Public Higher Education Bulletin

for development of a plan to expand the functions of the Board of Examiners.

Under the authority of the Illinois Public Accounting Act, the Board of Examiners (BOE) certifies by examination or reciprocity individuals who desire to be licensed as Certified Public Accountants. Due to enactment of Senate Bill 1284, the powers and duties of the BOE will be expanded to incorporate additional responsibilities. The BOE would like to engage the services of consultants to assist them in developing an implementation plan for this expansion. Additionally, the CPA examination is on track to become computerized in late 2003 or early 2004.

The selected consultant will be required to develop a program plan that can be presented to the BOE''s Board of Directors in late February 2002, which indicates how they will approach the gathering of information from the areas listed in the technical proposal. After this program plan has been approved, the consultant will then be expected to carry out the plan by talking with all concerned parties, develop a plan to phase in a new system to accommodate the expanded duties of the BOE, and help implement the plan.

Respondents will be required to provide information regarding previous experience in similar functional expansions, resumes of personnel to be assigned to the project, being able to work with aggressive timelines and ability to advise the BOE as to the most efficient way to make the transition seamless. (Submitted by Katharine Kral, State Purchasing Officer.)