Proposed Resolution No. CRA R26-XX: Approval of Auditor Selection Committee Ratification and Contract with CBIZ CPAs P.C. for Financial Auditing Services (RFP No. 26-101R).

The Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency's (BBCRA) prior auditor of record is no longer available to perform the audit of the CRA's financial statements for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026 (“FYE 2026 Audit”) and subsequent years. Pursuant to Section 218.39, Florida Statutes, the FYE 2026 Audit must be completed within nine (9) months of fiscal year end, requiring the CRA to promptly select a replacement independent auditor.

On August 23, 2026, Procurement Services issued expedited RFP No. 26-101R – BBCRA Financial Auditing Services, soliciting proposals from qualified independent certified public accounting firms to provide external audit services for a three (3) year term (FYE 2026–2028), with one (1) option to extend for an additional two (2) years (FYE 2029–2030). The solicitation was conducted in accordance with Section 218.391, Florida Statutes, which governs the selection of auditors by local governmental entities, and Chapter 10.550, Rules of the Auditor General. Addendum No. 1 was issued on September 8, 2026, responding to twenty-nine (29) written questions submitted by prospective proposers. Proposals were due September 15, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. through the City's e-procurement portal.

Seven (7) firms registered as plan holders for the solicitation: Anthony Brunson, PA; BCA Watson Rice LLP; CBIZ CPAs P.C.; Cherry Bekaert LLP; Fierman PLLC; Floral Park Consulting LLC; and S. Davis & Associates, P.A. Of these, only CBIZ CPAs P.C. submitted a responsive proposal by the deadline. Section 218.391(3)(e), Florida Statutes, and the RFP itself contemplate that the Evaluation Committee may recommend fewer than three (3) firms where fewer than three respond to the solicitation.

Evaluation Committee and Selection Process

As required by Section 218.391(3)(a), Florida Statutes, an Audit Evaluation Committee meeting, chaired by the Mayor as Chair of the CRA Board, was publicly noticed and held on August 18, 2026, to establish the evaluation criteria and weighting for this procurement. The Evaluation Committee consisted of:

• Rebecca Shelton, Mayor / Chair of the Board – Committee Chair
• Brian High, Budget Analyst, City of Boynton Beach
• Bea Good, Finance Administrator, South Central Regional Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Board
• Ashley Watson, Finance Administrator, Town of Manalapan
• Alan Lawson, CFO, City of Boynton Beach – advisory resource per Section 218.391

Because the FYE 2026 Audit deadline did not allow time to wait for a regularly scheduled Board meeting, Procurement Services convened the Committee subject to Board ratification, which is requested as part of this item.

The Evaluation Committee reconvened in a duly noticed public meeting on September 17, 2026, pursuant to Section 286.0113(2)(b), Florida Statutes, to independently review and score the CBIZ proposal against the weighted evaluation criteria in the RFP:

• Ability of Personnel (10%): Members noted engagement Shareholder Branden Lopez, CPA's more than 15 years of governmental audit experience and found CBIZ's assigned personnel qualified and experienced.
• Experience (30%): Members cited CBIZ's 70-year history, its volume of governmental audit work (600+ government audits and 200 Single Audit engagements annually, including 45 Florida entities), and its team's involvement in the GFOA Certificate of Achievement review program as evidence of substantial CRA-relevant experience.
• Ability to Furnish Required Services (25%): Members noted the 46-member staff at CBIZ's Boca Raton office (the office performing the engagement) and found the firm well-positioned to complete the audit within the required timeframe.
• Understanding of CRA-Specific Reporting (15%): Members found CBIZ demonstrated strong knowledge of governmental and CRA finance, with prior experience serving multiple Florida CRAs and a detailed audit approach specific to CRA reporting requirements.
• References / Past Performance (10%): Members noted CBIZ's CRA client references (City of Hallandale, City of Homestead, City of Boca Raton, City of Deerfield Beach, and Town of Jupiter CRAs) and that CBIZ provided more references than the three required. One member noted the references did not include named individual client contacts and considered this a minor weakness.
• Compensation (10%): Consistent with Section 5.1 of the RFP, the Price Proposal was held separate from the Committee pending completion of technical scoring.

Final Evaluation Scores

The Evaluation Committee's individual scores were averaged and weighted in accordance with Section 5.1 of the RFP, resulting in the following final scores for CBIZ CPAs P.C.:

CBIZ CPAs P.C. received a final weighted score of 97.25 out of a possible 100.00 points. Having found the CBIZ proposal responsive and qualified, the Evaluation Committee is recommending CBIZ CPAs P.C. to the CRA Board for selection, consistent with Section 218.391(3)(e), Florida Statutes.

Best and Final Offer (BAFO) and Negotiations

After the Evaluation Committee ranked CBIZ CPAs P.C., Procurement Services asked CBIZ for a Best and Final Offer (BAFO), pursuant to Section 218.391(4), Florida Statutes. That section directs the entity to negotiate a contract with the top-ranked firm. CBIZ submitted a revised Sealed Fee Proposal on September 30, 2026, which lowered the annual audit fee by $750.00 per year. Over the initial three (3) year term (FYE 2026–2028), the BBCRA will save a total of $2,250.00.

The negotiations also lowered CBIZ's hourly rates for additional services. The rates for four (4) of the five (5) professional levels dropped by $25.00 per hour. The Staff Auditor rate stayed at $195.00 per hour. These rates apply only to work outside the RFP scope, and only after the CRA and the firm agree to it in writing:

If required, the Federal Single Audit and the State Single Audit will each be performed for a flat fee of $8,000.00 per fiscal year. These fees stayed the same in the BAFO, remain fixed for the full contract term, and apply only if the CRA exceeds the applicable audit threshold.

If the BBCRA exercises the two (2) year renewal option (FYE 2029–2030, at $31,850.00 and $33,440.00), the BBCRA will save another $1,500.00, for a total of $3,750.00 over five years.

FY 2026 - $27,650

FY 2027 - $28,950

FY 2028 - $30,400

FY 2029 - $31,850

FY 2030 - $33,140

If required, a Federal Single Audit will be performed for a flat fee of $8,000 per fiscal year, and a State Single Audit will be performed for a flat fee of $8,000 per fiscal year. Such fee would apply only if the CRA exceeds the applicable audit threshold requiring such audits. These fees will remain fixed for all years covered by the contract.

Approval will: (1) ratify, confirm, and approve the establishment, composition, and all actions of the Auditor Selection Committee for RFP No. 26-101R – BBCRA Financial Auditing Services, effective as of the date it was first convened, pursuant to Section 218.391(2), Florida Statutes; (2) select CBIZ CPAs P.C. as the highest-ranked qualified firm under RFP No. 26-101R, pursuant to Section 218.391(4)(b), Florida Statutes; (3) ratify Procurement Services as the Board's designee for negotiations pursuant to Section 218.391(4)(d), Florida Statutes; (4) find that the negotiated compensation is reasonable to satisfy the requirements of Section 218.39, Florida Statutes, and the needs of the BBCRA, pursuant to Section 218.391(5), Florida Statutes; (5) approve the Contract for Financial Auditing Services with CBIZ CPAs P.C. in substantially the form presented, for fiscal years ending September 30, 2026, through September 30, 2028, with one (1) two-year renewal option; (6) authorize the Chief Executive Officer to execute the contract, annual engagement letters, and renewals consistent with the Contract on behalf of the BBCRA, and to approve non-material changes to the Contract approved as to form by the CRA  Attorney.

Auditing firm needed for the CRA per Florida Statute.

Staff recommends the CRA Board (1) find CBIZ CPAs P.C. to be the sole responsive, responsible, and qualified firm under RFP No. 26-101R, consistent with the Audit Evaluation Committee's recommendation and total cumulative score of 97.25 out of 100 under Section 218.391(3)(e), Florida Statutes; and (2) approve the negotiated contract with CBIZ CPAs P.C., attached hereto, for BBCRA Financial Auditing Services for a three (3) year term (FYE 2026–2028) with one (1) option to extend for two (2) years (FYE 2029–2030), and authorize the Executive Director to execute the contract on the CRA's behalf.

Approve or deny a motion to find CBIZ CPAs P.C. the highest-ranked, qualified firm under RFP No. 26-101R, to approve the negotiated contract with CBIZ CPAs P.C. as presented, and to authorize the Executive Director to execute the contract on behalf of the BBCRA.