Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Northern Ireland Audit Office
The Audit Office, 106 University Street
Belfast
BT7 1EU
UK
Contact person: Joe Campbell
Telephone: +44 2890251097
E-mail: joe.campbell@niauditoffice.gov.uk
NUTS: UKN
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.niauditoffice.gov.uk
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://www.niauditoffice.gov.uk/opportunities-work-niao
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
www.niauditoffice.gov.uik
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to the abovementioned address
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Other: Regional Audit Institution
I.5) Main activity
Other: Public Sector Audit
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Framework Agreement for the Supply of Temporary Financial Audit Personnel Services for the Northern Ireland Audit Office
II.1.2) Main CPV code
79212000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The NIAO wishes to put in place Framework Agreements with Service Providers for the provision of temporary financial audit personnel services to cover short-term business demands.
The Framework Agreement period will be for 3 years from the date of appointment with the option of extending annually for 1 further year.
The services are defined as the provision of temporary financial audit personnel to cover short-term business demands. Work assignments will fall into two categories:
— Auditors;
— Assistant Auditors.
Temporary audit personnel supplied under the framework will be expected to be suitably trained and experienced to undertake NIAO work assignments and have a high level of initiative and commitment.
Once Service Providers have been appointed under the Framework Agreements, the NIAO will normally invite Service Providers to tender for individual work assignments on a competitive basis (mini-tender).
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
200 000.00
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:
UKN06
UKN07
UKN08
UKN09
UKN10
UKN11
UKN12
UKN13
UKN14
UKN15
UKN16
Main site or place of performance:
Work assignments may arise at any location in Northern Ireland. The permanent site of work for temporary audit personnel will be NIAO headquarters at 106 University Street.
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Comptroller and Auditor General (through the NIAO) is responsible for the financial auditing of Northern Ireland Government Departments, their executive agencies and a wide range of other public bodies, including health and social care bodies and local government bodies.
The NIAO wishes to put in place Framework Agreements with Service Providers for the provision of temporary financial audit personnel services to cover short-term business demands.
The Framework Agreement period will be for three years from the date of appointment with the option of extending annually for one further year.
21 The services are defined as the provision of temporary financial audit personnel to cover short-term business demands. Work assignments will fall into two categories:
— Auditors;
— Assistant Auditors.
Temporary audit personnel supplied under the framework will be expected to be suitably trained and experienced to undertake NIAO work assignments and have a high level of initiative and commitment.
All tenders received will be opened on the same occasion. Tenders will be evaluated to ascertain which Service Providers are best-qualified to meet NIAO’s requirements and which offers greatest overall economic advantage to the NIAO. The NIAO intends to award Framework Agreements to a minimum of three successful Service Providers.
Tenders will be required to meet a minimum standard for the ‘Knowledge, Expertise and Resources’ criteria. Failure to achieve a minimum standard score in this criteria will result in your tender being rejected and not considered further. The resultant actual scores will then be weighted with the top scoring bid being allocated the maximum 60 marks and other bids will be awarded scores on a pro-rata basis.
The lowest total cost will be allocated the maximum 40 marks for cost criteria and other bids will be awarded scores on a pro-rata basis.
All scores will be calculated to 2 decimal points. The NIAO will endeavour to give constructive feedback to the unsuccessful bidder(s).
Once Service Providers have been appointed under the Framework Agreements, the NIAO will normally invite Service Providers to tender for individual work assignments on a competitive basis (mini-tender).
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
200 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 36
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
The Framework Agreement period will be for 3 years from the date of appointment with the option of extending annually for 1 further year.
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:
The services are defined as the provision of temporary financial audit personnel to cover short-term business demands. Work assignments will fall into two categories:
— Auditors;
— Assistant Auditors.
Temporary audit personnel supplied under the framework will be expected to be suitably trained and experienced to undertake NIAO work assignments and have a high level of initiative and commitment.
Auditors will be required to hold a recognised Accountancy qualification, defined as being a member of or having passed the final admitting examination for one of the following:
— Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy,
— Association of Chartered Certified Accountants,
— One of the Institutes of Chartered Accountants,
— Chartered Institute of Management Accountants,
— Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland:
And will be required to work as part of an NIAO audit team under supervision of NIAO line management. Auditors should have recent (gained within the last two years) experience of leading audits.Their experience should demonstrate an ability to project manage audits and to work within audit teams. Details of the recent audits and their role within the audit team as well as post qualification time (defined as the time from passing the final admitting examination) will be required.
Assistant Auditors will be required to be part-qualified with one of the above recognised accountancy bodies and will be required to work as part of an NIAO audit team under supervision of NIAO line management. Assistant auditors should have recent (gained within the last two years) experience of working within an audit team. Details of their experience should include the role they played within audits carried out within the last 2 years, the time employed by the firm and any previous relevant experience.
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.2.3) 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.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement with several operators.
Justification for any framework agreement duration exceeding 4 years: N/A
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
26/11/2018
Local time: 13:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
03/12/2018
Local time: 14:00
Place:
Northern Ireland Audit Office
106 University Street
Belfast
BT7 1EU
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Northern Ireland Audit Office
The Audit Office, 106 University Street, Belfast, Co. Antrim
Belfast
BT7 1EU
UK
Telephone: +44 2890251000
E-mail: procurement@niauditoffice.gov.uk
Internet address(es)
URL: www.niauditoffice.gov.uk
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
18/10/2018