Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
The Minister for the Cabinet Office acting through Crown Commercial Service
9th Floor, The Capital, Old Hall Street
Liverpool
L3 9PP
UK
Telephone: +44 3150103503
E-mail: supplier@crowncommercial.gov.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.gov.uk/ccs
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Audit & Assurance Services (A&AS) Framework
Reference number: RM6188
II.1.2) Main CPV code
79212000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Audit & Assurance Services (RM6188) is a multi-lot framework agreement available for use by UK public sector bodies and future successor organisations, which includes central government departments and their arm’s length bodies and agencies, the wider public sector and third sector including, but not limited to, local government, health, education, police, fire and rescue, housing associations and charities.
Services will be delivered primarily within the United Kingdom, with some limited requirements overseas.
This framework agreement has replaced Lot 3 of Management Consultancy Framework (RM3745).
Please note that this procurement is for audit and assurance services and not management consultancy or contingent labour.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
Yes
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
500 000 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
Lot No: 1
II.2.1) Title
Internal Audit & Assurance
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
72224200
72225000
72810000
75211200
79200000
79210000
79212000
79212100
79212110
79212200
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Provision of services relating to all aspects of internal audit to provide independent and objective assurance and consulting activity on the effectiveness of governance, risk management and controls in line with public sector internal audit standards and other Standards. Core internal audit services
● Assurance on governance, risk management and controls including but not
limited to IT, finance, commercial, human resources, facilities management,
policy development and operations
● Advice and guidance on internal audit
● Benchmarking and quality assurance review of internal audit performance
including external quality assessment
● Development of internal audit strategy and methodologies
● Outsourced, co-sourced or one-off internal audit services
Specialist internal audit capabilities
● Specialist - Commercial
● Specialist - Programme and project management
● Specialist - Finance including treasury management
● Specialist - Human resources
● Specialist - Counter-fraud and investigation
● Specialist - Digital data and technology including but not limited to
blockchain, cyber security, artificial intelligence and machine learning
● Specialist - Grants
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 70%
Price
/ Weighting:
30%
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
Lot No: 2
II.2.1) Title
External Audit
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
66113000
66113100
66151000
66152000
75211200
79200000
79210000
79212000
79212100
79212300
79212500
79311410
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Provision of services relating to all aspects of external audits including inspecting documents, re-performing calculations and reviewing and reporting on controls and systems. Statutory audits requested by grant
providers are included.
● External statutory audit
● External audit including but not limited to financial statements
● Grant audits and certification
● NHS audits including but not limited to external assurance on quality reports
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 70%
Price
/ Weighting:
30%
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
Lot No: 3
II.2.1) Title
Counter-Fraud & Investigation
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
72810000
75211200
79200000
79210000
79212000
79212100
79212400
79311410
79313000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Provision of services relating to proactive counter-fraud work and reactive investigation including forensics. Proactive counter-fraud services
● Advice on and/or assessment of fraud, bribery and corruption awareness training and changes to legislation, policies and regulations
● Advice on and/or assessment of fraud risk plan and support in improving fraud, bribery and corruption risk management and fraud risk identification
● Advice on and/or assessment of fraud, bribery and corruption prevention and detection strategy including fraud response plan
● Advice on and/or assessment of whistleblowing, gifts and hospitality and conflicts of interest policies and procedures, and other routes for reporting suspected fraud
● Advice/assessment and/or delivery of proactive testing and compliance activity in key risk areas
● Advice on fraud loss including prevention estimation methodologies
● Use of technology including but not limited to data analytics to support the delivery of proactive counter-fraud services including fraud prevention and detection Reactive investigation capabilities
● Corporate intelligence techniques
● Financial irregularity investigations
● Investigation of non-financial irregularities, including but not limited to, regulatory breaches and misconduct
● Investigation of suspected fraud, bribery or corruption allegations made through all established reporting routes, including whistleblowers and digital analytics
● Forensic extraction and review of structured digital evidence including but not limited to email data
● Forensic extraction and review of unstructured digital evidence including but not limited to social media postings and data held in audio and video formats
● Support with the delivery of criminal investigations in line with investigatory legal powers, including the Criminal Procedures andv Investigations Act and the Police and Criminal Evidence Act
● Expert witness services including but not limited to offering the services of individuals who have previously acted as an expert witness
● Use of data analytical technology tools and techniques to investigate fraud
● Upskilling of new technology and techniques of fraud detection and prevention
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 70%
Price
/ Weighting:
30%
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
Lot No: 4
II.2.1) Title
Other Independent Assurance
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
66113000
66113100
72224200
72225000
72810000
75211200
79200000
79210000
79212000
79212100
79212110
79212400
79311410
79313000
90714000
90714200
90714300
90714400
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Provision of services relating to assurance over aspects of organisational, operational and programme performance, benefitting from objective examination and assessment.
● Advice on and assurance over non-financial information including but not limited to strategy, risk and corporate governance
● Advice on and assurance over KPIs including but not limited to environmental, sustainability and workforce reporting
● Compliance monitoring and risk management
● Grant funding assurance including but not limited to programme reviews and impact assessments
● Independent assurance reviews including special purpose reviews and investigations
● Regulatory reporting
● Service auditor reports including but not limited to international standard on assurance engagements (ISAE) 3402 standards
● Social responsibility including but not limited to modern slavery audits
● Third party risk management including but not limited to supply chain and contract assurance
● Well led governance reviews
● Workforce audit services including but not limited to temporary, fixed term or permanent staffing (clinical and non-clinical
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 70%
Price
/ Weighting:
30%
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 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.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2021/S 000-002008
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: 1
Title: Internal Audit & Assurance
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
10/08/2021
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 28
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (360 Assurance)
N/A
170 Penn Lloyd Building – Finance County Hall
LE3 8TH
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 150 000 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: 2
Title: External Audit
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
10/08/2021
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 14
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
ASM (B) LTD
NI055558
Glendinning House 6 Murray Street Belfast BT1 6DN
Belfast
BT1 6DN
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 150 000 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: 3
Title: Counter-Fraud & Investigation
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
10/08/2021
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 22
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (360 Assurance)
N/A
170 Penn Lloyd Building – Finance County Hall Leicester LE3 8TH
Leicester
LE3 8TH
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 100 000 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: 4
Title: Other Independent Assurance
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
10/08/2021
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 27
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Agilia Infrastructure Partners Limited
09641170
Office No 26, Unit 1 Stephenson Court, Skippers Lane Industrial Estate
Middlesbrough
TS6 6UT
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 150 000 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract is likely to be subcontracted
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
The value provided in Section II.1.7 is only an estimate. We cannot guarantee to suppliers any business through this Commercial Agreement.
As part of this contract award notice the following can be accessed at: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f4a03783-df26-4b70-ba06-529e69b8008b
1) Redacted Commercial Agreement;
2) List of Successful Suppliers;
3) Customer list
4) Transparency agenda
On 2.4.2014 Government introduced its Government Security Classifications (GSC) scheme which replaced Government Protective Marking Scheme (GPMS). A key aspect is the reduction in the number of security classifications used. All bidders were required to make themselves aware of the changes as it may impact this requirement. This link provides information on the GSC at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-security- classifications
Cyber Essentials is a mandatory requirement for Central Government contracts which involve handling personal information or provide certain ICT products/services. Government is taking steps to reduce the levels of cyber security risk in its supply chain through the Cyber Essentials scheme. The scheme defines a set of controls which, when implemented, will provide organisations with basic protection from the most prevalent forms of threat coming from the internet. To participate in
this procurement, bidders were required to demonstrate they comply with the technical requirements prescribed by Cyber Essentials, for services under and in connection with this procurement.
Some purchases under this Framework Agreement may have requirements that can be met under this Framework Agreement but the purchase of which may be exempt from the Procurement Regulations (as defined in Attachment 1 – About the framework within the invitation to tender documentation). In such cases, Call-offs from this Framework will be unregulated purchases for the purposes of the Procurement Regulations, and the buyers may, at their discretion, modify the terms of the Framework and any Call-off Contracts to reflect that buyer’s specific needs.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
The Minister for the Cabinet Office acting through Crown Commercial Service
The Capital Building, Old Hall Street
Liverpool
L3 9PP
UK
Telephone: +44 3450103503
E-mail: supplier@crowncommercial.gov.uk
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
09/09/2021