DOC - Deepwater Horizon Financial Audit Support - MRAS

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), through the General Services Administration (GSA), is conducting market research to identify capable vendors for a critical financial audit support project related to the Deepwater Horizon Restoration Program. This initiative is managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under its Office of Habitat Conservation (OHC). The primary goal of this effort is to ensure transparency and accuracy in the management of settlement funds allocated for natural resource restoration following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a significant environmental disaster that occurred on April 20, 2010.

The scope of work involves conducting an Agreed Upon Procedures (AUP) engagement on NOAA's management of settlement funds received as part of the Deepwater Horizon Restoration Program. This engagement will focus on evaluating the accuracy of financial reporting and compliance with established restoration agreements and procedures from December 18, 2022, through December 31, 2028. The contractor will be responsible for assessing financial statements related to project receipts and expenditures against various agreements such as the Framework for Early Restoration Addressing Injuries Resulting from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Project Stipulation Agreements, Trustee Council Resolutions involving financial approvals, and Standard Operating Procedures for Natural Resource Restoration.

To perform these tasks effectively, the contractor must adhere to Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS) Chapter 7 and Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements (SSAE) No. 18 set forth by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). The contractor will evaluate documentation supporting reported amounts in annual project reports while considering NOAA's internal controls over financial reporting and compliance. Although assurance on internal control over project financial reporting will not be provided, any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses identified during this process must be reported in accordance with GAGAS standards.