Town-Wide Operational and Financial Efficiency Audit

Town of Merrimack,
New Hampshire
6 Baboosic Lake Rd * Merrimack, NH 03054 * www.merrimacknh.gov
October 6, 2026
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
TOWN-WIDE
OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL EFFICIENCY AUDIT
The Town of Merrimack, New Hampshire is seeking to hire an independent, qualified
third-party firm (Consultant) to conduct a town-wide operational and financial efficiency
audit of Town operations. The independent and qualified third-party firm would review
administrative processes, expenditures, and potential duplication of services for the
purpose of identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and cost savings.
Proposals must be received not later than 2:00PM on Friday, November 6, 2026 from
interested forms, to be eligible for consideration by the Town. Each proposal shall be
submitted to the Town of Merrimack, Finance Department, 6 Baboosic Lake Rd,
Merrimack, NH 03054 in a sealed envelope, which is clearly marked "RFP-TOWN-
WIDE AUDIT".
The contractor will be required to provide an insurance certificate confirming the following
insurance coverage: worker's compensation insurance as required by the State of New
Hampshire; broad-form comprehensive general liability insurance in an amount no less
than $1,000,000 combined single limit per occurrence; and motor vehicle insurance to
include bodily injury, property damage, uninsured motorist, and employer's non-
ownership coverage in an amount no less than $1,000,000 combined single limit per
occurrence. The Town of Merrimack shall be named as an additional insured on all
policies.
The Town reserves the right to reject any or all bids, re-bid, negotiation any contracts, to
waive irregularities in the proposals, and to accept the bid which, in the Town's sole
discretion, best serves the interest of the Town and waive any formalities in the bid process.
It is the bidder's responsibility to confirm the bid is received by the Finance Department
by the date and time specified.
The Town of Merrimack's Purchasing Policy is available on the Town's website:
https://www.merrimacknh.gov/322/Bid-Opportunities; a copy may be obtained by
contacting the Purchasing Agent.
For additional information, contact Sandra Song, Purchasing Agent, at
ssong@merrimacknh.gov or (603) 424-7075.

TOWN OF MERRIMACK, NEW HAMPSHIRE
TOWN _______________________________________________
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
6 Baboosic Lake Road Tel: 603-424-7075
Merrimack, NH 03054
1. Introduction
The Town of Merrimack is seeking proposals from qualified independent consulting firms
to conduct a town-wide operational and financial efficiency audit. The purpose of this audit
is to review administrative processes, expenditures, and potential duplication of services
for identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and cost savings.
The Town of Merrimack is a municipality of the State of New Hampshire, located in
Hillsborough County, with a population of 30,000 (estimated). Merrimack is 60 miles from
Boston. The Town has a Council-Manager form of government. The Town has
approximately 203 full-time employees and a voted operating budget of $42,694,912 for
Fiscal Year 2026-2027. The principal municipal departments and functions subject to this
audit include police, fire rescue, public works (to include highway, equipment
maintenance, building & grounds, waste water, solid waste), parks and recreation, welfare,
community development, information technology, assessing, tax collection, media, and
general government administration.
2. Proposal Submission
A. Two (2) complete, separate hard copies and one (1) electronic copy (in PDF format on
a portable USB drive) of the proposal must be sealed, marked "RFP-Town-wide Audit"
and mailed or delivered to the Town of Merrimack, Finance Department, 6 Baboosic Lake
Rd, Merrimack, NH 03054 by the date and time specified above when they will be read
aloud at 6 Baboosic Lake Road East Wing of Town Hall - Lower Level Conference Room
at 2:00 PM on Friday, November 6, 2026. It is bidder's responsibility to confirm the bid is
received by the Finance Department by the date and time specified.
B. Proposers shall keep the proposals concise and organize them in the following order:
* Cover letter
* Firm background and qualifications
* Municipal experience conducting operational and financial efficiency audits
* Proposed project team including resumes of key personnel
* References
* Proposed methodology
* Work plan and project schedule
* List of information required from the Town
* Proposed deliverables
* Fee proposal
* Any assumptions and exceptions
* Disclosure of conflicts of interest
If, in the proposer's opinion, any aspect of the below specifications doesn't perform up to
industry standards or best practices, the bidder must submit the proposed question or

TOWN OF MERRIMACK, NEW HAMPSHIRE
TOWN _______________________________________________
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
6 Baboosic Lake Road Tel: 603-424-7075
Merrimack, NH 03054
concern about the specifications and or scope of work in writing via email, to Sandra Song
at ssong@merrimacknh.gov, no later than seven (7) calendar days prior to the Request for
Proposal opening date to be considered. Any and all questions and answers will be posted
as an addendum on the Town's Bid Opportunities page
https://www.merrimacknh.gov/322/Bid-Opportunities
C. Receipt &Opening of Proposals: Proposals shall be submitted prior to the time fixed in
the Request for Sealed Bids/RFP. Proposals received after the time so indicated shall be
returned unopened.
3. Scope of Services
The Audit shall review administrative processes, expenditures, and potential duplication of
services for identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and cost
savings.
The scope of services shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following:
A. Administrative Processes
The Consultant shall review the Town's administrative processes and procedures to
identify opportunities to:
* Streamline or simplify administrative procedures;
* Eliminate unnecessary steps, paperwork, or approvals;
* Improve workflow and internal communication;
* Reduce processing time and administrative burdens;
* Improve coordination among departments;
* Clarify roles and responsibilities;
* Identify opportunities for automation or improved use of technology; and
* Improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of Town operations.
B. Expenditures
The Consultant shall review Town expenditures and spending practices to identify potential
opportunities for cost savings and improved resource utilization.
The review may include, but shall not be limited to:
* Overall operating expenditures, including a breakdown and analysis of
expenditures by department and function;
* Contracted services;
* Professional and consulting services;
* Supplies and materials;
* Equipment, repair and maintenance costs;
* Overtime and other personnel-related expenditures;

TOWN OF MERRIMACK, NEW HAMPSHIRE
TOWN _______________________________________________
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
6 Baboosic Lake Road Tel: 603-424-7075
Merrimack, NH 03054
* Purchasing policies, procedures, and practices;
* Vendor and contract expenditures;
* Opportunities to improve competitive procurement practices;
* Opportunities for cooperative purchasing, bulk purchasing, and other cost-saving
arrangements; and
* Other significant or recurring expenditures identified by the Consultant.
The Consultant shall identify expenditures that may be reduced, eliminated, consolidated,
or otherwise managed more efficiently while maintaining appropriate levels of service and
meeting the Town's operational needs.
C. Duplication of Services
The Consultant shall review Town operations to identify potential duplication or overlap
of services, functions, responsibilities, or resources among departments or programs.
The review shall consider opportunities to:
* Eliminate unnecessary duplication;
* Consolidate similar or overlapping functions;
* Improve coordination among departments;
* Share personnel, equipment, facilities, or other resources;
* Consolidate purchasing or contracting activities;
* Improve utilization of existing resources; and
* Identify opportunities for shared services or other cooperative arrangements, where
appropriate.
The Consultant shall distinguish between necessary duplication required for effective
service delivery and duplication that may be reduced or eliminated without adversely
affecting Town services.
4. Deliverables
The selected Consultant shall provide at a minimum, the following deliverables:
A. Project Work Plan
The Consultant shall prepare a detailed work plan identifying:
* Project phases and major activities;
* Information and documentation required from the Town;
* Planned meetings and interviews;
* Deliverables and key milestones;
* Anticipated completion dates for each project phase and deliverable; and
* Estimated project costs, consistent with the approved fee proposal.

TOWN OF MERRIMACK, NEW HAMPSHIRE
TOWN _______________________________________________
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
6 Baboosic Lake Road Tel: 603-424-7075
Merrimack, NH 03054
B. Preliminary Findings
The consultant shall provide preliminary findings to Town Manager and Town Council
prior to completion of the final report. This review will provide an opportunity to clarify
findings and address factual questions before the report is finalized.
C. Draft Report
The consultant shall provide a draft report identifying findings and recommendations for
Town review. The Consultant shall allow the Town a reasonable period to review the draft
and provide comments and shall address the Town's comments in preparing the final
report.
D. Final Report
The final report shall include, at a minimum:
1. Executive summary;
2. Description of the audit methodology;
3. Summary of findings;
4. Departmental findings and recommendations;
5. Town-wide findings and recommendations;
6. Financial analysis;
7. Operational improvement recommendations;
8. Identified cost-saving opportunities;
9. Implementation considerations and potential challenges;
10. Prioritization of recommendations; and
11. Estimated financial impacts, where reasonably practicable, including potential cost
savings, and implementation costs.
E. Implementation Plan
The Consultant shall provide an implementation plan that prioritizes recommendations and
identifies anticipated timelines, resource requirements, and potential challenges. Where
appropriate, recommendations shall be categorized as follows:
* Immediate: Recommendations that can reasonably be implemented within 12
months.
* Short/Medium Term: Recommendations that may require one to three years to
implement.
* Long Term: Recommendations that may require significant planning, investment,
organizational change, or policy action and may extend beyond three years.
Where reasonably practicable, the implementation plan shall identify the anticipated costs,
potential financial benefits, and suggested sequence of actions for each recommendation.
F. Presentation

TOWN OF MERRIMACK, NEW HAMPSHIRE
TOWN _______________________________________________
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
6 Baboosic Lake Road Tel: 603-424-7075
Merrimack, NH 03054
The consultant shall provide a presentation of the final audit findings and recommendations
to the Town Manager, Town Council at the public meeting. The presentation shall
summarize the principal findings, potential cost savings, recommended operational
improvements, and proposed implementation priorities. The Consultant shall coordinate
the presentation date and format with the Town.
5. General Terms and Conditions
A. Preparation of Bids/Proposals: Proposals shall be submitted on the forms provided and
must be signed by the Bidder or his authorized representative. The person signing the
proposal shall initial any corrections to entries made on the attached forms.
Vendors must provide pricing on all items appearing on the bid forms unless there are
specific directions in the advertisement, on the bid form or in the special provisions allowed
for partial bids. Failure to provide pricing on all items may disqualify the bid. Alternative
bids will be considered, unless otherwise stated, only if the alternate is described
completely, including, but not limited to, sample, if requested and specifications sufficient
so that a comparison to the request can be made.
B. Submitted Bids/Proposals: Proposals must be submitted with all information specified
above and on the provided forms, unless otherwise noted. Proposals must be mailed or
delivered in person. Proposals submitted by fax or email will not be accepted.
C. Proposal Evaluation: The Town reserves the right to reject any or all bids, re-bid,
negotiation any contracts, to waive irregularities in the proposals, and to accept the bid
which, in the Town's sole discretion, best serves the interest of the Town and waive any
formalities in the bid process.
D. Proposal Results: All sealed RFPs will be considered confidential and not available for
public review until after the bid opening is conducted. Bid and RFP openings will be
scheduled and opened accordingly. Results will not be given over the phone. Please send
your request in writing or send an email to ssong@merrimacknh.gov to receive results after
the public opening.
E. Evaluation and Selection
It is the policy of the Town of Merrimack that contacts are awarded only to responsive and
responsible Consultant. In order to qualify as responsive and responsible, a prospective
Consultant must meet the following standards as they relate to this request:
* Have adequate financial resources for performance or have the ability to obtain
such resources as required during performance.
* Have the necessary experience, organization, technical and professional
qualifications, skills, and facilities.

TOWN OF MERRIMACK, NEW HAMPSHIRE
TOWN _______________________________________________
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
6 Baboosic Lake Road Tel: 603-424-7075
Merrimack, NH 03054
* Be able to comply with the proposed or required time of completion or performance
schedule; and
* Have a demonstrated satisfactory record of performance; and
* Adhere to the specifications of this bid and provide all documentation required of
this bid.
The Town reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, waive minor informalities or
irregularities, request additional information or clarification from any Proposer, and accept
or reject any proposal, in whole or in part, when such action is determined to be in the best
interest of the Town. The Town further reserves the right to reject any proposal if the
Proposer is determined to be nonresponsive, lacks the necessary qualifications or
experience, demonstrates insufficient financial capacity, or fails to meet any other
requirements or evaluation criteria established in this RFP. The Town reserves the right to
negotiate the scope of services, deliverables, schedule, and fees with the selected Proposer,
as permitted by applicable law and Town policy. Issuance of this RFP does not obligate
the Town to award a contract or reimburse any Proposer for costs incurred in preparing or
submitting a proposal.
F. Insurance Certificates
Prior to award of this contract, the contractor will be required to provide an insurance
certificate confirming the following insurance coverage: worker's compensation insurance
as required by the State of New Hampshire; broad-form comprehensive general liability
insurance in an amount no less than $1,000,000 combined single limit per occurrence; and
motor vehicle insurance to include bodily injury, property damage, uninsured motorist, and
employer's non-ownership coverage in an amount no less than $1,000,000 combined single
limit per occurrence. The Town of Merrimack shall be named as an additional insured on
all policies.
G. Background Checks and Access to Town Records
The Town reserves the right to require appropriate background checks for the Consultant
and any personnel or subcontractors who will have access to Town facilities, information
systems, financial records, personnel records, or other sensitive or confidential
information. Any required background checks and decisions regarding access shall be
conducted in accordance with applicable federal and New Hampshire laws and Town
policies. The Consultant shall cooperate with the Town's screening requirements and
ensure that authorized personnel comply with applicable confidentiality, data security, and
access-control requirements before being granted access.

TOWN OF MERRIMACK, NEW HAMPSHIRE
TOWN _______________________________________________
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
6 Baboosic Lake Road Tel: 603-424-7075
Merrimack, NH 03054
H. Data Security
Contractor agrees that all Customer data, equipment and systems are owned by the
Customer and shall be freely and securely accessible by the Customer for all governmental
purposes. In the event of a cyber security incident, breach or threat that may have resulted
in, or potentially could in the future result in, the compromise of confidential Customer
data or loss/damage to Customer data, systems or equipment, Contractor shall fully
cooperate with the Customer in identifying, reporting, investigating and mitigating the
threat, as well as providing information as requested in support of the Customer securing
cyber liability coverages and services. This includes, but is not limited to, immediately
providing system and data access to the Customer, government agencies, the Customer's
attorneys, the Customer's cyber risk insurer, and the insurer's employees, attorneys, claim
investigators and remediation specialists. To the extent Contractor's cooperative efforts are
in whole or in part not included in the flat fee, it shall promptly provide the Customer an
estimate, which shall not be unreasonable, of the hourly fees reasonably necessary for
incident support.
I. Confidentiality
Contractor shall at all times maintain Customer data confidentially and in an environment
that is secured against external and internal breaches of confidentiality by unauthorized
persons or entities. Contractor warrants that its personnel, contractors, equipment,
software, data systems, worksites, policies and practices are maintained and updated to
conform to industry standards for protecting personal confidential information. Contractor
warrants that it undergoes an annual data security audit and will share the results on request.
Contractor shall immediately and fully disclose to the Customer any data breach or
potential data breach that may impact Customer's data. Contractor shall fully cooperate
with Customer in the investigation, reporting, response and remediation of any actual or
potential breach that may impact Customer's data.
J. Pricing: Unless otherwise specified all prices listed are firm for the term of the contract.
All prices should include all labor and material costs, and any discounts offered. All fuel
surcharges, delivery charges and miscellaneous charges that are not part of the terms and
conditions of this contract will only hold up payment if they are added to the submitted
invoice.
K. Invoicing: The invoice must include an itemization of all items, supplies, repairs, labor
furnished, including unit list pricing, and net pricing, as identified in the bid award. The
total amount due shall be clear and apparent on the invoice for proper payment. Payment
terms are net thirty (30) days from the date of the invoice. The Town will make payment
within (at least two) weeks after receiving the invoice. A completed W-9 is required for all
vendors prior to processing of payment.

TOWN OF MERRIMACK, NEW HAMPSHIRE
TOWN _______________________________________________
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
6 Baboosic Lake Road Tel: 603-424-7075
Merrimack, NH 03054
TOWN OF MERRIMACK, NEW HAMPSHIRE
SPECIFICATIONS EXCEPTION FORM
In the interest of fairness and sound business practice, it is mandatory that you state any
exceptions taken by you to our specifications.
It should not be the responsibility of the Town of Merrimack to ferret out information
concerning the materials which you intend to furnish.
If your proposal does not meet all of our specifications you must so state in the space
provided below:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Proposals on equipment, vehicles, supplies, service and materials not meeting
specifications may be considered by the Town, however, all deviations must be listed
above.
If your proposal does not meet our specifications, and your exceptions are not listed above,
the
Town of Merrimack may claim forfeiture on your proposal bond, if submitted.
Signed:
_______________________________________________________________________
I DO meet specifications
Signed:
_______________________________________________________________________
I DO NOT meet specifications as listed in this proposal; exceptions are in the space
provided.
Failure to submit this form with your proposal response may result in your proposal being
rejected as unresponsive.