Request for Proposals
PA CleanWays of Allegheny County (dba Allegheny CleanWays) is seeking a firm or individual to:
Allegheny CleanWays (“ACW”) will provide all necessary financial and programmatic data to complete statements and forms. Staff and board members will be available to answer questions as needed.
These deliverables may be completed by separate firms or individuals, although one firm or individual may complete all tasks.
Per the Pennsylvania Charitable Organization Registration Statement, “[r]eviews and audits must be performed by an independent licensed certified public accountant or independent licensed public accountant. Reviews must be performed in accordance with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services.”
Allegheny CleanWays and the chosen firm or individual may continue the engagement in future fiscal years if performance is satisfactory. ACW plans to rebid these services every 3-5 years.
About the Organization
Founded in 2000, the mission of Allegheny CleanWays (https://www.alleghenycleanways.org/) is to engage and empower people to eliminate litter and illegal dumping in Allegheny County. Our primary work is to clean up litter and illegal dumping on land and along waterways, but we also conduct research and offer educational programs.
Land-based cleanups may be on roadsides, hillsides, alleys, or vacant lots. Run year round, our land-based cleanups can be done with small crews called DumpBusters or with bigger groups of volunteers. Often corporations and community groups approach us looking for a meaningful volunteer opportunity for their constituents.
Allegheny CleanWays’ riverbank cleanup program is aimed at creating trash-free rivers and streams throughout Allegheny County. From spring through fall, volunteers work with CleanWays staff by boarding our pontoon boat, Rachel Carson, in order to be dropped off along the banks where they pick up plastic bottles, tires, and other items. These family-friendly cleanups are great opportunities to connect with and learn about the health of the region’s waterways.
For the past several years, Allegheny CleanWays has been working to expand and improve our education program by increasingly engaging students in service-learning. Activities include at least one age-appropriate litter cleanup near their school or along a local riverbank using the Rachel Carson. We also reach approximately 1500 people annually through tabling activities at various community events and speaking engagements.
Research continues to be an important aspect of our work. We have conducted illegal dumpsite surveys twice in Pittsburgh, with the most recent update being in 2009, and twice in the rest of the county. Most recently, we completed a Waste Audit that has increased our understanding of the trash we collect, including the amount of plastics and other single-use products and brands of items.
Deliverables
Printed and/or electronic versions of the following, depending on required submission:
Deadlines
The independent accountant’s review report and financial statements must be completed and approved by key staff and board members before tax returns can be completed and submitted.
The Allegheny CleanWays Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 is due to the IRS on February 15, 2022. A six-month extension is available by submitting Form 8868, making the final deadline August 15, 2022.
The Pennsylvania Charitable Organization Registration Statement is due on August 15, 2022.
Confidentiality
All data remains the sole property of Allegheny CleanWays. Firm shall agree to keep information related to this engagement in strict confidence.
Proposal Content
Please include the following information in a submitted proposal:
Fee proposals for multiple years will be considered.
Proposal Submission & Selection Process
Please convey questions concerning this RFP to Myrna Newman, Executive Director, Allegheny CleanWays, at myrna@alleghenycleanways.org, with copy to Patrick Cornell, Treasurer, at pcornell322@gmail.com by December 6, 2021. No phone calls will be accepted. If appropriate, responses to questions will be shared on our web site as an addendum to this RFP.
Proposals in PDF format are due by 5:00 p.m. on December 10, 2021 to Myrna Newman at myrna@alleghenycleanways.org with copy to pcornell322@gmail.com. Firms will be notified by the end of business on December 17, 2021.
A committee of board members and staff will be responsible for proposal review and firm selection. The committee may request phone or virtual interviews from December 13-15, 2021.
Factors to be considered include:
Key Dates
RFP released – Dec 2, 2021
Questions due – December 6, 2021 by 5:00pm
Proposals due – December 10, 2021 by 5:00pm
Selection Made/Response to Bidders – December 17, 2021
PA CleanWays of Allegheny County (dba Allegheny CleanWays) is seeking a firm or individual to:
- Prepare and review financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021
- Prepare and submit any necessary federal, state, and local tax returns to ensure organization compliance
- Prepare and submit the Pennsylvania Charitable Organization Registration Statement (BCO-10)
Allegheny CleanWays (“ACW”) will provide all necessary financial and programmatic data to complete statements and forms. Staff and board members will be available to answer questions as needed.
These deliverables may be completed by separate firms or individuals, although one firm or individual may complete all tasks.
Per the Pennsylvania Charitable Organization Registration Statement, “[r]eviews and audits must be performed by an independent licensed certified public accountant or independent licensed public accountant. Reviews must be performed in accordance with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services.”
Allegheny CleanWays and the chosen firm or individual may continue the engagement in future fiscal years if performance is satisfactory. ACW plans to rebid these services every 3-5 years.
About the Organization
Founded in 2000, the mission of Allegheny CleanWays (https://www.alleghenycleanways.org/) is to engage and empower people to eliminate litter and illegal dumping in Allegheny County. Our primary work is to clean up litter and illegal dumping on land and along waterways, but we also conduct research and offer educational programs.
Land-based cleanups may be on roadsides, hillsides, alleys, or vacant lots. Run year round, our land-based cleanups can be done with small crews called DumpBusters or with bigger groups of volunteers. Often corporations and community groups approach us looking for a meaningful volunteer opportunity for their constituents.
Allegheny CleanWays’ riverbank cleanup program is aimed at creating trash-free rivers and streams throughout Allegheny County. From spring through fall, volunteers work with CleanWays staff by boarding our pontoon boat, Rachel Carson, in order to be dropped off along the banks where they pick up plastic bottles, tires, and other items. These family-friendly cleanups are great opportunities to connect with and learn about the health of the region’s waterways.
For the past several years, Allegheny CleanWays has been working to expand and improve our education program by increasingly engaging students in service-learning. Activities include at least one age-appropriate litter cleanup near their school or along a local riverbank using the Rachel Carson. We also reach approximately 1500 people annually through tabling activities at various community events and speaking engagements.
Research continues to be an important aspect of our work. We have conducted illegal dumpsite surveys twice in Pittsburgh, with the most recent update being in 2009, and twice in the rest of the county. Most recently, we completed a Waste Audit that has increased our understanding of the trash we collect, including the amount of plastics and other single-use products and brands of items.
Deliverables
Printed and/or electronic versions of the following, depending on required submission:
- Financial Statements for Fiscal Year 2021, with Independent Accountant’s Review
- IRS Form 990 and any required schedules
- Pennsylvania Charitable Organization Registration Statement (BCO-10)
- Other related forms or returns, as needed
- Proof of submission, as needed
Deadlines
The independent accountant’s review report and financial statements must be completed and approved by key staff and board members before tax returns can be completed and submitted.
The Allegheny CleanWays Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 is due to the IRS on February 15, 2022. A six-month extension is available by submitting Form 8868, making the final deadline August 15, 2022.
The Pennsylvania Charitable Organization Registration Statement is due on August 15, 2022.
Confidentiality
All data remains the sole property of Allegheny CleanWays. Firm shall agree to keep information related to this engagement in strict confidence.
Proposal Content
Please include the following information in a submitted proposal:
- Firm’s name and primary contact information, including phone number and email address
- Brief biographies of all relevant team members
- A summary of firm’s experience with nonprofit financial statement review
- A summary of firm’s experience with Form 990 preparation and submission
- Two non-profit client references, including an individual’s name, organization, email address, and phone number
- A proposed timeline, with milestones indicated to meet the above deadlines
- Proposed total fee and a payment schedule for one, two, or all components below:
- Completion of the fiscal year 2021 financial review
- Completion and submission of Federal & State tax returns
- Completion and submission of the Pennsylvania Charitable Organization Registration Statement
Fee proposals for multiple years will be considered.
Proposal Submission & Selection Process
Please convey questions concerning this RFP to Myrna Newman, Executive Director, Allegheny CleanWays, at myrna@alleghenycleanways.org, with copy to Patrick Cornell, Treasurer, at pcornell322@gmail.com by December 6, 2021. No phone calls will be accepted. If appropriate, responses to questions will be shared on our web site as an addendum to this RFP.
Proposals in PDF format are due by 5:00 p.m. on December 10, 2021 to Myrna Newman at myrna@alleghenycleanways.org with copy to pcornell322@gmail.com. Firms will be notified by the end of business on December 17, 2021.
A committee of board members and staff will be responsible for proposal review and firm selection. The committee may request phone or virtual interviews from December 13-15, 2021.
Factors to be considered include:
- Team member qualifications
- Nonprofit accounting experience
- Tax experience
- Cost
Key Dates
RFP released – Dec 2, 2021
Questions due – December 6, 2021 by 5:00pm
Proposals due – December 10, 2021 by 5:00pm
Selection Made/Response to Bidders – December 17, 2021
