Request for Proposals for Annual Audit of Dioceses and Eparchies for Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People; Sought by USCCB’s National Review Board

WASHINGTON—The National Review Board of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) are inviting applications for proposals to conduct annual audits of U.S. dioceses and eparchies to assess compliance with the bishops Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

The annual audits would cover a three-year cycle beginning July 1, 2019 through June 30,2022.

The Charter, first approved by the USCCB in June 2002,and revised and approved again in June 2005 and November 2011, the bishops of the United States affirmed the Church's commitment to effectively and appropriately address cases of sexual abuse of minors by priests, deacons, and other Church personnel and to reach out to victims of sexual abuse and their families. The bishops also pledged to work with parents, civil authorities, educators and various organizations in the community to create and maintain a safe environment within the Church for all children and young people.  

Article 9 of the Charter calls for appropriate audit mechanisms to determine if dioceses and eparchies are complying with the provisions of the Charter. Accordingly, annual audits have been conducted in each diocese and eparchy since 2003 to assess compliance with the Charter and, where necessary, to specify required actions that would bring the diocese/eparchy into compliance with the Charter. Summaries of the results of these audits have been included in the Annual Report on the Implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.  

Audits will be expected to assess not only the extent to which dioceses and eparchies have established policies, procedures, and programs in accord with the Charter, but also to review the administration of these policies, procedures, and programs. Additionally, as guidelines and measurements of effectiveness are developed over the next few years, they are to be incorporated into future audits.

Timeline:

Deadline for Letter of Intent to submit proposal: June10, 2018.

Deadline for final proposal: August 30, 2018

Interviews: Fall2018

The Letter of Intent must include background and relevant information regarding the firm and articulation of relevant experience. The Application must include names and resumes of detailing relevant experience and proposed methodology as well as a proposed budget.

Evaluation Criteria
There is no requirement that the audits be conducted by Catholic individuals or institutions, but the project director and the auditors should demonstrate an informed understanding of the Catholic Church and diocesan/eparchial structures. Final selection of the Auditor will be made by the Administrative Committee upon the recommendation of the National Review Board in consultation with the Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People and the Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection.

Inquiries, letters of intent, and applications should be addressed to:

Deacon Bernie Nojadera

Executive Director

Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection

3211 Fourth Street, NE

Washington, DC 20017

@email

(202)541-5413

The complete request for proposals can be found at: https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/child-and-youth-protection/upload/usccb-child-youth-protection-request-for-proposal-2020-2022.pdf.

The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People can be found at https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/child-and-youth-protection/charter.cfm

---
Keywords: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB, National Review Board, Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, clergy sex abuse, request for proposals, dioceses, eparchies, annual audit, safe environment, annual report.

###

Media Contact:
Judy Keane
202-541-3200