Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout474315 REVENUE RECOVERY GROUP INC - CONTRACT - RFP - 7130 SALES USE AND LODGING TAX THIRD PARTY AUDITORPROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WORK ORDER TYPE THIS AGREEMENT made and entered into the day and year set forth below by and between THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS, COLORADO, a Municipal Corporation, hereinafter referred to as the "City" and Revenue Recovery Group, Inc., hereinafter referred to as "Professional". WITNESSETH: In consideration of the mutual covenants and obligations herein expressed, it is agreed by and between the parties hereto as follows: Scope of Services. The Professional agrees to provide services in accordance with any project Work Orders for Bid 7130 Sales/Use Tax Auditing Services, issued by the City. Such Scope of Services and a blank sample of a work order is attached hereto as Exhibit "A", consisting of four (4) pages and is incorporated herein by this reference. No work order shall exceed $15,000. The City reserves the right to independently bid any project rather than issuing a Work Order to the Professional for the same pursuant to this Agreement. 2. The Work Schedule. The services to be performed pursuant to this Agreement shall be performed in accordance with the Work Schedule stated on each Work Order. 3. Time of Commencement and Completion of Services. The services to be performed pursuant to this Agreement shall be initiated as specified on each Work Order. Time is of the essence. Any extensions of any time limit must be agreed upon in writing, by the parties hereto. 4. Contract Period. This Agreement shall commence June, 1, 2010, and shall continue in full force and effect until May 31, 2011, unless sooner terminated as herein provided. In addition, at the option of the City, the Agreement may be extended for additional one year periods not to exceed four (4) additional one year periods. Renewals and pricing changes shall be negotiated by and agreed to by both parties. The Denver Boulder Greeley CPIU published by the Colorado State Planning and Budget Office will be used as a guide. Written notice of renewal shall be provided to the Professional and mailed no later than ninety (90) days prior to contract end. stdwopsa rev 03/10 PROVIDER have been concluded. City agrees to allow access by SERVICE PROVIDER to the information and data available to City through its reciprocity arrangements with other taxing jurisdictions for the purpose of determining the existence of delinquent taxes, or untaxed transactions. This access by SERVICE PROVIDER shall be subject to any limitations imposed by written agreements with other taxing jurisdictions, which may restrict the information that may be shared by City with SERVICE PROVIDER. City acknowledges that SERVICE PROVIDER performs its service for a number of other taxing jurisdictions, and consents to SERVICE PROVIDER obtaining information from taxpayers in connection with simultaneous audits for more than one taxing jurisdiction. 9. City agrees that information provided by SERVICE PROVIDER on the "audit request form" for the purpose of securing approval for audit of that vendor is proprietary, and City further agrees that if City has not contacted the vendor to initiate an audit prior to receipt of the SERVICE PROVIDER "audit request form" City will not deny SERVICE PROVIDER approval and then use the information to pursue the vendor for the purpose of recovering delinquent revenues. EXHIBIT B FEES AND EXPENSES The per hour billing rates for the personnel of SERVICE PROVIDER shall be $135.00 per hour for audit services outlined in this Contract. SERVICE PROVIDER will provide the City a report of preliminary audit findings at the conclusion of a Discovery Phase (5 — 25 hours depending on complexity). The report shall provide the City information relating to significant errors, and estimates of outstanding tax due and costs to complete a full -scope audit of the taxpayer's records. The Discovery Phase may be extended upon approval of the City. All participating jurisdictions will pay their prorated share of the audit expenses based on the audit hours allocated. EXHIBIT C AGREEMENT TO MAINTAIN CONFIDENTIALITY OF TAX RECORDS 1. Confidential Nature of Tax Records. The Professional hereby acknowledges that the tax records obtained from the City are confidential and that the disclosure of such records by the Professional to third parties constitutes a violation of Section 2-568, Section 25-166 and 25-264 of the Code of the. City of Fort Collins and grounds for the immediate termination of the Professionals contractual relationship with the City. 2. Access to Tax Records. Except as otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement, the Professional shall not duplicate or distribute any of the City's tax records. The Professional shall not use the City's tax records to obtain any economic or other benefit for itself, or any third party, except as specifically authorized by the City. The Professional further agrees that only those of its employees who must have access to the City's tax records in order to fulfill the Professional's obligations under an agreement with the city for the purpose of conducting an economic and financial analysis of regional retail proposals shall be afforded access to such records. Each such employee shall be informed by the Professional of the existence of the Professional's agreement to maintain the confidentiality of the City's tax records and shall agree to be bound by and to comply with the provisions of this Agreement regarding the terms and conditions of the receipt of such records. Each such employee shall further receive a copy of this section of the Agreement and shall execute the Acknowledgement set forth as Exhibit "A" hereto (the "Acknowledgement"). One copy of each such Acknowledgement shall be provided to the City for its records. Furthermore, all tax records supplied to the Professional pursuant to the Professional Services Agreement will be returned to the City. 3. Disclosure Requests. In the event the Professional *is made a party or threatened to be made a party, or is involved in any action, suit, or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, investigative, or appellate, and in connection therewith is requested or required to disclose (by oral questions, interrogatories, requests for information or documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar process), or wish to disclose any portion of the tax records supplied to the Consultant by the City under this Agreement, the Consultant agrees to (i) provide the City with prompt notice of the existence, terms, and circumstances surrounding such a request, (ii) consult with the City on the advisability of taking legally available steps to resist or narrow such request, and (iii) if disclosure of such information is required by others or is sought by the Consultant, exercise best efforts to obtain a protective order or other reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be afforded to the City's tax records. The Consultant further agrees that, if in the absence of a protective order or the receipt of a waiver of the Consultant's compliance with the provisions of this section, the Consultant is nonetheless, in the opinion of the Consultant's legal counsel, compelled, notwithstanding this Agreement, to disclose any portion of the .City's tax records to anyone or else stand liable for contempt or suffer censure or penalty, the consultant may disclose such information to such tribunal without liability hereunder. 5. Early Termination by City/Notice. Notwithstanding the time periods contained herein, the City or Professional may terminate this Agreement at any time without cause by providing written notice of termination to the other party. Such notice shall be delivered at least fifteen (15) days prior to the termination date contained in said notice unless otherwise agreed in writing by the parties. All notices provided under this agreement shall be effective when mailed, postage prepaid and sent to the following address: Professional: City: With Copy to: Revenue Recovery Group, Inc. City of Fort Collins City of Fort Collins Attn: King Woolf Attn: Finance, Chuck Seest Attn: Purchasing 11924 Coursey Blvd, Ste C PO Box 580 PO Box 580 Baton Rouge, LA 70816 Fort Collins, CO 80522 Fort Collins, CO 80522 in the event or any such early termination by either party, the Professional shall be paid for services rendered prior to the date of termination subject only to the satisfactory performance of the Professional's obligations under this Agreement. Such payment shall be the Professional's sole right and remedy for such termination. .6. Project Insurance and Insurance Responsibility. The Professional shall be responsible for the professional quality, technical accuracy, timely completion and the coordination of all services rendered by the Professional, including but not limited to plans and reports, and shall, without additional compensation, promptly remedy and correct any errors, omissions, or other deficiencies. The Professional shall indemnify, save and hold harmless the City its officers and employees, in accordance with Colorado law, from all damages whatsoever claimed by third parties against the City and for the City's costs and reasonable attorney's fees arising directly or indirectly out of the. Professional's negligent performance of any of the services furnished under this Agreement. The Professional shall maintain commercial general liability insurance in the amount of $500,000 combined single limits and errors and omissions insurance in the amount of 500,000. 7. Compensation. In consideration of services to be performed pursuant to this Agreement, the City agrees to pay Professional on a time and reimbursable direct cost basis designated in Exhibit "B", consisting of one (1) page, attached hereto and incorporated herein by 2 stdwopsa rev 03/10 r this reference. At the election of the City, each Work Order may contain a maximum fee, which shall be negotiated by the parties hereto for each such Work Order. Monthly partial payments based upon the Professional's billings and itemized statements are permissible. The amounts of all such partial payments shall be based upon the Professional's .City -verified progress in completing the services to be performed pursuant to the Work Order and upon approval of the Professional's direct reimbursable expenses. Final payment shall be made following acceptance of the work bythe City. Upon final payment, all designs, plans, reports, specifications, drawings, and other services rendered by the Professional shall become the sole property of the City. 8. City Representative. The City will designate, prior to commencement of work, its project representative who shall make, within the scope of his or her authority, all necessary and proper decisions with reference to the project. All requests for contract interpretations, change orders, and other clarification or instruction shall be directed to the City Representative. 9. Monthly Report. Commencing thirty (30) days after Notice to Proceed is given on any Work Order and every thirty days thereafter, Professional is required to provide the City Representative with a written report of the status of the work with respect to the Work Order, Work Schedule and other material information. Failure to provide any required monthly report may, at the option of the City, suspend the processing of any partial payment request. 10. Independent Contractor. The services to be performed by Professional are those of an independent contractor and not of an employee of the City of Fort Collins. The City shall not be responsible for withholding any portion of Professional's compensation hereunder for the payment of FICA, Workers' Compensation, other taxes or benefits or for any other purpose. 11. Personal Services. It is understood that the City enters into this Agreement based on the special abilities of the Professional and that this Agreement shall be considered as an agreement for personal services. Accordingly, the Professional shall neither assign any responsibilities nor delegate any duties arising under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the City. 3 stdwopsa rev 03/10 12. Acceptance Not Waiver. The City's approval of drawings, designs, plans, specifications, reports, and: incidental work or materials furnished hereunder shall not in any way relieve the Professional of responsibility for the quality or technical accuracy of the work. The City's approval or acceptance of, or payment for, any of the services shall not be construed to operate as a waiver of any rights or benefits provided to the City under this Agreement. 13. Default. Each and every term and condition hereof shall be deemed to be a material element of this Agreement. In the event either parry should fail or refuse to perform according to the terms of this agreement, such parry may be declared in default. 14. Remedies. In the event a parry has been declared in default, such defaulting party shall be allowed a period of ten (10) days from the date of notice, within which to cure said default. In the event the default remains uncorrected, the party declaring default may elect to (a) terminate the Agreement and seek damages; (b) treat the Agreement as continuing and require specific performance; or (c) avail himself of any other remedy at law or equity. If the non -defaulting party commences legal or equitable actions against the defaulting party, the defaulting party shall be liable to the non -defaulting parry for the non -defaulting party's reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred because of the default. 15. Binding Effect. This writing, together with the exhibits hereto, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and shall be binding upon said parties, their officers, employees, agents and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the respective survivors, heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of said parties. 16. Law/Severability. The laws of the State of Colorado shall govern the construction, interpretation, execution and enforcement of this Agreement. In the event any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, such holding shall not invalidate or render unenforceable any other provision of this Agreement. 17. Prohibition Against Employing Illegal Aliens. Pursuant to Section 8-17.5-101, C.R.S., et. seq., Professional represents and agrees that: 4 stdwopsa rev 03/10 a. As of the date of this Agreement: 1. Professional does not knowingly employ or contract with an illegal alien who will perform work under this Agreement; and 2. Professional will participate in either the e-Verify program created in Public Law 208, 104th Congress, as amended, and expanded in Public Law 156, 108th Congress, as amended, administered by the United States Department of Homeland Security (the "e-Verify Program") or the Department Program (the "Department Program"), an employment verification program established pursuant to Section 8-17.5-102(5)(c) C.R.S. in order to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees to perform work under this Agreement. b. Professional shall not knowingly employ or contract with an illegal alien to perform work under this Agreement or knowingly enter into a contract with a subcontractor that knowingly employs or contracts with an illegal alien to perform work under this Agreement. C. Professional is prohibited from using the e-Verify Program or Department Program procedures to undertake pre -employment screening of job applicants while this Agreement is being performed. d. If Professional obtains actual knowledge that a subcontractor performing work under this Agreement knowingly employs or contracts with an illegal alien, Professional shall: Notify such subcontractor and the City within three days that Professional has actual knowledge that the subcontractor is employing or contracting with an illegal alien; and 2. Terminate the subcontract with the subcontractor if within three days of receiving the notice required pursuant to this section the subcontractor does not cease employing or contracting with the illegal alien; except that Professional shall not terminate the contract with the subcontractor if during such three days the subcontractor provides information to establish that the subcontractor has not knowingly employed or contracted with an illegal alien. e. Professional shall comply with any reasonable request by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (the "Department") made in the course of an investigation that the Department undertakes or is undertaking pursuant to the authority established in Subsection 8-17.5-102 (5), C.R.S. If Professional violates any provision of this Agreement pertaining to the duties 5 stdwopsa rev 03/10 imposed by Subsection 8-17.5-102, C.R.S. the City may terminate this Agreement. If this Agreement is so terminated, Professional shall be liable for actual and consequential damages to the City arising out of Professional's violation of Subsection 8-17.5-102, C.R.S. g. The City will notify the Office of the Secretary of State if Professional violates this provision of this Agreement and the City terminates the Agreement for such breach. 18. Special Provisions. Special provisions or conditions relating to the services to be performed pursuant to this Agreement are set forth in Exhibit "C", consisting of one (1) page, attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference. SJEAL City APP5AS TO FORM: Assi6t&nt City Attorney ATT THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS, COLORADO n", By: (fJqffies B. O'Neill II, CPPO, FNIGP jYirector of Purchasing & Risk Management Date: % Revenue Recovery Group, Inc. By: 4!-, Title: f ,/j, CORPORATE PRESIDENT OR VICE PRESIDENT Date: (?—/, (Corporate Seal) Corporate Secretary 6 stdwopsa rev 03/10 EXHIBIT "A" WORK ORDER FORM PURSUANT TO AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS AND Revenue Recovery Group, Inc. DATED: June 1, 2010 Work Order Number: Purchase Order Number: Project Title: Commencement Date: Completion Date: Maximum Fee: (time and reimbursable direct costs): Project Description: Scope of Services: Acceptance Professional agrees to perform the services identified above and on the attached forms in accordance with the terms and conditions contained herein and in the Professional Services Agreement between the parties. In the event of a conflict between or ambiguity in the terms of the Professional Services Agreement and this work order (including the attached forms) the Professional Services Agreement shall control. The attached forms consisting of _ (_) pages are hereby accepted and incorporated herein, by this reference, and Notice to Proceed is hereby given. Professional By:_ Date: City of Fort Collins By: James B. O'Neill ll, CPPO, FNIGP Director of Purchasing and Risk Management (over $60,000.00) Date: User 7 stdwopsa rev 03/10 Scope of Services A. Responsibilities of SERVICE PROVIDER. 1. SERVICE PROVIDER will render auditing services —and other related services with regard to the following taxes and/or fees: Sales and use tax Construction use tax Public Improvement Fee (PIF) Accommodations or lodging tax Franchise fees Other: To be determined by City 2. The specific services to be provided by SERVICE PROVIDER hereunder shall be as follows: a. Assistance as requested by the City taxpayers to be audited, selecting the acceptable methodologies for the audit; in establishing criteria for the selection of taxpayers to be audited, and identifying b. Identification of the specific taxes and/or fees to which the audit will apply; c. Audit planning, including the contacting of each taxpayer to be audited and scheduling of each audit; d. Identifying and obtaining the taxpayer records to be reviewed in conducting the audit; e. Conducting testing, searching for unrecorded transactions or disbursements, examining expense accounts, examining fixed assets, or otherwise performing such other audit procedures as determined necessary or appropriate by the City and SERVICE PROVIDER; f. Preparing audit summaries and work papers, assessments, and such other documents as requested by the City; g. Attendance, as requested by the City, during conferences, negotiations, and hearings concerning the audit; h. If requested by the City, assistance in negotiation of settlements or compromises, although it is understood that SERVICE PROVIDER shall have no authority to approve any such settlements or compromises on the City's behalf; i. If requested by the City, assistance in reviewing a taxpayer's request for a refund of taxes or fees paid to the City, including verification of the accuracy of the refund request, adjustments to the proposed refund amount, audit of all open periods of the taxpayer, and determination and adjustment for any additional taxes or fees owed to the City. j. Collection assistance, as requested by the City; and k. Related matters as agreed to by, City and SERVICE PROVIDER. 3. SERVICE PROVIDER's auditing services will be considered substantially complete upon determination of delinquent taxes, penalties, and/or interest, and disclosure of the same to the City. City acknowledges that SERVICE PROVIDER will incur substantial expense, and assume substantial risk, in connection with the rendition of its auditing services, due to the amount of time and effort in discovery, auditing, consulting, and research. 4. SERVICE PROVIDER shall not initiate any audit or contact any taxpayer for the purpose of conducting an audit for City unless City has authorized such action in writing. 5. Upon request by the City, SERVICE PROVIDER shall provide to the City a copy of all correspondence between SERVICE PROVIDER and any taxpayer selected for an audit, as well as all other records or papers pertinent to such audit. B. Responsibilities of City. 1. City shall cooperate with SERVICE PROVIDER in completing its services, and shall provide such information as is in its possession and as is reasonably necessary for SERVICE PROVIDER's work under this Agreement. 2. The City shall notify SERVICE PROVIDER of administrative procedures required to be followed by SERVICE PROVIDER. 3. The City's designated representative, on whose instructions and directions SERVICE PROVIDER may rely for the purposes of this Agreement, is the following or such other person as the City may designate in writing: a. Peggy Streeter, Sr. Sales Tax Auditor 4. The City shall make its copying facilities available to SERVICE PROVIDER at no cost for making copies of work papers, reports and other similar documents generated by SERVICE PROVIDER in performing services hereunder. 5. The City shall make its City Attorney reasonably available to SERVICE PROVIDER for the purpose of inquiry concerning the application of the City's ordinances and other laws applicable to the audit. 6. The City acknowledges that SERVICE PROVIDER shall not be expected to provide legal support, which may be needed to pursue an assessment, other than attendance at conferences, negotiations, and hearings concerning the assessment as requested by City. 7. If SERVICE PROVIDER has initiated services related to any vendor prior to the date of the City's notice of termination of the Agreement, then, in such event, SERVICE PROVIDER may continue such services and shall receive its compensation. 8. City agrees to provide SERVICE PROVIDER with a letter of authorization for the purpose of presentation to taxpayers(s), sufficient to permit the access by SERVICE PROVIDER to the records and documentation of such taxpayer(s). City agrees to expedite its authorization, and to perform all acts necessary to compel cooperation by the taxpayer(s), when necessary. Once authorized, City agrees that SERVICE PROVIDER shall have full authority and power to contact taxpayers for the purpose of auditing all relevant records and documentation, which authority and power shall not be withdrawn until the auditing services of SERVICE