RFQ #22-TXAUDIT-0226 Professional Auditing Services in Texas

Location:	Texas
Posted:	Dec 11, 2025
Due:	Jan 9, 2026
Agency:	IDEA Public Schools
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	R - Professional, Administrative and Management Support Services
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

Attachment Preview

TEXAS

Request for Qualifications (RFQ)

22-TXAUDIT-0226

Professional Auditing Services in

Texas

Purchasing Department

2115 West Pike Blvd

Weslaco, TX 78596

solicitations@ideapublicschools.org

Table of Contents

PART I – GENERAL INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS.........................................................................3

PART II – REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS TIMELINE .............................................................................3

PART III – BACKGROUND & SCOPE OF SERVICES .....................................................................................5

Scope of Work.......................................................................................................................................................5

Statement of Qualifications Submission Requirements ..................................................................................10

PART IV – STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS .............................................................12

RFQ Clarification...............................................................................................................................................13

PART V – SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS ......................................................................................................14

PART VI – REQUIREMENTS............................................................................................................................14

Statement Of Qualifications Opening.............................................................................................................. 14

Who Is Eligible to Respond............................................................................................................................. 15

PART VII – EVALUATION CRITERIA ............................................................................................................15

PART VIII – ATTACHMENTS ..........................................................................................................................16

Attachment A – Title Page.................................................................................................................................17

Attachment B – Vendor Acknowledgement .....................................................................................................18

Attachment C – Certification Regarding Lobbying ........................................................................................19

Attachment D – Debarment or Suspension Certificate...................................................................................20

Attachment E – Reference Sheet .......................................................................................................................21

Attachment F – Recent and Ongoing Projects.................................................................................................22

Attachment G – Evidence of Insurance ............................................................................................................25

Attachment H – Deviations and Exceptions.....................................................................................................26

Attachment I – Vendor Questionnaire ............................................................................................................27

Attachment J – Price Sheet................................................................................................................................28

Part IX: APPENDICES ........................................................................................................................................29

Appendix A: Audit Report ................................................................................................................................30

Appendix B: Compliance Report ......................................................................................................................31

Appendix C – RFQ Completion Checklist .......................................................................................................32

END OF IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS RFQ ......................................................................................................33

Page 2 of 33

PART I – GENERAL INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS

Procurement Analyst: Delilah Veliz

Contact email: solicitations@ideapublicschools.org

IDEA Public Schools (herein referred to as IDEA or the organization) is seeking Statement of Qualifications

from qualified independent certified public accounting firms to conduct IDEA’s annual audits in accordance with

Texas Education Code (Tex. Ed. Code) Section 12.111(a)(11) and 44.008, Texas Administrative Code, Title 19

(19 TAC), §100.1067(c), Code of Federal Regulations, Title 2, §200.501(a), and the TEA’s Financial

Accountability System Resource Guide (FASRG), Modules 2 for our Texas open-enrollment charter school and

its related nonprofit entity, IPS Enterprises, Inc (IPS), of which IDEA is its sole corporate member under Chapter

22 of the Texas Business Organizations Code. The qualified Respondent(s) must be a member of the American

Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Governmental Audit Quality Center (GAQC), adhere to

GAQC’s membership requirements, collectively have the knowledge, skills, and experience to be competent for

the audit being conducted, including thorough knowledge of Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAGAS),

Texas public school district environments, public sector, and nonprofit sector.

Additionally, on behalf of its affiliates, IDEA Florida, LLC (IDEA Florida) and IPS Cincinnati, LLC (IPS

Cincinnati), IDEA is seeking review services conforming with the Statements on Standards for Accounting and

Review Standards issued by the AICPA. The reviews for IPS Florida and IPS Cincinnati will be separate

engagements from the annual audit of IDEA and its subsidiary, IPS.

The qualified Respondent(s) must be able to provide goods and/or services with the utmost diligence, cooperation,

and ethical behavior in addition to being knowledgeable of industry standards of practice, ensuring effective

project planning, management, and execution. The chosen Respondent(s) will audit IDEA’s (and IPS’) financial

statements and conduct a review of IPS Florida’s and IPS Cincinnati’s financial statements for the fiscal year

ending June 30, 2026, and anticipated for the four (4) fiscal years thereafter. The chosen Respondent(s) must

also demonstrate high levels of trust, competence, integrity, and adherence to professional audit standards

applicable to charter schools and nonprofit corporations.

IDEA reserves the right to revise and amend this RFQ prior to the date set for the receipt of the Statement of

Qualifications (SOQ). Respondents are requested to clarify any ambiguity, conflict, discrepancy, omission, or

other error(s) in the RFQ in writing. Revisions or amendments, if any, will be made by issuing an addendum.

Every effort will be made to send addenda issued to the parties known to have been furnished with a complete

copy of the RFQ. It is the responsibility of each respondent, prior to submitting the SOQ, to contact IDEA to

determine if addenda were issued and, if so, to obtain such addenda for attachment to the SOQ. IDEA reserves the

right to waive any requirement or technicality as it determines appropriate or in its best interest. Addenda are

posted to IDEA’s website at: Bid Opportunities & RFPs - IDEA Public Schools

PART II – REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS TIMELINE

All dates and times are tentative and subject to change.

First Advertisement Date/Issue Date:

Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Second Advertisement Date:

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Pre-Qualification Meeting:

Respondent Question Cut-Off Date:

Questions Response from IDEA:

Statement of Qualifications Due Date & Time:

Anticipated Evaluation Period:

Tuesday, December 16, 2025 @ 1:00 PM CST

Wednesday, December 17, 2025, no later than 12:00 PM CST

Friday, December 19, 2025

Friday, January 9, 2026, no later than 12:00 PM CST

Wednesday, January 17, 2026 – Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Page 3 of 33

Anticipated Board Meeting & Approval:

Initial Proposed Contract Term:

Renewal option #1:

Renewal option #2:

Renewal option #3:

Renewal option #4:

February 2026

July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027

July 1, 2027-June 30, 2028

July 1, 2028-June 30, 2029

July 1, 2029-June 30, 2030

July 1, 2030-June 30, 2031

Pre-Qualification

Meeting

A virtual pre-qualification meeting will be held at 1:00 PM CST via TEAMS video

conference on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. Questions regarding this RFQ must be

submitted in writing to solicitations@ideapublicschools.org no later than 12:00 PM CST

on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. The subject line must read “Questions-RFQ 22-

TXAUDIT-0226 Professional Auditing Services in Texas”. Respondents are responsible

for reviewing questions and answers prior to submitting a SOQ. Oral communications

regarding this RFQ shall not be binding and shall in no way excuse a Respondent of the

obligations set forth in this solicitation. While the pre-qualification meeting is non-

mandatory, it is highly encouraged that all potential respondents participate and attend.

Join TEAMS Meeting: Microsoft Teams Meeting

Meeting ID: 294 834 208 280 02

Passcode: dU3Rk99n

SOQ Submission: The SOQ may be submitted using the Public Purchase or Self-Service website, or by sending

one (1) clearly identified hard copy ORIGINAL of the SOQ to:

IDEA Public Schools

RFQ #22-TXAUDIT-0226 Professional Auditing Services in Texas

Attn: Purchasing Department

2115 West Pike Blvd

Weslaco, TX 78596

The SOQ must be received by IDEA by the specified due date and time outlined in the timeline. Each SOQ must

be sealed and marked with the relevant information; failure to do so may result in the SOQ not being considered.

Note: Faxed or emailed statements of qualifications will not be accepted. Acceptance Period is 120 days from

the date of the SOQ submission deadline unless otherwise stated in writing.

Funding Type: IDEA, IPS Florida, and IPS Cincinnati will utilize state funds and local support to finance any

purchases of goods and/or services through the contract(s) awarded to the successful Vendor(s) through this RFQ,

including any purchase orders issued under said contract(s).

Eligible Respondents: Respondents must not be debarred or suspended by federal or state-funded agencies and

must have the legal authority to transact business in Texas. Additionally, respondents must affirmatively

demonstrate responsibility and good standing, which may be considered as part of the performance evaluation

criteria. Finally, for the audit of IDEA and IPS, respondents must meet the requirements set forth at 19 TAC

§109.23(d) and Tex. Ed. Code §48.008(a).

Respondents may withdraw their SOQ in writing at any time prior to the submission deadline, without penalty or

prejudice.

Page 4 of 33

PART III – BACKGROUND & SCOPE OF SERVICES

Introduction: IDEA is a Texas non-profit corporation and a tax-exempt organization pursuant to Section

501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (IRC). Pursuant to Chapter 12, Subchapter D of the Texas Education

Code and its Contract for Charter with the Texas State Board of Education, as renewed by the Commissioner of

Education, IDEA is an open-enrollment charter holder, governmental unit, instrumentality of the state, and part of

the Texas public school system. IDEA transforms education by preparing graduates to succeed in college and life.

IDEA is a growing network of high-performing charter schools serving students located throughout Texas in the

Austin, El Paso, Houston, Permian Basin, Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, Dallas, Tarrant County, and other

present and future regions in Texas.

Additionally, IDEA operates an in-district charter pursuant to a contract with Midland Independent School

District authorized under Tex. Ed. Code Chapter 12, Subchapter C. The in-district charter is an organizational unit

of IDEA but is not a separate legal entity and constitutes a non-charter activity under 19 TAC §100.1067(e).

IDEA serves primarily low-income students in underserved areas of both rural and urban communities. Over 80%

of IDEA students are considered low-income, and one in every three students is the first in their family to go to

college. Since the first graduating class in 2007, nearly 100% of seniors have been accepted and matriculated to a

college or university every year. Thanks to a rigorous path to college, IDEA students attend selective universities

throughout the country, win national awards and scholarships, and complete college at a rate six times the national

average for low-income students.

IPS is a Texas non-profit corporation, a tax-exempt organization pursuant to IRC Section 501(c)(3) and a

509(a)(3) supporting organization of IDEA. IDEA is the sole corporate member of IPS with final authority over

IPS governance, management, operations, and finances. IPS provides charter management services and has issued

tax-exempt bonds and leases educational facilities to IDEA’s network of charter holder/charter schools in Florida

and Ohio. While IPS operates charter schools in other states, IPS constitutes a non-charter activity of IDEA’s

Texas charter school operations under 19 TAC §100.1067(e).

IPS Florida is a Florida limited liability company providing charter management services to affiliated charter

schools in Jacksonville and Tampa Bay, Florida.

IPS Cincinnati is an Ohio limited liability company providing charter management services to affiliated charter

schools in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Scope of Work

IDEA seeks SOQs from Texas licensed and qualified CPA firms conforming with the requirements under 19

TAC §109.23(d)(2) to annually audit IDEA’s financial and programmatic operations, in accordance with 19 TAC

§100.1067(c), as specified Part I – General Information and Instructions for the fiscal year ending June 30,

2026, and the four (4) fiscal years thereafter. Additionally, on behalf of IPS Florida and IPS Cincinnati, IDEA

seeks SOQs for licensed and qualified CPA firms to provide review services. Future engagement options will be

recognized through four (4) one-year extensions after the first year ending June 30, 2026. The audit and review

services are to be performed in accordance with the provisions contained in this RFQ. This RFQ will result in the

engagement of a CPA firm(s) to conduct the annual audit of the financial and programmatic operations of

IDEA’s open-enrollment charter, as required under Tex. Ed. Code Section 12.111(a)(11) and 44.008, 19 TAC

§100.1067(c), and FASRG Module 2. Additionally, in accordance with FASRG Module 2 and accounting

principles generally accepted in the United States of America, the annual audit will include IDEA’s in-district

Page 5 of 33

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

RFQ #22-TXAUDIT-0226 Professional Auditing Services in Texas

Attachment Preview

See also