosures, all outstanding and effective authoritative standards, and other

reporting requirements on the June 30 year-end. Cost of providing these services should be

included in the auditor’s base fee quote and will not be considered extra for additional

billings. In cases, however, where services requested would require a more in-depth scope

and require work significantly above the original fee quote, such additional fees must be

negotiated prior to commencement of work.

Auditor Requirements

The audit firm is an independent contractor and will be wholly responsible for the services and

supervision of its own employees and permitted subcontractors.

Page 4 of 20

A planning meeting will be held each year to determine schedules that the City will be

responsible for preparing. Estimated time frames will be established, and interim audit work will

be planned. Adequate notification will be given prior to any changes in estimated times.

The City of New Bern audit engagement must be conducted in accordance with Generally

Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS); Government Auditing Standards, most recent revision,

issued by the Comptroller General of the United States; and if applicable, the U.S. Office of

Management and Budget’s (OMB) Uniform Guidance; and if applicable, the State single Audit

Implementation Act, and any other applicable procedures for the audit of a local government’s

financial statements prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

(GAAP). By accepting this engagement, the Auditor warrants that he has met the requirements

for a peer review and continuing education as specified in Governmental Auditing Standards.

The Auditor must provide a copy of their most recent peer review report with their proposal.

The Financial Statement Preparer (with the audit firm) will be ultimately responsible for the

preparation, typing, proofing, printing, and copying of the basic financial statements,

supplementary information, and compliance reports, with the Finance Director assisting in

preparation. The City staff will prepare all standard year-end accruals and other adjusting

journal entries. The Financial Statement Preparer (with the audit firm) will prepare the

government-wide year-end adjusting journal entries as well as any necessary entries to allocate

the state pension balances and post-employment benefits. The City shall designate an

individual, the Finance Director, who has the suitable skills, knowledge, and/or experience (SKE)

necessary to oversee the services and accept responsibility for the results of the services

performed. The City will require the assistance of the Financial Statement Preparer for the

preparation, typing, proofing, printing, and copying of the Basic Financial Statements,

supplementary information, and compliance reports. The City’s Finance Director will prepare

the MD&A. A preliminary draft of the audit and required adjusting journal entries must be

submitted to the Finance Director by October 15 for proofing and reconciliation of the City’s

records to allow ample time for review and corrections before it is sent to the Local Government

Commission. The City’s Finance Director will return the draft to the Financial Statement

Preparer with proposed revisions within 10 working days. Once all issues for discussion are

resolved and the auditor provides opinions and compliance reports, the auditor will complete

and submit the necessary Single Audit information to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse on behalf

of the City.

Meeting LGC deadlines is a high priority for the City. Therefore, the City of New Bern prefers

that interim fieldwork be completed in early June. Year-end fieldwork should begin by or before

late July and be completed by late August. All fieldwork may be completed remotely with

electronic submission of workpapers and supporting documents through the firm’s online

Page 5 of 20

Commodity Codes

• NAICS 541611Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

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