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HomeMy WebLinkAbout15288 AGT. # 07-001 1 1. AGREEMENT FOR SALES TAX AUDIT AND INFORMATION SERVICES 2 3 This Agreement is made and entered into as of the 9th day of January, 2007 and is a retroactive to December 18, 2006, by and between the COUNTY OF FRESNO, hereinafter called 5 COUNTY, and HINDERLITER, DE LLAMAS AND ASSOCIATES a California Corporation, b hereinafter called CONTRACTOR. 7 RECITALS 8 9 WHEREAS, sales tax revenues can be increased through a system of continuous o monitoring, identification and correction of"point of sale" allocation errors, and 11 WHEREAS, an effective program of sales tax management will improve identification of 12 sales tax opportunities as they relate to economic development and provide for more accurate sales 13 tax forecasting; and 4 WHEREAS, County desires the combination of report preparation and data analysis 15 necessary to effectively manage the municipal sales tax base and recover revenues erroneously 16 allocated to other jurisdictions and allocation pools; and 17 WHEREAS, Contractor has the programs, equipment and personnel required to deliver the 18 sales tax services referenced herein. 19 20 THEREFORE, County and Contractor, for the consideration hereinafter described, mutually 21 agree as follows: 22 Services 23 The Contractor shall perform all services and fulfill all responsibilities for the provision of 24 sales tax services as identified in County's Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 946-4338, dated 25 October 4, 2006 and Contractor's response, dated October 27, 2006, both incorporated herein by 26 reference and made part of this Agreement, and is listed below. 27 In the event of any inconsistency among these documents, the inconsistency shall be 2B wnty of Fresno esno,California G laud'Ror\ADMWIN\90ARD ITEMS\a456L doc 1 1 resolved by giving precedence in the following order of priority: (1) to this Agreement and Exhibits; z (2) to the Response to RFP; and (3) the RFP. A copy of County's RFP No. 946-4338 and 3 Contractor's response, shall be retained and made available during the term of this Agreement by 4 County's Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector Department. s The Contractor shall perform the following services: 6 A. Optional Sales Tax and economic analysis: 8 1. Contractor shall establish a special data base that identifies the name, address and quarterly allocations of the major sales tax producers within the County for the most current and 10 previous four quarters from the date of this Agreement. Major sales tax producers are defined as 11 those businesses meeting a quarterly revenue threshold determined by County. Since 100% of the 12 business outlets registered with the Board of Equalization are tracked monthly, this major producer's 13 data base is designed to highlight the activities of major businesses. A second data base covering 14 the same period will be established showing total sales tax receipts for each business category 1s identified by the Board of Equalization. These data bases will be utilized to generate special reports I 17 to the County on, major sales tax producers by rank and category, analysis of sales tax activity by 18 category and business districts or redevelopment areas specified by County, analysis of reporting :9 aberrations, and per capita and outlet comparisons with state wide sales. 28 2. Contractor shall provide up-dated reports each quarter identifying changes in sales by 21 major businesses and by category; area growth and decline comparisons; and current graphics, 2 2 tables and top 100 listings. Quarterly aberrations due to State audits, fund transfers, and 23 receivables along with late or double payments will be identified 24 3. Contractor wilt additionally provide an analysis for the County to share with Chambers of 25 Commerce and other economic development interest groups that analyze County's sales tax trends 26 27 by major groups, and geographic areas without disclosing confidential information. 28 4. Contractor will provide annual reports for the County Administrative Officer and Auditor- 7unty of Fresno esno,CalffDmLa G.laudaor\ADMWINSgpARD ITEMS\8456L doc 2 Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector identifying historical growth comparisons with state, county, 2 selected Count and C.P.I. indices; to y averages g p producer listings and make up and volatility of the 3 economic base. Annual reconciliation worksheets to assist with budget forecasting will also be 4 provided. 5 B. Allocation Audit and Recovery 6 1. Contractor shall conduct an initial and on-going sales tax audit in order to identify and 8 correct "point-of-sale" distribution errors and thereby generate previously unrealized sales tax 9 income for the County. Common errors that will be monitored and corrected included: transposition 10 errors resulting in misallocations; erroneous consolidation of multiple outlets; misidentifying 11 transactions as a "use tax" rather than a "sales tax"; and erroneous fund transfers and adjustments. 12 2. Contractor will initiate contacts with the appropriate sales management and accounting 13 officials in companies that have businesses where a probability of error exists to verify whether 14 current tax receipts accurately reflect the local sales activity. Such contacts will be conducted in a 15 manner to encourage local business retention and expansion. 16 17 3. Contractor shall prepare and submit to the Board of Equalization all information necessary 18 to correct any allocation errors that are identified and shall follow-up with the individual businesses 19 and the State Board of Equalization to ensure that all back quarter payments due the County are 20 recovered. 21 4. If, during the course of its audit, Contractor finds businesses located in the County that 22 are properly reporting sales tax but have the potential for modifying their operation to provide an 23 even greater share to the County, Contractor will work with those businesses and the County to 24 encourage such changes. 25 C. On going Consultation 26 27 Contractor shall work with the County on questions related to tenant mix alternatives for 28 maximum sales tax returns; advise County business license staff on utilization of reports to enhance )unry of Fresno esno.California GlauddoAADN WINIBOARD ITEMS%Z456L doc 3 j 1 business license collection efforts; provide sales tax projections on specific projects for 2 redevelopment negotiation and County budget purposes; and provide sample reports, letters and 3 programs to enhance the sales tax base through improved economic development efforts. 4 TERM OF CONTRACT s Contractor shall satisfactorily complete all work required with five (5) years of the date of this Agreement. Contractor and County agree that the performance of these services may be extended 8 for two (2) one-year increments at the sole discretion of the County. Notice of exercise of the 9 County's option to extend shall be delivered thirty (30) days prior to the end of the fifth year and 1 o each succeeding option year. '-1 This Agreement shall be in effect until December 18, 2011 and may be extended through 12 December 15, 2013. 13 CONFIDENTIALITY 14 Section 7056 of the State of California Revenue and Taxation Code specifically limits the 15 disclosure of confidential taxpayer information contained in the records of the State Board of 16 Equalization. This section specifies the conditions under which a County may authorize persons 18 other than County officers and employees to examine State Sales and Use Tax records. 19 The following conditions specified in Section 7056 (b), (1) of the State California Revenue 23 and Taxation Code are hereby made part of this contractual agreement. 21 A. Contractor is authorized by this Agreement to examine sales or transactions and use tax 22 records of the Board of Equalization provided to County pursuant to contract under the Bradley- 23 Burns Uniform Sales and Use Tax Law, 24 B. Contractor is required to disclose information contained in, or derived from, those sales or 25 transactions and use tax records only to an officer or employee of the County who is authorized by 26 resolution to examine the information. 27 28 C. Contractor is prohibited from performing consulting services for a retailer, as defined in )unty o1 FreSno esno.California G:\audrtor\ADMWIN\BOARD ITEMW456L.doc 4 1 California Revenue & Tax Code Section 6015, during the term of this Agreement. Further, 2 Contractor agrees not to perform sales tax services for cities within the County of Fresno without 3 written consent from the County Administrative Officer and Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax 4 Collector during the term of the contract. 5 D. Contractor is prohibited from retaining the information contained in, or derived from, those 6 sales or transactions and use tax records after this Agreement has expired. Information obtained by 8 examination of Board records shall be used only for purposes related to collection of local sales and 9 use tax or for other governmental functions of the County as set forth by resolution adopted pursuant =o to Section 7056(b) of the Revenue and Taxation Code. The resolution shall designate the 11 Contractor as a person, authorized to examine sales and use tax records and certify that this _2 Agreement meets the requirements set forth above in Section 7056(b), (1) of the Revenue and 13 Taxation Code. 14 PROPRIETARY INFORMATION 1� In performing its duties under this contract, Contractor will produce reports, technical 16 17 information and other compilations of data to County. These reports, technical information and 18 compilations of data are derived by Contractor using methodologies, formulae, programs, 19 techniques and other processes designed and developed by Contractor at a substantial expense. 20 Contractor's reports, technical information, compilations of data, methodologies, formulae, 21 programs, techniques and other processes designed and developed by Contractor shall be referred 22 to as Proprietary Information. Contractor's Proprietary Information is not generally known by the 23 entities with which Contractor competes. 24 Contractor desires to protect its Proprietary Information. Accordingly, County agrees that 25 neither it nor any of its employees, agents, independent contractors or other persons or 26 27 organizations over which it has control, will at any time during or after the term of the Agreement, 23 directly or indirectly use any of the Contractor's Proprietary Information for any purpose not wnty of Fresno esno.CaMornia GAaudd0r'ADMWIM30ARD ITEMSr8456L-doc 5 i 1 associated with Contractor's activities. Further, County agrees that neither it nor any of its 2 employees, grants, independent contractors or other persons or organizations over which it has 3 control, will disseminate or disclose any of Contractor's Proprietary Information to any person or organization not connected with Contractor, without the express written consent of Contractor. The 5 County also agrees that it will undertake all necessary and appropriate steps to maintain the 6 proprietary nature of Contractor's Proprietary Information. B CONSIDERATION ' 9 A. Contractor shall be paid 15% of all new Sales and/or Use tax revenue received by the :0 County as a result of audit and recovery work performed by Contractor (hereafter referred to as 11 "audit fees"). New sales and/or use tax revenue shall not include any amounts determined by 12 County or Contractor to be increment attributable to causes other than Contractor's work pursuant to 13 this Agreement. In the event that Contractor is responsible for an increase in the tax reported by 14 businesses already properly making tax payments to the County, it shall be Contractor's 15 responsibility to separate and support the incremental amount attributable to its efforts prior to the _6 17 application of audit fee. Said audit fees will apply to state fund transfers received for back quarter 16 reallocations and monies received in the first eight consecutive reporting quarters following 19 completion of the audit by Contractor and confirmation of corrections by the State Board of 20 Equalization. Contractor shall provide County with an itemized quarterly invoice showing all formula 21 calculations and amounts due for audit fees. 22 Contractor shall obtain County approval prior to beginning the work of correcting tax 23 reporting methodology or "point of sale" for specific businesses where said payment of the 24 percentage fee will be expected. County shall pay audit fees upon Contractor's submittal of 25 evidence of State Fund Transfers and payments to County from businesses identified in the audit 26 27 and approved by the County. 29 B. The fee for the Optional Services outlined under Section A, page 2, 'Services" shall be at no )unty of Fresno esno.California G-\audnor\ADMWIN\BOARD ITEMS%8456L.doc 6 1 additional cost. The only requirement is that the County adopts a separate resolution authorizing the 2 State Board of Equalization to provide Contractor access to the confidential databases required for 3 the audit. 4 C. The above sums shall constitute full reimbursement to Contractor for all direct and indirect 5 ' expenses incurred by Contractor in performing audits including the salaries of Contractor's 6 employees, and travel expenses connected with contacting local and out-of-state businesses and 8 Board of Equalization. 9 TERMINATION 13 This Agreement may be terminated by either party by giving 30 days written notice to the 11 other of such termination and specifying the effective data thereof. Upon the presentation of such 12 notice, Contractor may continue to work through the date of termination. Upon termination as :3 provided herein, Contractor-shalI be paid the value of all tax analysis and reporting work performed 14 less payments previously made by County. In ascertaining the value of the work performed up to _5 the date of termination, consideration shall be given to amounts due for any unpaid invoices, and to 16 17 businesses identified by Contractor which make tax payments after termination of this Agreement as 18 a result of Contractor's work. After County receives said tax payments for such businesses, 19 Contractor shall be paid the audit fees resulting from tax payments made by the business for back 20 quarter reallocations and the first eight consecutive reporting quarters following completion of the 2= audit by Contractor and confirmation of corrections by the State Board of Equalization. 22 Compensation for any audit work previously authorized and satisfactorily performed shall be made 23 at the times provided in the preceding section entitled "Consideration". 24 All documents, data, surveys and reports prepared by Contractor pursuant to this Agreement 25 26 shall be considered the property of the County and upon payment for services performed by 27 Contractor, such documents and other identified materials shall be delivered to County by 28 Contractor, wnty of Fresno esno.California G'\auditoAADMWINWARD ITEMS18456L doc 7 i INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR 2 In performance of the work, duties and obligations assumed by Contractor under this 3 Agreement, it is mutually understood and agreed that Contractor, including any and all of Contractor's officers, agents, and employees will at all times by acting and performing as an 5 independent contractor, and shall act in an independent capacity and not as an officer, agent, 6 7 servant, employee, joint venturer, partner, or associate of the County. Furthermore, County shall 8 have no right to control or supervise or direct the manner by which Contractor shall perform its work 9 and function. 10 However, County shall retain the right to administer this Agreement so as to verify that 11 Contractor is performing its obligations in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof. 12 Contractor and County shall comply with all applicable provisions of law and the rules and 13 regulations, if any, of governmental authorities having jurisdiction over matters the subject thereof. 14 Because of its status as an independent contactor, Contractor shall have absolutely.no right 15 to employment rights and benefits available to County employees. Contractor shall be solely liable 16 17 and responsible for providing to, or on behalf of, its employees all legally-required employee 18 benefits. In addition, Contractor shall be solely responsible and save County harmless from all 19 matters relating to payment of Contractor's employees, including compliance with Social Security, 20 withholding and all other regulations governing such matters. It is acknowledged that during the 2: term of this Agreement, Contractor may be providing services to others unrelated to the County or to 22 this Agreement. 23 MODIFICATION 24 Any matters of this Agreement may be modified from time to time by the written consent of all 25 parties without, in any way, affecting the remainder. 26 27 28 7unty of Fresno esno.Caufornia G.XauddO6ADWVMBOARD 1TEMS\8456L.doc 8 NON-ASSIGNMENT 2 Neither party shall assign, transfer or sub-contract this Agreement nor their rights or duties 3 under this Agreement without the written consent of the other party. 4 INDEMNIFICATION s Contractor hereby agrees to, and shall hold County, it's elective and appointive boards, 6 officers, agents and employees, harmless from any liability for damage or claims for damage for P personal injury, including death, as well as from claims for breach of confidentiality or property 9 damage which may arise from Contractor's willful or negligent acts, errors or omissions or those of to its employees or agents. Contractor agrees to and shall defend County and its elective and 11 appointive boards, officers, agents and employees from any suits or actions at law or in equity for 12 damages caused, or alleged to have been caused, by reason of any of the aforesaid willful or 13 negligent acts, errors or omissions. 14 County hereby agrees to, and shall hold Contractor, its officers, agents, and employees, 15 harmless from any liability for damage or claims for damage for personal injury, including death, as . 16 17 well as from claims for breach of confidentiality or property damage which may arise from County's 18 negligent acts, errors or omissions under this Agreement. County agrees to and shall defend 19 Contractor and its officers, agents and employees from any suits or actions at law or in equity for 20 damaged caused, or alleged to have been caused, by reason of any of the aforesaid negligent acts, 21 errors or omissions. 22 INSURANCE 23 Without limiting the COUNTY's right to obtain indemnification from CONTRACTOR 24 or any third parties, CONTRACTOR, at its sole expense, shall maintain in full force and effect the 25 following insurance policies throughout the term of this Agreement: 26 A. Commercial General Liabilfi+ 27 Commercial General Liability Insurance with limits of not less than One Million 28 Dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence and an annual aggregate of Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000). This wnty or Fresno esno.CahfomLa G1audaor\A0MWIN\B0ARD ITEMS\&456L doc 9 1 policy shall be issued on a per occurrence basis. COUNTY may require specific coverages including 2 completed operations, products liability, contractual liability, Explosion-Collapse-Underground, fire legal 3 liability or any other liability insurance deemed necessary because of the nature of this contract. 4 B. Automobile Liability 5 Comprehensive Automobile Liability Insurance with limits for bodily injury of not 6 less than Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) per person, Five Hundred Thousand 7 Dollars ($500,000.00) per accident and for property damages of not less than Fifty Thousand Dollars 8 ($50,000.00), or such coverage with a combined single limit of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars 9 ($500,000.00). Coverage should include owned and non-owned vehicles used in connection with this to Agreement. 1' C. Professional Liability 12 If CONTRACTOR employs licensed professional staff, (e.g., Ph.D., R.N., 13 L.C.S.W., M.F.C.C.) in providing services, Professional Liability Insurance with limits of not less than 14 One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) per occurrence, Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.00) annual 15 aggregate. 16 D. Worker's Compensation 17 A policy of Workers Compensation insurance as may be required by the California Labor Code. is CONTRACTOR shall obtain endorsements to the Commercial General Liability 19 insurance naming the County of Fresno, its officers, agents, and employees, individually and 20 collectively, as additional insured, but only insofar as the operations under this Agreement are 21 concerned. Such coverage for additional insured shall apply as primary insurance and any other 22 insurance, or self-insurance, maintained by COUNTY, its officers, agents and employees shall be 23 excess only and not contributing with insurance provided under CONTRACTOR's policies herein. This 2, insurance shall not be cancelled or changed without a minimum of thirty (30) days advance written 25 notice given to COUNTY. 26 Within Thirty (30) days from the date CONTRACTOR executes this Agreement, 27 CONTRACTOR shall provide certificates of insurance and endorsement as stated above for all of the 28 foregoing policies, as required herein, to the County of Fresno, (Name and Address of the official who wnty or Fresno will administer this contract), stating that such insurance coverage have been obtained and are in full esno.Caldornra G lauditorlADMWMBOARD ITEMS18456L.doc 10 I force; that the County of Fresno, its officers, agents and employees will not be responsible for any z premiums on the policies; that such Commercial General Liability insurance names the County of 3 Fresno, its officers, agents and employees, individually and collectively, as additional insured, but only 4 insofar as the operations under this Agreement are concerned; that such coverage for additional 5 insured shall apply as primary insurance and any other insurance, or self-insurance, maintained by 6 COUNTY, its officers, agents and employees, shall be excess only and not contributing with insurance 7 provided under CONTRACTOR's policies herein; and that this insurance shall not be cancelled or 8 changed without a minimum of thirty (30) days advance, written notice given to COUNTY. 9 In the event CONTRACTOR fails to keep in effect at all times insurance coverage to as herein provided, the COUNTY may, in addition to other remedies it may have, suspend or terminate 11 this Agreement upon the occurrence of such event. 12 All policies shall be with admitted insurers licensed to do business in the State of California. 13 Insurance purchased shall be purchased from companies possessing a current A.M. Best, Inc. rating 14 of A FSC VI or better. 15 16 AUDITS AND INSPECTIONS 17 The Contractor shall at any time during business hours, and as often as the County may is deem necessary, make available to the County for examination all of its records and data with 19 respect to the matters covered by this Agreement. The Contractor shall, upon request by. the 20 County, permit County to audit and inspect all of such records and data necessary to ensure 21 Contractor's compliance with the terms of this Agreement. 22 If this Agreement exceeds Ten Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($10,000.00), Contractor shall 23 be subject to the examination and audit of the Auditor General for a period of three (3) years after 24 25 final payment under contract (Government Code Section 8546.7). 26 27 28 wnty of Fresno esno,Caiitamia G'lauditorlADMWIMBOARD ITEMS\Z456L,doc 11 I NOTICES 2 The persons and their addresses having authority to give and receive notices under this 3 Agreement include the following: 4 COUNTY CONTRACTOR 5 Vicki Crow, C.P.A. Hinderliter, de Llamas and Associates 6 Auditor-ControllerrTreasurer-Tax Collector 1340 Valley Vista Drive, Suite 200 2282 Tulare Street, Room 105 Diamond Bar, CA 91765 ' Fresno, CA 93715 B 9 Any and all notices between the County and the Contractor provided for or permitted under =0 this Agreement or by law shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly served when personally 11 delivered to one of the parties, or in lieu of such personal service, when deposited in the United 12 States Mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such party. 13 GOVERNING LAW 14 Venue for any action arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall only be in Fresno 15 County, California. 16 17 The rights and obligations of the parties and all interpretation and performance of this 18 Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of California. 19 ENTIRE AGREEMENT 20 This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the Contractor and County with 21 respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all previous negotiations, proposals, 22 commitments, writings, advertisements, publications, and understandings of any nature whatsoever 23 unless expressly included in this Agreement. 24 25 26 27 28 x,nty of Fresno esno.Caldomfa G�audAor\ADNNUIWBOARD ITEMS�U56L.doc 12 I __ 1 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day 2 and year first hereinabove written. 3 CONTRACTOR: ATTEST: 4 Hinderliter, de Llamas & Associates BERNICE E. SEIDEL, Clerk 5 Board of Supervisors 6 By. ' Lloy de Llamas By: B 9 President and CEO Date: 10 Date: /Gliz 11 Mailing Address: REVIEWED & RECOMMENDED FOR i 12 Hinderliter, de Llamas & Associates APPROVAL: 1340 Valley Vista Drive, Suite 20 13 Diamond Bar, CA 91765 14 15 APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM: Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector 16 DENNIS MARSHAL APPROVED AS TO ACCOUNTING FORM: 17 COUNTY COUNSEL VICKI CROW, C.P.A. 18 AUDITOR-CONTROLLER/TREASURER-TAX 19 By: COLLECTOR 20 21 COUNTY OF FRESNO 22 By: By. 23 Chairman, Board of Supervisors 24 FOR ACCOUNTING USE ONLY: Date: 25 Fund No.: 0001 26 Budget Unit No.: 2540 Account No.: 7295 27 Requisition No.: 410200234 _ 28 County of Fresno Fresno,Califonnia CADocuments and Settings\Lloyd\Local Settings\Temporary Interne6131es\0LK4\9456L.doc 1 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day 2 and year first hereinabove written. 3 CONTRACTOR: ATTEST: 4 Hinderliter, de Llamas & Associates BERNICE E. SEIDEL, Clerk 5 Board of Sup-rvisors 6 7 By. Lloyd de Llamas X By: v - a< e 9 President and CEO e: JAN 0 .9 2007 10 Date: 11 Mailing Address: REVIEWED & RECOMMENDED FOR 12 Hinderliter, de Llamas & Associates APPROVAL: 1340 Valley Vista Drive, Suite 20 13 Diamond Bar, CA 91765 14 15 APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM: Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector 16 DENNIS MARSHAL APPROVED AS TO ACCOUNTING FORM: 17 COUNTY COUNSEL VICKI CROW C.P.A. ie AUDITOR-CONTROLLER/TREASURER-TAX 19 By. COLLECTOR zo zl COUNT R NO zz By: ZBy: 23 Chairman, Board of Supervisors 24 Date: JAN 0 9 2007 FOR ACCOUNTING USE ONLY: 25 Fund No.: 0001 26 Budget Unit No.: 2540 Account No.: 7295 27 Requisition No.: 410200234 28 )unty of Fresno esno,California GAauditorWDMWIN\BOARD ITEMS\8456L.doc CERTIFICATE OF DELIVERY OF DOCUMENT f am employed by the County of Fresno as a Deputy Clerk of the Board of Supervisors. On January 9, 2007, 1 delivered a copy of Agreement No. 07-001 to the Chairman of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. �r vier Flores, Deputy Clerk