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Find a TenderAwardedContract performance notice
Published 23 Jun 2025, 16:05 BST

Official UK procurement notice

External Assurance Reviews of Local Authorities

Official notice

Authority: Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (Central government)

ServicesOpen procedureAbove thresholdSME suitable
Sectors: Financial and insurance services (66) Delivery: UK
Published estimate£4,500,000≈ £4.5m / year · £5,400,000 inc. VAT · 1 value update
Submissions closed 3 Oct 2025awarded 22 Oct 2025
Awarded to CIPFA Business Limited
Contract term 1 yrends 1 Dec 2026 · up to 28 Nov 2028 with extensions · starts 28 Nov 2025

What is being bought

Published requirement description

To appoint an external Supplier that can quickly mobilise resources to coordinate and conduct external assurance reviews of local authorities where those local authorities are identified as carrying significant risk and / or exhibiting evidence of failure. The reviews may cover a range of subject areas that include but are not limited to: governance processes, financial management, financial sustainability, commercial and companies, and procurement and contract management. Reviews will include recommendations on appropriate steps local authorities could take to address the issues / risks identified.

It is expected that the areas of focus for each review will not be mutually exclusive, and the Supplier is expected to consider the interdependencies across the different areas as required. There may be additional focuses for specific local authorities that may be included in review scopes, for instance, specific demand pressures or investments / companies that are driving financial pressures.

External Assurance Reviews will be categorised as either (but not limited to)

"in depth assessment (finance and governance)" - will encompass a wide scope across a range of subject areas

"in depth assessment (finance)" - scopes which are principally focused on financial management & sustainability and/ or capital / debt & investments / assets, and improvement only

"in depth assessment (governance)" - reviews focused on the governance, culture and leadership of organisation or service delivery (and improvement) - with only limited focus on financial elements of the authority under view

"rapid review" (which could be financial or governance focused in nature)

Under this contract the Supplier will be expected to deliver against the following objectives:

Objective 1 - Delivering Reviews: To deliver to MHCLG completed external assurance reviews of local authorities to an agreed timeframe to enable timely actions to be taken in response to their findings;

Objective 2 - Consistency and Quality: To ensure consistency of quality, depth, and presentation of external assurance reviews, and that all reviews meet a good standard of written English;

Objective 3 - Constructive Working Relationships: To work constructively with local authorities subject to an external assurance review to ensure review analysis and findings are robust, and maintain as far as possible a collaborative working relationship between local authority, Supplier and MHCLG;

Objective 4 - Due Diligence to Reduce Legal Risk: To ensure that conflicts of interest are managed appropriately, and that the Supplier undertakes due diligence to reduce legal risk in all respects, this includes ensuring appropriate due diligence where a review implicates an identifiable individual.

Objective 5 - Resource Capacity: To ensure resource capacity and flexibility is provided so that reviews can continue to be delivered to the agreed timeframes, particularly where reviews are occurring concurrently.

Objective 6 - Expertise: To ensure Supplier reviewers / review teams have the necessary experience, expertise, qualifications and understanding of the local authority sector, reflecting the review scope may flex subject to the issues identified in individual local authorities.

CPV: Financial consultancy services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1AwardedRenewal 1 yrPublished value£4,500,000
Contract period: 28 Nov 2025 – 1 Dec 2026 (1 yr) · up to 28 Nov 2028 with extensionsValue: £4,500,000 exc. VAT · £5,400,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: UK
Extensions: There will be an optional extension period of two years (+1+1). The financial cap for the initial 12 months will be a maximum of £1,500,000 ex VAT. Any extension period would be subject to requirements, a variation process, funding approval and performance of the supplier up to a maximum value of £3,000,000 ex VAT (for the optional extension years). The maximum value of the contract including any extension years is £4,500,000 ex VAT.
66171000 Financial consultancy services

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
How bids were scored
Quality: 100%
Published sub-criteria (1)
  • Technical Response: 100%
Published award criteria (1)
  • Technical Response

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Open procedure
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Above threshold (FTS publication)
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
23 Jun 2025, 16:05 BST
Last source update
30 Sept 2026, 12:13 BST
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 31 Oct 2025
Authority reference
CPD4128021
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-054317
Latest notice
Contract performance notice (UK9)
Classification (CPV)
Financial consultancy services
Delivery area
UK
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0551fe Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: Atamis (Health Family) · Who buys & how to bid on Atamis
Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free · one account PER buying organisation portal · password resets come "from Salesforce.com" (check spam)
Submission deadline
3 Oct 2025, 12:00 BST
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Associated tender documents

atamis-5407.my.site.com/login ↗

The key documents supporting this procurement can be found and accessed in the Log on to the MHCLG Atamis e-procurement supplier website. The Authority will be administering the Procurement Process electronically via this eSourcing Portal. All communications with the Authority must be conducted via the Portal.

Support is available to help Suppliers to understand and use the Portal or query any issues with the eSourcing Portal via the following link:

suppliersupport.atamis.co.uk/hc/en-gb/sections/46… ↗

If you can't find what you're looking for there, the customer support team is available to assist you from 8 am - 6 pm (UK time in the English Language), excluding holidays by submitting a request;

suppliersupport.atamis.co.uk/hc/en-gb/requests/new ↗

For urgent technical assistance please call the helpdesk, Phone 44 29 2280 9277 Operational Hours 08:00-18:00 Monday - Friday Excluding Public Holidays

Access Tender in Portal.pdf

Guide to accessing the tender documents

Access Tender in Portal (4).pdf

Timeline

23 Jun 2025 → 30 Sept 2026 · 9 dates
  1. Planning notice published
    23 Jun 2025, 16:05 BST
  2. Market engagement
    11 Jul 2025, 23:59 BST

    To request a copy of the PME document please email the below address ensuring to insert 'CPD4128021 - Local Assurance Reviews" into the subject header of the email.

    Commercialtenders.gov.uk

    Specific questions from the Authority are detailed in section 8 of the PME document.

  3. Tender notice published
    5 Sept 2025, 14:17 BST
  4. Submission deadline385 days ago
    3 Oct 2025, 12:00 BST
  5. Assessment summaries sent366 days ago
    22 Oct 2025, 00:00 BST
  6. Award decision expected by356 days ago
    31 Oct 2025, 23:59 GMT
  7. Standstill ends353 days ago
    3 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
  8. Contract starts329 days ago
    28 Nov 2025
  9. Latest notice published23 days ago
    30 Sept 2026, 12:13 BST

Notice history

13 events · 7 releases on Find a Tender · since 23 Jun 2025
  1. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    23 Jun 2025, 16:05 BST
    UK2
  2. Tender notice published
    5 Sept 2025, 14:17 BST
    UK4
  3. Published value published: £4,500,000
    5 Sept 2025, 14:17 BST
  4. Status changed to active
    5 Sept 2025, 14:17 BST
  5. Procurement method changed
    5 Sept 2025, 14:17 BST
  6. Deadline published: 3 Oct 2025, 12:00 BST
    5 Sept 2025, 14:17 BST
  7. Contract award notice published
    23 Oct 2025, 14:23 BST
    UK6
  8. Status changed to complete
    23 Oct 2025, 14:23 BST
  9. Contract signature expected
    21 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
    scheduled
  10. Contract details notice published
    3 Dec 2025, 13:21 GMT
    UK7
  11. Contract performance notice published
    8 Apr 2026, 10:33 BST
    UK9
  12. Contract performance notice published
    16 Jun 2026, 11:46 BST
    UK9
  13. Contract performance notice published
    30 Sept 2026, 12:13 BST
    UK9
Routine re-releases (7)
  • 2025-12: 1 release · 3 Dec 2025
  • 2025-10: 1 release · 23 Oct 2025
  • 2025-09: 1 release · 5 Sept 2025
  • 2025-06: 1 release · 23 Jun 2025

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £4,500,0001 award exc. VAT
Bids received 21 from SMEs
Named bidders 2published on the award notice
Contracts signed 1latest 25 Nov 2025
Awarded toValueDateStatus
CIPFA Business Limited28 Nov 2025 – 1 Dec 2026 · up to 1 Dec 2028Extensions: There is an optional extension period of two years (+1+1). The financial cap for the initial 12 months will be a maximum of £1,500,000 ex VAT. Any extension period would be subject to requirements, a variation process, funding approval and performance of the supplier up to a maximum value of £3,000,000 ex VAT (for the optional extension years). The maximum value of the contract including any extension years is £4,500,000 ex VAT.£4,500,00022 Oct 2025Awarded

Contracts

  • External Assurance Reviews of Local Authorities · CIPFA Business Limited

    Signed
    25 Nov 2025
    Value
    £4,500,000
    Period
    28 Nov 2025 – 1 Dec 2026 · up to 1 Dec 2028 with extensions
    Status
    active
    Extensions
    There is an optional extension period of two years (+1+1). The financial cap for the initial 12 months will be a maximum of £1,500,000 ex VAT. Any extension period would be subject to requirements, a variation process, funding approval and performance of the supplier up to a maximum value of £3,000,000 ex VAT (for the optional extension years). The maximum value of the contract including any extension years is £4,500,000 ex VAT.
    8 agreed KPIs: Cost · Quality · Time - In Depth Assessment …
    • Cost, Supplier Cost remains within agreed parameters - frequency will be per commission/invoice
    • Quality, Quality of reviews must provide assurance and expert analysis to support robust credible decisions by the authority on Exceptional Financial Support taking interventionist steps to ensure VfM/reduce Council's risk. Frequency will be per review/commission.
    • Time - In Depth Assessment, A draft of each in-depth assessment must be submitted within 5 weeks of commissioning (unless agreed by exception) Frequency will be per assessment.
    • Time - Rapid Reviews, A draft of each rapid review must be submitted by the end of week 2 from commissioning. Frequency will be per review.
    • Time - Final Reviews, Final reviews must be delivered within 6 - 8 weeks of commissioning (unless agreed by exception). Frequency will be per review.
    • Progress Reports, The supplier must provide fortnightly updates for each ongoing review to keep the authority informed of progress to include progress to date, risks / issues encountered and mitigations, and forecast delivery date. A project management template will be provided. Frequency will be fortnightly.
    • Social Value Commitment 1 - Workshops, Social Value Theme 3: Resilient, innovative and flexible supply chains: Support economic growth through enabling resilient businesses, opportunities for small businesses and voluntary, community and social enterprises. 3b. Collaborate in co-design and delivery with communities and anchor partners. 3bi. Number of engagement activities with the community, community representatives and or anchor institutions. Deliver a minimum of 8 workshops across CV writing, job readiness, grant applications, and Procurement Act 2023 awareness, co-designed with local authorities, anchor partners, and community groups to address local skills and organisational needs.
    • Social Value Commitment 2 - Participant Engagement & Outcomes, Social Value Theme 3: Resilient, innovative and flexible supply chains: Support economic growth through enabling resilient businesses, opportunities for small businesses and voluntary, community and social enterprises. 3b. Collaborate in co-design and delivery with communities and anchor partners. 3bi. Number of engagement activities with the community, community representatives and or anchor institutions. Achieve 128 hours of social value activity through workshops, ensuring that 80% of participants report increased confidence or skills and 50% take practical steps towards employment, grant applications, or community engagement
    • Good - performance is meeting or exceeding the KPI Cost · to 30 Jun 2026
    • Good - performance is meeting or exceeding the KPI Time - In Depth Assessment · to 30 Jun 2026
    • Good - performance is meeting or exceeding the KPI Time - Final Reviews · to 30 Jun 2026
    • Other - performance cannot be rated good, approaching target, requires improvement or inadequate Social Value - No of engagement activities within the community, community representatives and/or anchor institutions that support community integration · to 30 Jun 2026
    • Other - performance cannot be rated good, approaching target, requires improvement or inadequate Cost · to 31 Mar 2026
    • Other - performance cannot be rated good, approaching target, requires improvement or inadequate Time - In Depth Assessment · to 31 Mar 2026
    • Other - performance cannot be rated good, approaching target, requires improvement or inadequate Time - Final Reviews · to 31 Mar 2026
    • Other - performance cannot be rated good, approaching target, requires improvement or inadequate Social Value - No of engagement activities within the community, community representatives and/or anchor institutions that support community integration · to 31 Mar 2026
    • Other - performance cannot be rated good, approaching target, requires improvement or inadequate Cost · to 31 Dec 2025
    • Other - performance cannot be rated good, approaching target, requires improvement or inadequate Time - In Depth Assessment · to 31 Dec 2025
    • Other - performance cannot be rated good, approaching target, requires improvement or inadequate Time - Final Reviews · to 31 Dec 2025
    • Other - performance cannot be rated good, approaching target, requires improvement or inadequate Social Value - No of engagement activities within the community, community representatives and/or anchor institutions that support community integration · to 31 Dec 2025

Bid statistics published by the authority

BidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
2final-stage tenders10—

Who bid

Bidders as named on the Procurement Act 2023 award notice. “Won” means the bidder holds an award on this notice.

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central government GB-PPON: PWCX-8281-CLPR 2 Marsham Street, London United Kingdom, London, SW1P 4DFContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

2 commercial parties on the notice · 1 awarded
  • CIPFA BUSINESS LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-COH: 02376684GB-PPON: PDXT-3827-YNGN 77 Mansell Street, London, London, E1 8ANContact email
  • ERNST & YOUNG LLPBidder / tendererGB-COH: OC300001GB-PPON: PMLW-7292-ZXTL 1 More London Place, London, London, SE1 2AF

Official documents & specifications (8)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

  • Bidding documents and specifications tenderBidding documents and specificationsPDFAssociated tender documents https://atamis-5407.my.site.com/login?locale=us The key documents supporting this procurement can be found and accessed in the Log on to the MHCLG Atamis e-procurement supplier website. The Authority will be administering the Procurement Process electr…

Notices published for this procedure