Contract notice
Section I: Contracting 
        authority        
      
I.1) Name and addresses
  THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER
  00977818
  309 Regent Street
  LONDON
  W1B2HW
  UK
  
            E-mail: procurement@westminster.ac.uk
  
            NUTS: UKI32
  Internet address(es)
  
              Main address: www.westminster.ac.uk
 
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://procontract.due-north.com
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://procontract.due-north.com/Login
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Education
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
  II.1.1) Title
External Audit Services
            Reference number: DN763384
  II.1.2) Main CPV code
  79212000
 
  II.1.3) Type of contract
  Services
  II.1.4) Short description
  The University is seeking a comprehensive external audit service to be in place from 3rd December 2025.
  The services to be provided  will include the full statutory service including, but not limited to:
  •	Preparation of an Audit Plan and presentation to the Audit and Risk Committee in June
  •	Pre-year end interim (or systems) audits
  •	Preparation of the annual year-end Corporation Tax computations and the submissions to HMRC for the University and Subsidiary Companies.
  •	Preparation of Management Letter and/or Audit Summary
  •	Presentation of Management Letter to one meeting of the Audit and Risk Committee and the Court of Governors, both customarily in November
  II.1.6) Information about lots
  
            This contract is divided into lots:
            
        No
      
 
II.2) Description
  
    II.2.3) Place of performance
    NUTS code:
    UK
    II.2.4) Description of the procurement
    The University is seeking a comprehensive external audit service to be in place from 3rd December 2025.
    The services to be provided  will include the full statutory service including, but not limited to:
    •	Preparation of an Audit Plan and presentation to the Audit and Risk Committee in June
    •	Pre-year end interim (or systems) audits
    •	Preparation of the annual year-end Corporation Tax computations and the submissions to HMRC for the University and Subsidiary Companies.
    •	Preparation of Management Letter and/or Audit Summary
    •	Presentation of Management Letter to one meeting of the Audit and Risk Committee and the Court of Governors, both customarily in November
    II.2.5) Award criteria
    Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
    II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
    
                Duration in months: 36
    
                  This contract is subject to renewal: No
                
    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:
            
              Yes
            
    Description of options:
    It is anticipated that the new contract will be for an initial period of 3 years. With an option to extend for a further period of 2 years, at 12-month increments, taking the contract term to a maximum of 5 years. 
    The Contract is intended to start on 3 December 2025. Any contract extension will be agreed upon between the University of Westminster and the successful bidder. 
    The University will likely seek that the successful bidder demonstrate improvements and/or price reductions before considering an extension.
    For any extension(s) to the Contract, discussions with the successful bidder shall be conducted sufficiently far in advance of the contract expiry date to arrive at an agreed position
    II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
    
            The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
            
              No
            
    II.2.14) Additional information
    Bidders can register for free on the Proactis Pro-Contract procurement portal (https://procontract.due-north.com) by completing a simple registration. 
    Once registered, bidders can use the search function under "find opportunities" to find the tender. If Bidders do not meet one or more of the minimum requirements for each Selection Criteria Bidders will be excluded from the process. If bidders pass all Selection Criteria, their Bid will be fully scored and evaluated.
    Bidders must submit their tender via the portal by 11 April   2025
    The University expressly reserves the rights:
    i) Not to award any contract as a result of this procurement process commenced by publication of this notice.
    ii) To make whatever changes it may see fit to the content and structure of the tendering competition.
    iii) To award (a) contract(s) in respect of any part(s) of the [services] covered by this notice;
    and in no circumstances will the University be liable for any costs incurred by Bidders.
   
 
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
  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
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:
              11/04/2025
  
                Local time: 12:00
  IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
  EN
  IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
  
              Date:
              11/04/2025
  
              Local time: 17:00
 
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
          This is a recurrent procurement:
          
        No
      
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
VI.4) Procedures for review
  VI.4.1) Review body
  
    University of Westminster
    London
    UK
   
  VI.4.3) Review procedure
  Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
  Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
  The University will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar day standstill period at the point that information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers. If an appeal
  regarding the award of the contract has not been successfully resolved, then the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by breach of the rules to take action in the High Court. Any such action must be brought promptly.
 
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
19/02/2025