CONTRACT NOTICE – NATIONAL

1 Authority Details

1.1

Authority Name and Address

1.2

Address from which documentation may be obtained

As in 1.1

1.3

Completed documents must be returned to:

As in 1.1

2 Contract Details

2.1

Title

Provision of Quality Monitoring Services to the Wales Audit Office

2.2

Description of the goods or services required

To participate in this procurement prospective suppliers must have significant professional standing and substantial experience of reviewing the quality of audit work in professional audit firms or other organisations, for example as a UK Recognised Supervisory Body (or a division of such a body) under Schedule 10 of the Companies Act 2006.

The Financial Audit Practice is led by an Assistant Auditor General and incorporates all operational Financial Audit staff, as well as an Information Management and Technology Audit Team and a Financial Audit Technical Group. It currently employs a total of 130 staff (full time equivalent of 123). Under the existing arrangements, Wales Audit Office staff deliver around 86 per cent of the annual financial audit work and private sector accountancy firms perform around 14 percent.

The Financial Audit Practice audits the accounts of public sector bodies and certifies grant claims and returns, along with other examinations and governance work. The Practice generates fee income of over £6 million from the financial audits.

The Wales Audit Office is seeking to appoint a supplier to provide some quality monitoring services to the Financial Audit Practice with effect from the 2015-16 audit year. The contract will be for an initial period of three years with an option to extend for an additional year.

NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at http://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=46475.

2.3

Notice Coding and Classification

2.4

Total quantity or scope of tender

The following core services will be provided by the prospective supplier:

• two cold file reviews for each year of the contract, to include emphasis both on compliance with standards and on audit efficiency;

• review of whole-of-firm review arrangements in year 1, and potentially some testing of those arrangements;

• the provision of training to WAO ‘in house’ quality review teams; and

• advice on good practice and cutting edge developments in audit methodology.

The contract might also provide for additional ‘on demand’ services, such as:

• quality assurance reviews of contractor firms in particular circumstances; and

• specialist speakers for conferences and training events.

3 Conditions for Participation

3.1

Minimum standards and qualification required

To participate in this procurement prospective suppliers must have significant professional standing and substantial experience of reviewing the quality of audit work in professional audit firms or other organisations, for example as a UK Recognised Supervisory Body (or a division of such a body) under Schedule 10 of the Companies Act 2006. Please also see paragraph 26 in the Invitation to Tender document, which sets out the criteria for selection.

4 Administrative Information

4.1

Type of Procedure

Single stage

4.2

Reference number attributed to the notice by the contracting authority

N/a

4.3

Time Limits

4.5

Language or languages in which tenders or requests to participate can be drawn up

Welsh

4.6

Tender Submission Postbox

5 Other Information

5.1

Additional Information

(WA Ref:46475)

5.2

Additional Documentation

5.3

Publication date of this notice