Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Derbyshire Dales District Council
Town Hall, Bank Road
Matlock
DE4 3NN
UK
Contact person: Ms Sherry Russell
E-mail: sherry.russell@derbyshiredales.gov.uk
NUTS: UKF13
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/Index?advertId=1a190082-a9dc-ef11-8133-005056b64545
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/Index?advertId=1a190082-a9dc-ef11-8133-005056b64545
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
DDPT026 Reporting Accountant for Housing Benefit (Subsidy) Assurance Process (HBAP)
Reference number: DDPT026 (DN760706)
II.1.2) Main CPV code
79210000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Derbyshire Dales District Council (the Council) requires a suitably experienced and qualified reporting accountant (external auditor) to audit and certify their Housing Benefit (HB) Subsidy Grant claims in England, commencing with the subsidy period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 (equivalent dates for any extension period), to meet the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) requirements to give the DWP assurance of a valid and true claim. The reporting accountant will conduct testing of all Housing Benefit Assurance Process (HBAP) aspects of the audit.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
155 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKF13
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Derbyshire Dales District Council (the Council) requires a suitably experienced and qualified reporting accountant (external auditor) to audit and certify their Housing Benefit (HB) Subsidy Grant claims in England, commencing with the subsidy period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 (equivalent dates for any extension period), to meet the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) requirements to give the DWP assurance of a valid and true claim. The reporting accountant will conduct testing of all Housing Benefit Assurance Process (HBAP) aspects of the audit.
A condition of participation is that you must be currently registered on the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW) register of licensed local auditors Local Auditor Register.
The initial contract period is for the audit relating to the housing benefit subsidy claim for 2024/25; the contract is estimated to commence 5 May 2025 and expire 4 May 2026.
There will be an option to extend the contract for up to four years in 2 yearly increments subject to satisfactory performance and business needs, to meet the 2025/26, 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29 audit requirements. The maximum contract period is five years.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 60%
Price
/ Weighting:
40%
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 12
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
There will be an option to extend the contract for up to 48 Months (4 years) in two 24 month increments subject to satisfactory performance and business needs.
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions:
You must be currently registered on the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW) register of licensed local auditors
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
III.2.2) Contract performance conditions
As per tender documentation
III.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
27/02/2025
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
27/02/2025
Local time: 12:00
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published:
The initial contract period is for 12 months; the contract is estimated to commence 5 May 2025 and expire 4 May 2026. There will be an option to extend the contract for up to four years in 2 yearly increments .
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
VI.3) Additional information
The opportunity can be accessed via Derbyshire Dales District Council's e-Tendering system. Tenderers wishing to be considered for this contract must register their expression of interest and submit a tender through our e-Tendering system. If not already registered, candidates should register at https://procontract.due-north.com/Login
A condition of participation is that you must be currently registered on the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW) register of licensed local auditors Local Auditor Register.
All discussions, meetings, and communications will be conducted in English.
The contract will be subject to English law. Tenders and all supporting documents must be
priced in GBP and all payments under the contract will be made in GBP.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Royal Courts of Justice
London
UK
VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
The Council will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar days (or 15 if non-electronic or fax methods used) standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to the relevant economic operators. Debriefing by the Council shall be in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulation 2015 (as amended) 5 / 5 (the Regulations). Such information should be requested from the addressee in Section 1.1). If an appeal regarding the award of the contract has not been successfully resolved the Regulations provide for the aggrieved parties who are of the opinion that they have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the Regulations, to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). Any such action must be brought as soon as possible.
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
28/01/2025