Questions and Answers Request for Quotations

U.S. Department of Transportation
Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
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RFP Section
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Research Announcement # 693JK326RA001
Questions & Response
Government Response

Are there award amounts attached to each
RA 12 Toping and/or budget cap?

Accounting System: Provide a copy of the
most recent approval (audit report) of the
organization/corporation accounting
system. Ensure that the approving
organization is identified.
While our accounting system is "audit
ready" there has yet to be the need for an
audit. What needs to be audited? What
are the requirements? Who does the
approval need to be from? Does this need
to be provided upon submission or only if
awarded?

There is no posted award amount or formal
budget cap per topic. Proposals will be
evaluated individually based on the
proposed scope of work and technical
approach submitted to meet the solicited
project objectives.
If no audit report is available, one of the
following would suffice at the time of
proposal submission:

1. Formal Non-Audit Attestations such

as CPA Review or Compilation
Engagement, Agreed-Upon
Procedures Report, or CPA Letter of
Adequacy.

2. Self-Assessment/Questionnaires

such as Standard Form 1408 (SF
1408/Pre-Award Survey of
Prospective Contractor Accounting
Systems) or Agency-Specific
Financial Capability Questionnaires.

3. Internal Financial & Structural

Documentation such as Written
Accounting Policies and Procedures
Manual, Chart of Accounts, Job
Costing/Project Ledger
Demonstration, or Internally
Prepared Financial Statements.

4. Supporting Proof of Operational

Compliance such as Payroll Records
& Sample Timecards, Bank
Reconciliation Statements, or Tax
Returns, such as Form 1120, Form
1065, or Form 990.

U.S. Department of Transportation
Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

Research Announcement # 693JK326RA001
Questions & Response

If an organization has never had an
accounting system audit, what is
acceptable in its place: a CPA's financial
statement audit or review letter, a prior
federal pre-award survey (for example,
from an SBIR award), or a self-certification
of GAAP compliance?

See response to Question 2.

The RA says no award will be made if a
listed attachment is missing. Will a
proposal without an audit report be found
incomplete?

No, provided the proposal is submitted with