BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Government Code § 84308 Applies: Yes ☒ No ☐
(If “YES” Complete Attachment A - Gov. Code § 84308)
SUBJECT: Title
Approve the Agreement A5823A with Sjoberg Evashenk Consulting, Inc., for 2026 Board Audit Consultant On-Call Services, PB File No. VW0676 for a Five-Year Term and a Total Not-to-Exceed Fee of $1,500,000.
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RECOMMENDATION: Recommendation
Approve the Agreement A5823A with Sjoberg Evashenk Consulting, Inc., for 2026 Board Audit Consultant On-Call Services, PB File No. VW0676 for a five-year term and a total not-to-exceed fee of $1,500,000.
Body
SUMMARY:
With this agreement, the Consultant will serve as advisor to the Board of Directors’ Audit Committee (Board Audit Committee) in fulfilling its duties, responsibilities, and functions. Specifically, the Consultant will assess operational risks and advise on potential audits to ensure Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) is in compliance with its policies, procedures and regulations. The recommended audits may or may not be conducted by the Consultant. The Consultant will also assist in preparing an annual program of audits with associated calendars, schedules and budgets and prepare formal and informal reports and presentations to the Board Audit Committee and to the full Board of Directors.
Consultant Selection Process
Prior to publishing the RFP, staff conducted outreach to 507 firms that were registered in the Valley Water Procurement Portal, PlanetBids (PB). The following National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, Inc (NIGP) Categories codes were targeted for RFP outreach to firms: 91800 - Consulting Services, 91804 Accounting/Auditing/Budget Consulting, and 94620 Auditing. Staff also issued advertisements in the SJ Post and SBEINC.com prior to publishing the RFP.
On March 13, 2026, a Request for Proposal (RFP) for 2026 Board Audit Consultant On-Call Services was published on Valley Water’s Procurement Portal, Planet Bids. The RFP was sent to 513 firms that are registered in Planet Bids under the NIGP Category codes that outreach was sent to.
Valley Water received proposals from two consultant firms, Macias Gini & O'Connell LLP, and Sjoberg Evashenk Consulting, Inc. An Evaluation Committee (EC), consisting of three subject matter experts with audit services of Valley Water and one Valley Water Board Member, ranked the written proposals. Two firms, Macias Gini & O'Connell LLP, and Sjoberg Evashenk Consulting, Inc. were invited to participate in the subsequent virtual oral interviews conducted on May 21, 2026.
Based on the combined (written and oral) rating scores, the EC recommended staff to proceed with the highest ranked firm, Sjoberg Evashenk Consulting, Inc., for contract negotiations.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IMPACT:
There are no environmental justice impacts associated with the approval of an agreement. This action is unlikely to or will not result in disproportionate impacts on any specific community(ies) relative to the general population from the execution of this agreement.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The Agreement with Sjoberg Evashenk Consulting, Inc. for 2026 Board Audit Consultant On-Call Services has a five-year term and a total not-to-exceed amount of $1,500,000. The duration of this agreement spans multiple budget cycles. Funding for this item is partially included in Fiscal Year 2026-27, and the remainder will be requested by staff in future budget cycles for Fiscal Years 2027-28, 2028-29, 2029-30, and 2030-2031 under project 60131014 (Continual Improvement).
CEQA:
The recommended action to approve the Agreement does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it does not have the potential to result in direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A: Gov. Code § 84308, Sjoberg Evashenk Consulting, Inc.
Attachment 1: Agreement.
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER: Manager
Darin Taylor, 408-630-3068