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Audit and Assurance Services Dynamic Purchasing System

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

This public procurement record has 7 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

29 May 2025 at 10:42

Tender Notice
TenderUpdate

29 Jan 2025 at 10:43

Tender Notice
TenderUpdate

15 Dec 2023 at 10:55

Tender Notice
TenderUpdate

20 Nov 2023 at 10:34

Tender Notice
TenderUpdate

17 Nov 2023 at 20:51

Tender Notice
Award

10 Mar 2023 at 20:04

Award Notice
Tender

05 Feb 2021 at 22:56

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The ongoing procurement process initiated by the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust focuses on the establishment of an "Audit and Assurance Services Dynamic Purchasing System". This procurement is primarily in the services category and pertains to accounting, auditing, and fiscal services, targeting various UK public sector bodies. The procurement process is at the tender stage, with updates reflecting full service coverage including statutory and independent audit requirements, counter-fraud services, and other assurance services. The initiative has transitioned to the Atamis e-tendering portal for future applications. The process allows unrestricted access to eligible users through a dynamic purchasing system, with critical deadlines now extended to February 2029. The tender details have evolved significantly, with the overall framework being valued at £40 million excluding VAT and extending over a period of up to 95 months.

This tender presents substantial business opportunities, especially for firms specialised in offering comprehensive audit and assurance services. Businesses in the accounting, auditing, and fiscal services industry can leverage this dynamic purchasing system to secure long-term engagements with various UK public sector entities. These organisations will benefit from the wide scope of services required, ranging from statutory audits to risk management and tax compliance. Companies with expertise in governance, risk assessment, and regulatory compliance are well-positioned to thrive. Additionally, the procurement method being open and electronically facilitated through an updated e-tendering portal suggests ease of access and increased participation potential for diverse suppliers across the UK, stimulating growth within the professional service sector.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Audit and Assurance Services Dynamic Purchasing System

Notice Description

The DPS includes all forms of independent audit for UK public sector bodies, including statutory external audit requirements. Also in scope are are governance requirements including counter-fraud services and other independent assurance such as: * Assurance over non-financial information including but not limited to strategy, risk and corporate governance * Assurance over KPIs including but not limited to environmental reporting, sustainability reporting and workforce reporting * Compliance monitoring and risk management * Grant funding assurance including but not limited to programme reviews and impact assessments * Service auditor reports including but not limited to ISAE 3402 standards * Special purpose reviews and investigations * Tax compliance * Third party risk management including supply chain assurance * Well led governance reviews * Workforce audit services including but not limited to temporary, fixed term or permanent staffing (clinical and non-clinical)

Lot Information

Lot Lot 1 Internal audit & assurance

Lot 1 Core Services * Advice on governance, risk management and controls including but not limited to o IT o Finance o Human resources; and o Facilities management * Benchmarking and quality assurance review of internal audit performance including external quality assessment * Development of internal audit strategy and/or methodologies * Outsourced, co-sourced or one-off internal audit services

Lot Lot 2 External audit

Lot 2 Core Services * External statutory audit to provide an independent assessment of financial statements * Advice on financial statements and related documents * Grant audits and certification

Lot Lot 3 Counter-fraud & investigation

Lot 3 Core Services * Advice and/or assessment of: o fraud awareness training and/or changes to legislation o fraud risk plan and/or support in improving risk management o fraud prevention and detection strategy o whistleblowing policies and procedures o approach to proactive testing in high risk areas * Fraud risk assessment and fraud maturity matrix * Use of technology including but not limited to data analytics to support the delivery of proactive counter-fraud services including fraud detection * Counter-fraud investigation Optional non-core Services in addition to the Core Services: * Corporate intelligence techniques * Financial irregularity investigations * Investigation of non-financial irregularities incl. regulatory breaches & misconduct * Investigation of suspected fraud, bribery or corruption * Investigation of whistleblower allegations and tip offs * Forensic extraction and review of structured and unstructured digital evidence * Support to deliver criminal investigations in counter-fraud including capability to conduct interviews that are compliant with police & criminal evidence legislation * Expert witness services * Use of data analytical technology tools and techniques to investigate fraud * Upskilling of new technology and techniques of fraud detection

Lot Lot 4 Other independent assurance

Lot 4 Core Services * Assurance over non-financial information including but not limited to strategy, risk and corporate governance * Assurance over KPIs including but not limited to environmental reporting, sustainability reporting and workforce reporting * Compliance monitoring and risk management * Grant funding assurance including but not limited to programme reviews and impact assessments * Service auditor reports including but not limited to ISAE 3402 standards * Special purpose reviews and investigations * Tax compliance * Third party risk management including supply chain assurance * Well led governance reviews * Workforce audit services including but not limited to temporary, fixed term or permanent staffing (clinical and non-clinical)

Lot 1

The Trust wishes to agree a contract for external audit services covering the next three years from 2022/23 to 2024/2025 with the possibility to extend for a further two years beyond that. Included in the tender response should be an indicative plan for Year 1.

The auditor will be required to meet all requirements, including but not limited to, the accounting and reporting requirements as set out in the Comptroller and Auditor General's Code of Audit Practice which applies for 2020-21 audits and beyond - The Audit Office Code of Audit Practice (the code), the NHS Foundation Trust Code of Governance (updated July 2014), the NHS Foundation Trust Annual Reporting Manual and the National Health Service Act 2006 as amended.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0290d7
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028368-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Dynamic
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

79200000 - Accounting, auditing and fiscal services

79212000 - Auditing services

79212200 - Internal audit services

79212300 - Statutory audit services

79212400 - Fraud audit services

79700000 - Investigation and security services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£2,000,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£557,456 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 May 20251 years ago
Submission Deadline
8 Mar 2021Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
31 Jan 20233 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Active, Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Additional Buyers

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust

The eligible users of the dynamic purchasing system are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://www.coch-cps.co.uk/

The eligible users of the proposed dynamic purchasing system are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://www.coch-cps.co.uk/

The eligible users of the proposed dynamic purchasing system are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://www.coch-cps.co.uk/frameworks/corporate-services/#DPS07

The eligible users of the proposed dynamic purchasing system are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: www.nhssourcing.co.uk

Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CAMBRIDGE
Postcode
CH2 1UL
Postcode Area
Chester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD6 Cheshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD63 Cheshire West and Chester
Delivery Location
TLH12 Cambridgeshire CC
Local Authority
Cheshire West and Chester
Electoral Ward
Upton
Westminster Constituency
Chester North and Neston

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

AZETS HOLDINGS LIMITED

Further Information

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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