Board sets expedited deadline for forensic-audit RFP questions; chair and vice chair to finalize vendor answers

Members of the Suffolk City School Board discussed how questions from prospective forensic-audit vendors should be handled after an RFP was issued. Board member Riddick proposed that all vendor questions and review be routed through the Finance Committee; that motion was seconded.

Board counsel and staff noted firm deadlines: vendor questions were due Oct. 27 and answers had to be posted by Oct. 28 to preserve the advertised response window. Given the tight schedule, board leaders decided not to delay responses for a committee meeting. Instead, the chair and vice chair agreed to meet with the purchasing manager (Ms. Bates) to finalize answers and ensure a public posting before the deadline. The board did not take a final vote to reassign RFP-question responsibilities to the Finance Committee; the motion to do so was effectively set aside in favor of the expedited meeting plan.

Vice Chair McGee and the chair agreed to meet with procurement staff on Monday (time set during the meeting) to craft and deliver the answers in time for public posting. Board members asked that any final answers be shared with the full board before they are publicly posted if the timeline allows.