II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

79210000

II.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS code:

UK

II.2.4) Description of the procurement

This Further Competition to establish an External Auditor under the Crown Commercial Services will be in accordance with the Audit & Assurance Services 2 framework agreement reference RM6310 Lot 2.

This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is issued to signal the intention to undertake market engagement with suppliers currently appointed under the Crown Commercial Services Audit & Assurance Services 2 framework agreement reference RM6310 Lot 2.

The engagement will focus on the forthcoming external audit requirements for UHBW and NBT, starting with the financial year 2026/2027.

For clarification, the audit threshold of £875 million is a regulatory limit established under the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) regulations. Organisations with income exceeding this threshold are subject to potential Audit Quality Reviews (AQR) conducted by the FRC.

Both UHBW (£1.3 billion) and NBT (£1.1 billion) exceed this regulatory threshold. Accordingly, the Trusts are seeking engagement with audit firms which are registered on the RM 6310 Framework and have demonstrable experience in undertaking statutory audits for organisations of comparable scale and complexity. It is therefore anticipated that only firms with substantial experience in auditing large and complex bodies will be suitably positioned to meet these requirements.

Following the successful formation of the Bristol NHS Group by NBT and UHBW in April 2025, the two organisations have set out an intent to pursue a merger of the two Trusts.

This may have implications for the future audit arrangements, and suppliers should therefore consider the possible impact on audit requirements when engaging with this opportunity.

As part of this market engagement exercise, the Trusts are seeking to obtain information from suppliers currently appointed to the relevant audit services framework regarding their capability, interest, and professional recommendations in relation to the forthcoming external audit requirements for University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) and North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT).

To inform the development of the procurement strategy and approach, suppliers are requested to respond to the following questions:

1. Capability and Experience (Mandatory):

Please confirm whether your organisation has demonstrable experience and capacity to manage external audits for entities of comparable size and complexity to UHBW (£1.3bn) and NBT (£1.1bn). Please provide evidence of 3 similar contracts for the last 3 years.

2. Interest in Participation:

Please indicate whether your organisation intends to register interest in bidding for this requirement. Indicative procurement timelines will be shared with interested suppliers as part of the procurement process.

3. As part of our market engagement activities, the Contracting Authority is considering requesting pricing submissions under a Fixed Price model, accompanied by a corresponding detailed cost breakdown, which clearly sets out the number of labour hours against each associated grade/level within the forthcoming tender documentation. We would appreciate your feedback on this proposed approach. In particular, we are seeking to understand whether the requirement to provide a Fixed Price together with an accompanying cost breakdown may present any challenges or concerns for your organisation. If applicable, please outline the nature of these challenges - for example, commercial, contractual, or practical - and provide any recommendations on how such issues might be addressed or mitigated.

4. Following the successful establishment of the Bristol NHS Group by North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) in April 2025, the two organisations have confirmed their intention to pursue a merger of the Trusts. This proposed merger may have implications for future audit arrangements. Accordingly, potential suppliers are advised to take into account the potential impact of this organisational change when considering this opportunity. The Bristol NHS Group currently anticipates that the merger, via acquisition, will be completed in summer 2026.

This procurement should therefore include provision for the part-year audit of NBT's accounts for the 2026 financial year, as well as the subsequent audits of the newly merged organization for the remainder of the contract term.

The information gathered through this engagement will assist the Trusts in refining the scope, structure, and timing of any future procurement activity. Suppliers are requested to submit their responses via email to: emil.cirica@nbt.nhs.uk

II.2.14) Additional information

Bristol & Weston NHS Purchasing Consortium (BWPC) would like to advise that our e-procurement portal for future contracting opportunities has changed to SAP Ariba.

We represent and provide procurement services for North Bristol NHS Trust and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust.

If you are interested in quoting on future opportunities for these Trusts and would like to register for free as a supplier, please visit: SAP Business Network Discovery (ariba.com)

Link detail: https://service.ariba.com/Discovery.aw/109591059/aw?awh=r&awssk=tqusy3Ad&dard=1&ancdc=1