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CA18344 - Pre-Market Engagement - Provision of Internal Audit Services

Bedford College

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

12 Aug 2026 at 09:57

Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Bedford College intends to procure internal audit services for the College and its subsidiaries. The anticipated requirement is a risk-based internal audit service, including annual audit planning, reporting to the Audit Committee and advisory support when required. This is a professional services contract in the internal audit category, covering the delivery of independent audit and assurance activity across the organisation. The buying organisation is Bedford College, based on Cauldwell Street in Bedford. The service is expected to support the College’s governance, risk management and control arrangements across its group. Suppliers specialising in education-sector, public-sector or similarly structured organisations may find the scope relevant, particularly where they can provide both planned audit work and responsive advisory support.

This process is at the planning stage and is a pre-market engagement rather than an invitation to tender, request for quotation or call for competition. Bedford College is consulting potential providers to explain its requirements, obtain feedback on the proposed scope and approach, and shape a future procurement intended to secure a high-quality, cost-effective service. The engagement is expected to end on 12 November 2026. The buyer has not yet set out the final procurement procedure, contract value, contract duration, lots or award criteria. Participation in the consultation will not create an advantage or disadvantage in any subsequent procurement. The future requirement is expected to be competed after the engagement has informed the specification and procurement approach.

The engagement is likely to suit internal audit firms and specialist assurance practices with experience of delivering risk-based audit programmes for colleges, universities, public bodies or group organisations. Relevant providers should be able to plan annual audit activity, assess risks and controls, produce clear reports for an Audit Committee, and provide practical advisory support outside the planned programme. Firms with a team able to cover multiple subsidiaries and maintain consistent quality across a group will be well placed to respond to the eventual requirement. Experience translating audit findings into proportionate improvement advice should also be useful. Providers should use this consultation to understand the College’s priorities and prepare evidence of comparable capability, governance expertise and service quality.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

CA18344 - Pre-Market Engagement - Provision of Internal Audit Services

Notice Description

Bedford College is undertaking a pre-market engagement (PME) exercise ahead of a planned procurement for the provision of internal audit services. The purpose of this engagement is to inform potential providers of the College's requirements, gather market feedback on the proposed scope and approach, and help shape a procurement process that secures a high-quality and cost-effective service. The anticipated scope includes the delivery of a risk-based internal audit service across the College and its subsidiaries, annual audit planning, reporting to the Audit Committee, and advisory support as required. This engagement is for market consultation purposes only and is not an invitation to tender, request for quotation, or call for competition. Participation in this engagement will not confer any advantage or disadvantage in any future procurement process To access this competition: Registered: Login to https://suppliers.multiquote.com and view the opportunity CA18344. Not registered: Visit https://suppliers.multiquote.com then register and quote CA18344 as the reason for registration. Any queries please contact MultiQuote on 020 3920 8054.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-a4f3d03d-1094-44b1-9a72-b23e0f0f43db
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/07f925c2-dd5b-4c9e-b8cb-16b4d4514145
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79212200 - Internal audit services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
12 Nov 20263 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Bedford College
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BEDFORD
Postcode
MK42 9AH
Postcode Area
Milton Keynes
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH24 Bedford
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Bedford
Electoral Ward
Cauldwell
Westminster Constituency
Bedford

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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