Find a TenderAwarded
Published 5 Feb 2021, 22:56 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

Audit and Assurance Services Dynamic Purchasing System

Official notice

Authority: Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (Central government)·Consortium: 6 public authorities

Dynamic market5 lotsServicesOpen procedure
Dynamic market estimate£2,000,000total for 5 lots · market-wide estimate, not attributable revenue
Submissions closed 8 Mar 2021awarded 31 Jan 2023
Lots 5see the lot list below

What is being bought5 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

The DPS includes all forms of independent audit for UK public sector bodies,

including statutory external audit requirements.

Also in scope are are governance requirements including counter-fraud services and other independent assurance such as:

  • Assurance over non-financial information including but not limited to strategy, risk and corporate governance
  • Assurance over KPIs including but not limited to environmental reporting, sustainability reporting and workforce reporting
  • Compliance monitoring and risk management
  • Grant funding assurance including but not limited to programme reviews and impact

assessments

  • Service auditor reports including but not limited to ISAE 3402 standards
  • Special purpose reviews and investigations
  • Tax compliance
  • Third party risk management including supply chain assurance
  • Well led governance reviews
  • Workforce audit services including but not limited to temporary, fixed term or permanent staffing (clinical and non-clinical)

CPV: Accounting, auditing and fiscal services · Auditing services · Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security · Fraud audit services · Internal audit services · Investigation and security services · Statutory audit services

How this dynamic market works

From the published notice
Type
Dynamic market (open)
Bids received
1 bids received · 1 suppliers appointed
Electronic auction
Electronic auctions may be used in further competitions.

Lots and requirements (5)Procurement structure

5 lots · 4 with a published value

Every one of these 4 lots carries the same published figure, £2,000,000: it is the dynamic market's maximum for the whole notice, not each lot's own budget, and no share per lot is published. The cards below say ceiling above rather than repeat it.

Lot #1The Trust wishes to agree a contract for external audit services covering the next…Awarded East of EnglandLot estimate not published

The Trust wishes to agree a contract for external audit services covering the next three years from 2022/23 to 2024/2025 with the possibility to extend for a further two years beyond that. Included in the tender response should be an indicative plan for Year 1.<br/><br/>The auditor will be required to meet all requirements, including but not limited to, the accounting and reporting requirements as set out in the Comptroller and Auditor General’s Code of Audit Practice which applies for 2020-21 audits and beyond – The Audit Office Code of Audit Practice (the code), the NHS Foundation Trust Code of Governance (updated July 2014), the NHS Foundation Trust Annual Reporting Manual and the National Health Service Act 2006 as amended.

Delivery: East of England
Lot #2Lot 1 Core Services UKceiling above

Lot 1 Core Services

  • Advice on governance, risk management and controls including but not limited to

o IT

o Finance

o Human resources; and

o Facilities management

  • Benchmarking and quality assurance review of internal audit performance including external quality assessment
  • Development of internal audit strategy and/or methodologies
  • Outsourced, co-sourced or one-off internal audit services
Delivery: UK
Variant bids: allowed
Lot #3Lot 2 Core Services UKceiling above

Lot 2 Core Services

  • External statutory audit to provide an independent assessment of financial statements
  • Advice on financial statements and related documents
  • Grant audits and certification
Delivery: UK
Variant bids: allowed
Lot #4Lot 3 Core Services UKceiling above

Lot 3 Core Services

  • Advice and/or assessment of:

o fraud awareness training and/or changes to legislation

o fraud risk plan and/or support in improving risk management

o fraud prevention and detection strategy

o whistleblowing policies and procedures

o approach to proactive testing in high risk areas

  • Fraud risk assessment and fraud maturity matrix
  • Use of technology including but not limited to data analytics to support the delivery of proactive counter-fraud services including fraud detection
  • Counter-fraud investigation

Optional non-core Services in addition to the Core Services:

  • Corporate intelligence techniques
  • Financial irregularity investigations
  • Investigation of non-financial irregularities incl. regulatory breaches & misconduct
  • Investigation of suspected fraud, bribery or corruption
  • Investigation of whistleblower allegations and tip offs
  • Forensic extraction and review of structured and unstructured digital evidence
  • Support to deliver criminal investigations in counter-fraud including capability to conduct interviews that are compliant with police & criminal evidence legislation
  • Expert witness services
  • Use of data analytical technology tools and techniques to investigate fraud
  • Upskilling of new technology and techniques of fraud detection
Delivery: UK
Variant bids: allowed
Lot #5Lot 4 Core Services UKceiling above

Lot 4 Core Services

  • Assurance over non-financial information including but not limited to strategy, risk and corporate governance
  • Assurance over KPIs including but not limited to environmental reporting, sustainability reporting and workforce reporting
  • Compliance monitoring and risk management
  • Grant funding assurance including but not limited to programme reviews and impact assessments
  • Service auditor reports including but not limited to ISAE 3402 standards
  • Special purpose reviews and investigations
  • Tax compliance
  • Third party risk management including supply chain assurance
  • Well led governance reviews
  • Workforce audit services including but not limited to temporary, fixed term or permanent staffing (clinical and non-clinical)
Delivery: UK
Variant bids: allowed

What it takes to win
i

How this buyer will score bids.

The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).

Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add more
Conditions of participation1
  • Suitability

    Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents

What this means for your bid
  • “Audit and Assurance Services Dynamic Purchasing System” is a dynamic market: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record · publisher note attached
Procedure method
Open procedure
Legal basis
CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Dynamic market
Who may use this agreement
Any qualifying supplier may apply while the market is open
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement
No (one-off requirement)
First published
5 Feb 2021, 22:56 GMT
Last source update
29 May 2025, 10:42 BST
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-028368
Classification (CPV)
Accounting, auditing and fiscal servicesAuditing servicesBusiness services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and securityFraud audit servicesInternal audit servicesInvestigation and security servicesStatutory audit services
Delivery area
UKEast of England (UKH12)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0290d7 Find a Tender
Contract terms
Electronic trading
e-invoicing allowed · electronic ordering · electronic payment

Publisher note: How to express interest and apply to this DPS: 1) browse to the esourcing portal https://www.nhssourcing.co.uk and click on view current opportunities. 2) select the title of the DPS. 3) review the Introduction and instructions, outline specification, pre-requisites and list of eligible users (you may do this without registering). 4) register your organisation on the eSourcing portal (this is only required once). 5) accept the portal terms and conditions and click ‘continue’, enter your organisation and user details; note the username you chose and click ‘Save’ when complete. You will shortly receive an email with your unique password (please keep this secure). 6) login to the portal with the username/password. 7) click the ‘PQQs/ITTs Open To All Suppliers’ link. (These are pre-qualification questionnaires or invitations to tender open to any registered supplier). 8) click on the relevant PQQ/ITT to access the content. 9) click the ‘Express Interest’ button at the top of the page. This will move the PQQ/ITT into your ‘My PQQs/My ITTs’ page. (This is a secure area reserved for your projects only). You can now access any attachments by clicking ‘Buyer Attachments’ in the ‘PQQ/ITT Details’ box. 10) Responding to the PQQ. Click ‘My Response’ under ‘PQQ/ITT Details’, you can choose to ‘Create Response’ or to ‘Decline to Respond’ (please give a reason if declining). You can now use the messages function to communicate with the buyer and seek any clarification. Note the deadline for completion, then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the PQQ. There may be a mixture of online and offline actions for you to perform (there is detailed online help available). You must then submit your reply using the ‘Submit Response’ button at the top of the page. If you require any further assistance please consult the online help, or contact the eTendering help desk.

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: portal not identified
Language: EN
Admission period ends
8 Mar 2021, 23:59 GMT
Submission channel
{"electronicSubmission","written"}
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Timeline

8 Mar 2021 → 29 May 2025 · 2 dates
  1. Admission / appointment period endsperiod end, not a bid countdown
    8 Mar 2021, 23:59 GMT
  2. Notice published
    29 May 2025, 10:42 BST

Notice history

4 events · 7 releases on Find a Tender · since 10 Mar 2023
  1. Status changed to complete
    10 Mar 2023, 20:04 GMT
  2. Procurement method changed
    10 Mar 2023, 20:04 GMT
  3. Buyer details updated
    10 Mar 2023, 20:04 GMT
  4. Buyer details updated
    15 Dec 2023, 10:55 GMT
Published amendments (5 · 2 deadline changes)
WhenWhatBeforeAfterShift
—TextV.2.3AZETS HOLDINGS LIMITED20 Hatherton StreetWALSALLWS4 2LAAzets Audit Services LimitedHSBC Bank plc130 New StreetBirminghamB2 4JU
—TextII.1.5Value excluding VAT: £2,000,000Value excluding VAT: £26,000,000
—TextII.2.6Value excluding VAT: £2,000,000Value excluding VAT: £20,000,000
—DeadlineIV.2.28 Mar 202121 Mar 2025+1474 d
—TextII.2.5Value excluding VAT: £26,000,000Value excluding VAT: £40,000,000
—TextII.2.6Value excluding VAT: £20,000,000Value excluding VAT: £34,000,000
—TextII.2.7Duration in months 48Duration in months 95
—TextII.2.7Duration in months 48Duration in months 95
—TextII.2.7Duration in months 48Duration in months 95
—TextII.2.7Duration in months 48Duration in months 95
—TextIV.1.3—The period of validity of the DPS will be extended by up to an additional 47 months, subject to the DPS ending no later than midnight at the end of 23rd February 2029.
—DeadlineIV.2.221 Mar 202523 Feb 2029+1435 d
—TextVI.3How to express interest and apply to this DPS: 1) browse to the esourcing portal https://www.nhssourcing.co.uk and click on view current opportunities. 2) select the title of the DPS. 3) review the Introduction and instructions, outline specification, pre-requisites and list of eligible users (you may do this without registering). 4) register your organisation on the eSourcing portal (this is only…Supplier instructions how to express interest and bid: 1) Browse to the esourcing portal https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome and click on view Live Opportunities 2) Register your organisation on the eSourcing portal (this is only required once); 3) Accept the portal terms and conditions and click 'continue', enter your organisation and user details; note the username you chose and click 'Sav…

Awarded Supplier Name and Address Changed fromAZETS HOLDINGS LIMITED20 Hatherton StreetWALSALLWS4 2LAAwarded Supplier Name and address changed toAzets Audit Services Limited2nd Floor Regis House45 King William StreetLondonEnglandEC4R 9AN

We have transitioned to the Atamis e-tendering portal. Future applications will have to be made through that system. I have enclosed a link to Atamis, and their User Guide. https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome User Guide: https://services.atamis.co.uk/docs/Supplier_User_Guide.pdf

3 amendments published without a description.

Routine re-releases (7)
  • 2023-11: 2 releases · 17 Nov 2023, 20 Nov 2023
  • 2023-03: 1 release · 10 Mar 2023
  • 2021-02: 1 release · 5 Feb 2021

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Suppliers appointed 1admitted to the panel · see the list ↓
Bids received 1
Contracts signed 1latest 31 Jan 2023

1 suppliers are admitted to this dynamic market without individual award values or dates, see the supplier list below.

Contracts

  • Contract 007150-2023-1

    Signed
    31 Jan 2023
    Value
    £557,456
    Status
    active

Bid statistics published by the authority

LotBidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
1 · The Trust wishes to agree a contract for external audit services covering the next…1bids———

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

6 public bodies on the notice

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Contracting authorityCentral GovernmentMinistry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisionsHealth Liverpool Road, Chester, North West, CH2 1ULContact email Published organisation website ↗

Consortium members and other public bodies

  • Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation TrustContracting authorityBody governed by public lawHealth Cambridge, East of EnglandContact name, email, phone
  • The eligible users of the dynamic purchasing system are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://www.coch-cps.co.uk/Contracting authority UK, UKContact email
  • The eligible users of the proposed dynamic purchasing system are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://www.coch-cps.co.uk/Contracting authority UK, UKContact email
  • The eligible users of the proposed dynamic purchasing system are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://www.coch-cps.co.uk/frameworks/corporate-services/#DPS07Contracting authority UK, UKContact email
  • The eligible users of the proposed dynamic purchasing system are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: www.nhssourcing.co.ukContracting authority UK, UKContact email

Dispute resolution & review bodies

  • NHS Shared Business Services LimitedReview body Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
  • Royal Courts of JusticeReview body London

Suppliers admitted to the dynamic market

1 commercial party on the notice
  • AZETS HOLDINGS LIMITEDAdmitted to the market 20 Hatherton Street, WALSALL, East of England, WS4 2LAContact email

Official documents & specifications (2)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

  • Economic and financial selection criteriatenderEconomic and financial selection criteria
  • Technical selection criteriatenderTechnical selection criteria