External Audit Services

{
  "id": "020684-2024",
  "tag": [
    "tender"
  ],
  "date": "2024-07-05T17:09:10+01:00",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-047b4e",
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-COH-08166526",
    "name": "CENTRAL REGION SCHOOLS TRUST"
  },
  "tender": {
    "id": "106-07-24",
    "lots": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "status": "active",
        "renewal": {
          "description": "5. Contracting and Invoicing\nThe contract will be for a three-year period, commencing for financial year 1st September 2024 and ending on 31 August 2027, unless terminated earlier in accordance with the terms of the contract. \nThe Trust is under no obligation to appoint a provider from this exercise and reserves the right not to appoint or to re-run the exercise. The Trust will not be liable for any costs prior to appointment, including submission of Tender. \nInvoicing arrangement will be made clear with the appointed provider as part of their confirmation of appointment."
        },
        "hasOptions": false,
        "hasRenewal": true,
        "description": "2. Requirements\nWe are seeking to procure a service that provides:\n•\tExternal Audit Services\nThe Trust requirements are as follows:\n•\tPreparation of the Central Region Schools Trust Annual Report and Accounts.\n•\tExpressing an opinion of the above Financial Statements. \n•\tAccountants Assurance Report on Regularity as required by the ESFA. \n•\tAccountants Assurance Report on the Annual Accounts Return as required by the ESFA. \n•\tAttendance at the Trust Board of Directors meeting at which the Statutory Accounts are scrutinised.\n•\tAudit of the Teachers' Pension Scheme End of Year Certificate.\n•\tPreparation and submission of the Corporation tax return.\n•\tPreparation and submission of the Academies Accounts return.\n•\tA working knowledge of financial management systems. The Trust is undergoing an exercise to change the finance system. As yet the new system is unknown.\n•\tOther ad hoc services as required.\n•\tTaxation advice as required.\n•\tVAT advice as required.\n3. Procurement timeline\nEvent\tDate\nInvitation to Tender Issued\t\t5th July 2024\nTenderers to express interest and submit clarifications questions via email\t17th July 2024\nCRST to issue responses to clarification questions, options for scope clarification phone calls\t24th July 2024\nDeadline for Receipt of Tender\t\t5pm Friday 2nd August 2024\nNotification of short-list\t5pm Tuesday 9th August 2024\nSupplier Engagement Day\tw/c 12th August 2024\nTender Award update\tw/c 12th August 2024\nTenderers should raise any queries they have about the requirements via email to procurement@crst.org.uk  Any questions will be included on an FAQ document and posted on the Trust website alongside the Tender Notice, to ensure all interested parties have access to the same information.\nCRST will endeavour to answer all written enquiries prior to tenders being submitted and reserves the right not to respond to a request for information or clarification. All tenders are required to be submitted by the date quoted in the table: 2nd August 2024. \nIt is the responsibility of the tenderer to ensure that the tender is submitted and delivered on time. The Trust will not consider late or incomplete submissions. The submission should be via email to Tenders@crst.org.uk The Trust will shortlist tenders and then invite providers to a Supplier Engagement Day. The Trust reserves the right to vary the timetable and is also under no obligation to appoint a preferred bidder from this exercise.\n4. Submission of Tender\nAll tenders should specifically identify:\n•\tA total annual cost proposal.\n•\tA clear indication of services provided as part of the fee.\n•\tThe variable costs for the proposal, including charge per new academy/ad-hoc advice, if applicable.\n•\tAny inflationary or other provisions for periodic increase in fees.\n•\tFees chargeable for additional services that are not included in as part of the annual cost proposal.\n•\tYour firms' approach to client management and how you offer ongoing support.\n•\tEvidence of working with Multi Academy Trusts and/or charitable trusts. \n•\tExample Management Letter. \n•\tStatistics on Client Retention and Recruitment rates. \n•\tBiographies of staff the Trust will be working with, listing expertise and experience. \n•\tThe reports available to the Trust. \n•\tTwo References from organisations that you have worked with within the educational sector. \n•\tCompliance measures for meeting the requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018\n•\tA brief description of your business continuity plans that mitigate against an interrupted service should this arise. \n•\tConfirmation that you will conduct code of conduct of the professional body. \n•\tDetails of any additional measurable benefits you can provide in terms of quality and cost which impact on social value indicators. \n•\tExplanation of training / events provided to clients. \n•\tWhat \"added value\" you can offer CRST.\n5. Contracting and Invoicing\nThe contract will be for a three-year period, commencing for financial year 1st September 2024 and ending on 31 August 2027, unless terminated earlier in accordance with the terms of the contract. \nThe Trust is under no obligation to appoint a provider from this exercise and reserves the right not to appoint or to re-run the exercise. The Trust will not be liable for any costs prior to appointment, including submission of Tender. \nInvoicing arrangement will be made clear with the appointed provider as part of their confirmation of appointment.\n6. Instructions to Tenderers\nPlease submit your tender offer in accordance with all the instructions, requirements, and specification. \nPlease ensure your proposal is no longer than ten pages or up to fifteen slides. \nAll tenders must be complete and submitted to Tenders@crst.org.uk by the specified deadline. \n8. Compliance\nCRST reserves the right to disqualify or reduce the evaluation score of any tenderers who do not fully comply with the requirements in the tender documentation, in particular the closing date and time. \nThe Trust reserves the right to evaluate proposals on a variety of criteria. The tender with the lowest price will not automatically be accepted as the successful bid.\n9. Termination \nEither party may terminate the contract by giving 6 months' notice. The initial period of the contract is three years; this could be renewed for an additional one- or two-year period.",
        "contractPeriod": {
          "durationInDays": 1080
        },
        "submissionTerms": {
          "variantPolicy": "notAllowed"
        }
      }
    ],
    "items": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "relatedLot": "1",
        "deliveryAddresses": [
          {
            "region": "UKG"
          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "title": "External Audit Services",
    "status": "active",
    "coveredBy": [
      "GPA"
    ],
    "bidOpening": {
      "date": "2024-08-05T15:00:00+01:00"
    },
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "32014L0024",
      "scheme": "CELEX"
    },
    "awardPeriod": {
      "startDate": "2024-08-05T15:00:00+01:00"
    },
    "description": "External Audit Services 3-Year Appointment to audit year ending 31 August 25, 26 and 27\nWe are seeking to procure a service that provides:\n•\tExternal Audit Services\nThe Trust requirements are as follows:\n•\tPreparation of the Central Region Schools Trust Annual Report and Accounts.\n•\tExpressing an opinion of the above Financial Statements. \n•\tAccountants Assurance Report on Regularity as required by the ESFA. \n•\tAccountants Assurance Report on the Annual Accounts Return as required by the ESFA. \n•\tAttendance at the Trust Board of Directors meeting at which the Statutory Accounts are scrutinised.\n•\tAudit of the Teachers' Pension Scheme End of Year Certificate.\n•\tPreparation and submission of the Corporation tax return.\n•\tPreparation and submission of the Academies Accounts return.\n•\tA working knowledge of financial management systems. The Trust is undergoing an exercise to change the finance system. As yet the new system is unknown.\n•\tOther ad hoc services as required.\n•\tTaxation advice as required.\n•\tVAT advice as required.",
    "tenderPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2024-08-02T17:00:00+01:00"
    },
    "hasRecurrence": false,
    "classification": {
      "id": "79212300",
      "scheme": "CPV",
      "description": "Statutory audit services"
    },
    "submissionTerms": {
      "languages": [
        "en"
      ]
    },
    "submissionMethod": [
      "electronicSubmission"
    ],
    "procurementMethod": "open",
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
    "submissionMethodDetails": "https://www.crst.org.uk/attachments/download.asp?file=27&type=pdf",
    "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure"
  },
  "parties": [
    {
      "id": "GB-COH-08166526",
      "name": "CENTRAL REGION SCHOOLS TRUST",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ],
      "address": {
        "region": "UKG31",
        "locality": "BIRMINGHAM",
        "postalCode": "B31SF",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "streetAddress": "Assay Studios,141-143 Newhall Street"
      },
      "details": {
        "url": "https://www.crst.org.uk/page/?title=Procurement&pid=42",
        "classifications": [
          {
            "scheme": "TED_CA_TYPE",
            "description": "Multi Academy Trust"
          },
          {
            "id": "09",
            "scheme": "COFOG",
            "description": "Education"
          }
        ]
      },
      "identifier": {
        "id": "08166526",
        "scheme": "GB-COH",
        "legalName": "CENTRAL REGION SCHOOLS TRUST"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "url": "https://www.crst.org.uk/attachments/download.asp?file=27&type=pdf",
        "name": "Tender Notice",
        "email": "tenders@crst.org.uk",
        "telephone": "+44 1212703117"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "GB-FTS-117714",
      "name": "Central Region Schools Trust",
      "roles": [
        "reviewBody"
      ],
      "address": {
        "locality": "Birmingham",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
      },
      "identifier": {
        "legalName": "Central Region Schools Trust"
      }
    }
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "initiationType": "tender"
}