This public procurement record has 8 releases in its history.

AwardUpdate

24 Nov 2025 at 17:04

AwardUpdate

24 Nov 2025 at 16:36

Award

17 Nov 2025 at 18:46

Award

17 Nov 2025 at 15:26

Award

14 Apr 2025 at 09:12

Award

09 Apr 2025 at 09:59

Award

24 Jan 2024 at 14:07

Tender

18 Aug 2023 at 15:31

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process for the "Provision of External Audit Service" has recently concluded with an active contract awarded to Grant Thornton UK LLP. This service, delivered for King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, will cover statutory audit needs including financial statements, governance, and value-for-money arrangements. The contract duration is set from 19th November 2025 to 18th November 2028 and was procured via a mini-competition under the EOECPH Framework. This process was evaluated based on technical capability, social value, and commercial criteria. The delivery location is within the UKI45 region, specifically London.

This award offers significant growth opportunities for large audit firms seeking to establish or enhance their presence within NHS-related statutory audit services in the UK. Businesses specialised in statutory audit services, with a strong foundation in handling public sector finances and compliance with the NHS Act 2006, are well-suited to leverage similar future opportunities. The structured procurement method ensures that only suppliers who meet rigorous technical and quality standards are considered, providing a platform for high capability firms to compete effectively.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Provision of External Audit Service.

Notice Description

This contract provides statutory external audit services to the Trust and its subsidiaries (KIFM, KCHM, and KCS). The external auditor will deliver independent assurance over the Trust's financial statements, governance, internal controls, and value-for-money arrangements, in accordance with the NHS Act 2006 and NAO Code of Audit Practice..

Lot Information

Lot 1 - Statutory Audit / External Audit

A mini-competition was conducted via the EOECPH Statutory Audit and Multi-Specialty Services Framework (Ref: 2024/S 000-002425)..

The tender was evaluated against the published criteria: Technical Capability & Quality (60%), Social Value (10%), and Commercial (30%).

Options: Up to 2 years (potential extension to 18 November 2030)

Lot 2 - Counter Fraud

All Publicly funded Contracting Bodies require high quality Counter Fraud Services, which meet the service delivery and reporting requirements specifically relevant to their organisation.
The Counter Fraud Programme available against the framework captures both a preventative and reactive focus for investigations.
The Counter Fraud Programme must identify and minimise the potential for fraud and corruption in accordance with any guidance applicable to the Contracting Authority

Options: Initial term of 24 month with an option to extend for a further 2 x 12 months

Lot 3 - Internal Audit

The Provider will be expected to provide a full Internal Audit Service, undertaking systems based audits where feasible. The main responsibility of that service will be to provide the Board (through its Audit Committee) with assessments of the effectiveness of the Contracting Authority's system of internal control which can be relied on by External Auditors for their Annual Governance Statement.
The Internal Auditors will report to the Director of Finance and Performance but will also have direct access to the Audit Committee. It is recognised that an effective control system reduces the likelihood that errors or irregularities will occur and remain undetected;
however, it does not eliminate that possibility. It is also recognised that the Provider's work does not guarantee that errors or irregularities will not occur and may not detect errors or irregularities which do occur.

Options: Initial term of 24 month with an option to extend for a further 2 x 12 months

Lot 4 - Assurance Reviews

The Assurance Review services provided should include but is not limited to, continuous and reliable assurance on organisational stewardship and the management of the major risks to organisational success, and delivery of improved, cost effective, public services. Assurance will cover looking at quality control mechanisms, employee feedback, information technology systems, and organisational behaviour.

Options: Initial term of 24 month with an option to extend for a further 2 x 12 months

Lot 5 - Digital and IM&T Audit

The Supplier will be expected to provide a full Digital and IM&T Audit Service to determine the effectiveness of the Contracting Authorities internal systems. This includes applying IT audit and data enabled techniques, evaluating and testing controls within and associated with information systems relevant to reporting and providing expert advice and support for other digital matters.

Options: Initial term of 24 month with an option to extend for a further 2 x 12 months

Lot 6 - Security Management

The role of the LSMS is to implement at a local level, the national policy for Security Management, and to work proactively and reactively with the NHS contracting authorities accessing these services.
Providers will be required to assist with the development and implementation of services as well as assisting trusts review their security strategies to ensure that staff and patients along with trust and personal assets are protected as far as is reasonably practicable, allowing the trust to focus on providing and delivering high quality healthcare.

Options: Initial term of 24 month with an option to extend for a further 2 x 12 months

Lot 7 - Multi-Audit & Specialist Service

Lot 7 is a locked Lot and will not be evaluated; it is intended that inclusion to this Lot will only be available to those Providers awarded to the Framework in Lots 2-6.
Multi-Audit & Specialist services can either supplement the Lot or Lots a provider has been awarded to, complimenting services detailed against the Lot, or alternatively they can be stand alone to provide independent review and scrutiny for governance requirements applicable to the wider Audit environment, or services and advice which ties back to the wider requirements of the Trust.
Multi-Audit & Specialist Service requirements may change during the life of the Framework; from changes in requirements from legislation, or individual Trust needs, staff turnover and organisational transition etc.

Options: Initial term of 24 month with an option to extend for a further 2 x 12 months

Lot 7 - Multi Audit Service Provision

Lot 7 is a locked Lot and will not be evaluated; it is intended that inclusion to this Lot will only be available to those Providers awarded to the Framework in Lots 2-6.
Multi-Audit & Specialist services can either supplement the Lot or Lots a provider has been awarded to, complimenting services detailed against the Lot, or alternatively they can be stand alone to provide independent review and scrutiny for governance requirements applicable to the wider Audit environment, or services and advice which ties back to the wider requirements of the Trust.
Multi-Audit & Specialist Service requirements may change during the life of the Framework; from changes in requirements from legislation, or individual Trust needs, staff turnover and organisational transition etc.

Options: Initial term of 24 month with an option to extend for a further 2 x 12 months

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-03f550
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076648-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Restricted procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

66 - Financial and insurance services

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

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


CPV Codes

66171000 - Financial consultancy services

72810000 - Computer audit services

79200000 - Accounting, auditing and fiscal services

79210000 - Accounting and auditing services

79212000 - Auditing services

79212100 - Financial auditing services

79212200 - Internal audit services

79212300 - Statutory audit services

79212400 - Fraud audit services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£60,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£1,403,566 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
24 Nov 20259 months ago
Submission Deadline
28 Sep 2023Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
11 Jan 20242 years ago
Contract Period
19 Nov 2025 - 18 Nov 2028 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Additional Buyers

East Of England NHS Collaborative Hub c/o West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust

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

Buyer Location

Locality
BRIGHTON , ELM GROVE
Postcode
SE5 9NY
Postcode Area
South East London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI45 Lambeth
Delivery Location
TLI45 Lambeth

Local Authority
Lambeth
Electoral Ward
Herne Hill & Loughborough Junction
Westminster Constituency
Dulwich and West Norwood

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
18
Supplier Names

360 Assurance

Audit Yorkshire

Azets

BDO LLP

Bishop Fleming LLP

Deloitte LLP Primary

Ernst and Young LLp

Grant Thornton UK LLP

KPMG LLP

Lovran Security, Intelligence and Risk Ltd

Mazars LLP

Mersey Internal Audit Agency

PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP

Paul Macklesworth

RSM UK Consulting LLP

RSM UK RISK ASSURANCE SERVICES LLP

SCC Chartered Accountants

TIAA LTD

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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