Quorum Court advances contingency for forensic financial audit amid questions over single bidder

Pulaski County justices voted to send ordinance 26 I 44 — to appropriate contingency funds for a forensic financial audit — to the full quorum court with a due pass recommendation after questions about the procurement process.

Michelle Johnson, assistant comptroller, told the committee she issued an RFP that generated 476 invitations, of which six parties viewed the materials and two submitted technical proposals. One firm failed to submit financials and was disqualified; that left a single vendor whose financial proposal arrived at roughly $249,500 for the full forensic audit. Committee members asked whether the vendor had prior ties to county administration (Johnson said the vendor disclosed no ties and completed the required vendor disclosure) and whether the contingency figure, discussed in the meeting as about $99,000, was standard practice. Johnson said pre‑award vetting occurred with the county attorney and additional schedule details would be worked out during a pre‑audit meeting.

Several justices pressed for more information about hours, timing and whether the county might reissue the RFP to solicit competition. Johnson said departments have the authority to re‑bid if they choose, and that unspent contingency funds would return to the general fund. The committee recorded a roll‑call vote to send the ordinance to the full court (12 ayes, 1 nay, 2 absent).

What happens next: the ordinance will appear on the full quorum court calendar; committee members requested clearer timeline estimates from the vendor and confirmation of vetting details before the full court acts.