Grant Compliance and Monitoring Services Joint RFQ

Location:	Texas
Posted:	Aug 28, 2026
Due:	Sep 4, 2026
Agency:	Houston First
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	R - Professional, Administrative and Management Support Services
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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GRANT COMPLIANCE AND MONITORING SERVICES

JOINT REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (“RFQ”)

ISSUE DATE:

DUE DATE:

SUBMIT TO:

August 28, 2026

10:00 a.m. on September 4, 2026 (the “Submission Deadline”)

Respondents are to submit their Statement of Qualifications by email to

bids@houstonfirst.com. Any submittal received after the Submission

Deadline will be rejected without further review or consideration.

CONTACT INFO:

Questions concerning this RFQ must be sent bids@houstonfirst.com any

will be answered collectively, in the form of a Letter of Clarification, and

made available on the HFC website. Questions may be combined or

edited for clarity or length at the discretion of HFC.

OVERVIEW

Houston First Corporation (“HFC”), a Texas local government corporation, and Houston National

Convention Host Committee 2028 (“Host Committee”), a Texas nonprofit corporation request

Statements of Qualifications (“SOQs”) from qualified and experienced accounting firms to provide

state grant compliance and administration services, including monitoring, fund tracking, and

reporting in connection with grant funds awarded in furtherance of and connection with the design,

construction, and capital improvement of venue infrastructure. The selected firm will be tasked to

ensure all grant activity and related expenditures are undertaken and completed in accordance

with Texas Grant Management Standards (TxGMS), relevant agreements, entity policies and

procedures, and applicable law and regulation.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Respondents must have significant audit experience with grants issued by the State of Texas,

including single audits, and be acutely familiar with TxGMS requirements. To be considered

responsive, the Respondent must be able to demonstrate the ability to implement effective

controls and protocols, examine submittals, and meet reporting requirements in connection with

the management of state grant funding.

BACKGROUND

HFC is a local government corporation formed in 2011 through the consolidation of the City of

Houston, Convention & Entertainment Facilities Department and the Houston Convention Center

Hotel Corporation. HFC endeavors to foster economic growth through the promotion of the

Greater Houston area and the business of conventions, meetings, tourism, and the arts. The entity

is also responsible for the operation of the George R. Brown Convention Center, Avenida

Houston, Partnership Tower, Wortham Theater Center, Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, Miller

Outdoor Theatre, an array of outdoor venues, landscaped properties, and parking facilities.

The Host Committee was organized to carry out charitable purposes within the meaning of

Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, including lessening and alleviating the burdens

of government, and assisting both state and local governments (including any local government

corporation formed by a local government, as provided by Subchapter D, Chapter 431, Texas

Transportation Code) within the Greater Houston, Texas region in carrying out their public

purposes; including, without limitation, the promotion, encouragement and maintenance of

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employment, commerce and economic development in the greater Houston, Texas region, which

has been determined and declared by the Texas Legislature to lessen the burdens of government.

SCOPE OF SERVICES

While the full scope of services will be more fully developed with the Respondent selected as a

result of this RFQ process, HFC and Host Committee anticipate a scope of services similar to the

following overview:

I. Compliance Monitoring

• Ensure compliance with:

o Grant agreement terms and conditions

o Applicable state regulations

o Cost principles and allowability requirements

• Review expenditures for:

o Allowability

o Allocability

o Reasonableness

o Proper documentation

• Monitor deadlines and compliance milestones.

II. Reimbursement and Drawdown Management

• Prepare and submit reimbursement requests or payment draws

• Compile supporting documentation required by the granting agency

• Track outstanding receivables from the state

• Follow up on delayed reimbursements

• Reconcile reimbursements to accounting records

III. Documentation and Record Retention

• Maintain organized electronic grant files

• Retain all financial records in accordance with grant and state requirements

• Maintain documentation supporting:

o Expenses

o Allocations

o Procurement activities

o Reimbursements

o Time and effort reporting (if applicable)

IV. Subrecipient Monitoring

• Review subrecipient invoices and supporting documentation

• Monitor subrecipient compliance

• Maintain records of monitoring activities

• Assist with corrective action plans when needed

V. Audit Support

• Prepare schedules and supporting documentation for auditors

• Respond to auditor requests

• Support state agency monitoring reviews

• Assist with Single Audit preparation, if applicable

• Help resolve audit findings and develop corrective actions

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VI. Grant Closeout

• Prepare final financial reports

• Reconcile all grant accounts

• Verify all expenditures have been recorded and reimbursed

• Assist with final reimbursement requests

• Prepare closeout documentation required by the state

• Archive grant records

SOQ FORMAT

To be considered responsive, Respondents are required to provide all of the following information

in their SOQ in an orderly and concise manner:

a. Submittal Form: To be considered responsive, Respondents are required to complete all

fields of the Submittal Form provided below. The completed form must be signed by a

person authorized to make representations on behalf of Respondent.

b. Firm Profile: Provide a brief profile of the Respondent firm, including its structure, history,

services, primary business location, and number of years in the business.

c. Key Personnel: Introduce the personnel who would be assigned to provide services for

HFC in connection with the services. For each individual, explain their respective

functions, note their years of experience, and include a brief summary of their

qualifications.

d. Experience: Describe Respondent’s experience in providing grant compliance and

administrative services similar to the scope of this RFQ. Provide three references with

governmental entities or non-profit corporations in connection with grants issued by the

State of Texas.

While there is no page limit, Respondents are asked to avoid excessive graphics, title pages, or

other extraneous information in their SOQ, other than as requested in this RFQ.

EVALUATION

Each responsive SOQ timely received in response to this RFQ will be reviewed and ranked based

on the following weighted criteria: Firm Profile (10 points); Key Personnel (20 points); and

Experience (20 points).

HFC and Host Committee reserve the right to schedule and conduct interviews with the top-

ranked Respondents. If interviews are scheduled, then such top-ranked Respondents will be

evaluated based on their engagement and responsiveness during the interview and awarded 1-

25 points. Interview scores will not be combined with SOQ-evaluation scores.

HFC and Host Committee intends to award contracts to the top-ranked Respondent offering the

best value, as measured by utilizing the foregoing evaluation criteria, subject to negotiation of fair

and reasonable compensation, which may include a not-to-exceed amount. If HFC/Host

Committee and such Respondent should fail to agree on such fair and reasonable compensation,

then HFC/Committee reserve the right to and may conduct negotiations with the next most-

qualified Respondent. If necessary, HFC/Host Committee will conduct negotiations with

successive Respondents in descending order until a contract award can be made to a qualified

Respondent whose price such parties believe is fair and reasonable.

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LETTERS OF CLARIFICATION

Responses to all material questions timely submitted by potential Respondents, as well as

revisions incorporated into this RFQ by HFC, if any, will be confirmed collectively in a letter posted

online at http://www.houstonfirst.com/do-business (“Letter of Clarification”). When issued, Letters

of Clarification become part of this RFQ and automatically supersede any previous specifications

or provisions in conflict therewith. By submitting their SOQ, Respondents shall be deemed to have

reviewed all Letters of Clarification on the website and incorporated them into their submittal.

Verbal responses will not otherwise alter the specifications, terms and conditions as stated herein.

It is the responsibility of Respondents to monitor the foregoing link and ensure they receive any

such Letters of Clarification and incorporate them in their submittal.

RESTRICTIONS ON COMMUNICATIONS

Throughout the selection process, commencing with the Issue Date, Respondents are directed

not to communicate with any HFC or Host Committee employee, officer or director regarding their

SOQ or any matter relating to this RFQ, other than through bids@houstonfirst.com, or in response

to a direct inquiry from the HFC General Counsel Department. HFC reserves the right to reject

any SOQ or proposals received due to violation of this provision.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Respondents are advised they have an affirmative obligation to disclose any affiliation or business

relationship with an HFC or Host Committee employee, officer, or director creating (or appearing

to create) a conflict of interest. Respondents who have any such affiliation or business relationship

can find the disclosure form online at https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/data/forms/conflict/CIQ.pdf.

By submitting their SOQ, Respondents represent that they have complied with the requirements

of Chapter 176 of the Texas Local Government Code.

PROTEST PROCEDURES

Any protest relating to the form, terms and conditions, selection criteria, specifications, exhibits,

or any other material RFQ content must be filed by the actual or potential Respondent with HFC

no later than five business days prior to the Submission Deadline. If the protest consists of a

dispute regarding the Respondent recommended by the evluation committee, or otherwise relates

to the alleged misapplication of selection criteria, then HFC must receive the protest from an

actual Respondent after the Submission Deadline, but at least three business days prior to

consideration of a contract resulting from this RFQ by HFC.

All protests must be made in writing and delivered to Houston First Corporation, Attn: SVP, Legal

Services, 701 Avenida de las Americas, Ste. 200, Houston, TX 77010. To be considered by HFC,

protests must be timely received and include, at a minimum, all of the following information: (a)

The name, address and contact information of the Respondent , with sufficient information to

establish that a bona fide Respondent is the person or entity filing the protest; (b) The full title of

the RFQ; (c) Material grounds for the protest, including the provisions of the RFQ and the

applicable law or regulation that serves as the basis for the protest; (d) A statement of the specific

relief requested by the Respondent; (e) Reference to and attachment of any pertinent documents

or sources relied upon by the Respondent that the protesting party wishes to have HFC consider;

and (f) An affidavit attached to support any factual allegations stated in the submission.

WITHDRAWAL; ERROR

Submittals may be withdrawn due to errors or for any other reason by a written request received

by bids@houstonfirst.com prior to the Submission Deadline.

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PUBLIC INFORMATION

HFC is subject to the Texas Public Information Act (“TPIA”). Information submitted by

Respondents is subject to release under the provisions of the TPIA set forth in Chapter 552 of the

Texas Government Code. Each page where confidential or proprietary information appears must

be labeled as such clearly and unambiguously. Respondents will be advised of any request for

public information that implicates their materials and will have the opportunity to raise objections

to disclosure with the Texas Attorney General at their expense.

RFQ PACKETS

A complete copy of this RFQ, including exhibits, necessary forms and other relevant information

is available on-line at www.houstonfirst.com/do-business. This RFQ provides the information

necessary to prepare and submit a SOQ for consideration and ranking.

NO OBLIGATION

This RFQ does not commit HFC or Host Committee to award a contract or issue a purchase order,

and submission of a SOQ shall not be construed as a contract nor indicate a commitment of any

kind on the part of HFC/Host Committee. Respondents shall receive no compensation or

reimbursement for any expenses incurred in preparing a submittal in connection with this request.

HFC/Host Committee reserve the right to waive any irregularities in any of the responses, select

one or more service providers, reject all responses, or cancel or make alterations to the entire

process. HFC and Host Committee reserve the right to request clarifications and/or additional

information from some or all Respondents.

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This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

Project	Project Document	Due	Addenda
Active Grant Compliance and Monitoring Services Joint RFQ		9/4/2026

Grant Compliance and Monitoring Services Joint RFQ

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See also