Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Northern Ireland Audit Office
The Audit Office, 106 University Street, Belfast
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:
www.niauditoffice.gov.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
www.niauditoffice.gov.uk
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
Re-Performance and Assessment of DAERA Paying Agency Farm and Forestry Inspections relating to the Common Agricultural Policy Area-Based Aid Schemes 2019
II.1.2) Main CPV code
79212000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The NIAO, on behalf of the UK Certifying Body (NAO), undertakes an annual audit in Northern Ireland, in accordance with the European Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 908/, of the PA’s operation of European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF).
The NIAO is seeking to appoint a service provider to undertake the re-verification and assessment of the Paying Agency farm and forestry inspections in the area-based aid schemes.
The contract will be for a period of one year from September 2018 to August 2019, with the option of 2 x 1 year extensions
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
150 000.00
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:
UKN
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The NIAO invites proposals for carrying out re-verification inspections on the original “on-the-spot checks” carried out by DAERA.
The appointed project team will be required to coordinate and direct an independent sample of re-verification testing of farm and forestry inspections, producing a report on their assessment of the original farm/forestry inspection. On completion of their draft report, the appointed team will liaise with the DAERA Legality and Regularity coordinators to confirm the factual accuracy of each report. The reports will then be submitted to the NIAO and form part of the EAF audit evidence.
The independent sample will consist of approximately 45 re-verifications of DAERA / Forest Service on-the-spot checks of claims for scheme eligibility: 30 re-verifications of Basic Payment Scheme OTSC inspections; and 15 re-verifications drawn from the OTSC inspections of Environmental Farming Scheme, Agri-environment (NICMS) and Forestry Grant Schemes claims. The re-verifications will be conducted via Control with Remote Sensing or on-site (at the farm / forest). It is highly unlikely that a selected farm / forest will be selected for more than one re-verification.
The project will require the successful tenderer to liaise with key staff in the DAERA Countryside Management Compliance Branch (CMCB), EU Verification Unit and Forest Service to obtain information and documentation relating to the original inspection and the re-verification inspection.
We expect that the project team for the project will be led by a Director/Partner, with day to day responsibility delegated to a Manager.
At the conclusion of each re-verification inspection, and following the project team’s Partner/Director review, the project team shall submit an independent report to the NIAO Manager which, as a minimum will detail:
— the findings of the original inspection;
— the findings and conclusions of the re-verification test, including a specific statement on cross compliance (ideally the findings and conclusions should be agreed with the DAERA / Forest Service inspector), and
— an assessment of the re-verification testing, including any variances.
It is expected that the sample re-verifications will be required during the period from October 2018 to April 2019 (the majority taking place by January 2019).
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
Start:
01/10/2018
End:
30/09/2019
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
The contract will be for a period of one year from October 2018 to September 2019, with the option of 2 x 1 year extensions, with an estimated contract value for the whole assignment of 150 000 GBP (exclusive of VAT).
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:
Yes
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:
Whilst the project team members should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the area-based aid schemes, the priority is that they are experienced in the review of systems that are in place to ensure compliance with legality and regulatory or quality control requirements. Training will be provided for the successful contractor on the schemes’ requirements and DAERA’s systems and processes.
We expect that the project team for the project will be led by a Director/Partner, with day to day responsibility delegated to a Manager.
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.1.8) 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:
28/09/2018
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:
01/10/2018
Local time: 10:00
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
13/09/2018