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The Provision of Quality Assurance Monitoring for DWP Housing Benefit Assurance Process

Department for Work and Pensions

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

22 Nov 2023 at 10:42

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has awarded a contract for the provision of Quality Assurance Monitoring for DWP Housing Benefit Assurance Process. The contracting process was a limited procurement method, using the award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition. The contract, titled 'The Provision of Quality Assurance Monitoring for DWP Housing Benefit Assurance Process', falls under the services category with a focus on statutory audit services. The contract, valued at £232,117.47 GBP, was signed on November 22, 2023. The procurement aimed to engage a supplier who can provide independent challenge and cross-sector experience in supporting the DWP Housing Benefit Assurance Team.

This tender presents a unique opportunity for businesses specialising in audit services, particularly those with experience in statutory audits and quality monitoring. The DWP sought suppliers with the capacity to review accountancy firms carrying out Housing Benefit Assurance Process engagements. The contract lasts 2 years and 4 months, covering 3 audit reporting periods. The DWP believed that the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) was the only viable supplier due to their role as the Recognised Supervisory Body for the audit firms undertaking HBAP testing. This contract showcases a targeted approach to procurement, aiming to ensure quality monitoring in a specific area where a limited active market of regulatory bodies exists.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

The Provision of Quality Assurance Monitoring for DWP Housing Benefit Assurance Process

Notice Description

DWP is seeking a supplier able to access and review accountancy firms carrying out Housing Benefit Assurance Process (HBAP) engagements to provide independent challenge, and bring cross sector experience of best practice to bear in support of the DWP Housing Benefit Assurance Team.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The quality assurance engagement is expected to fall into two broad areas of work: - the development, issue and review of a questionnaire to test accountancy firms are using correct versions of HBAP modules, and adequate internal controls are in place within each firm to ensure the correct and consistent application of HBAP. This may involve a review of supporting evidence such as internal documentation and guidance for Reporting Accountants and management checks. The supplier may undertake visits to individual accountancy firms in order to carry out the reviews. - to sample a selection of HBAP reports and supporting working papers from the accountancy firms to ensure HBAP modules are being fully and correctly completed, and findings from the HBAP testing are being fully and accurately reflected in HBAP reports as per the DWP's testing instructions contained within HBAP Modules. This may require site visits to accountancy firms, but should not entail visits to individual Local Authority's. (LA's) The intention is to run an annual exercise to review HBAP. The HBAP process concludes each year on 30th November which is the statutory deadline for completed HBAP reports and amended subsidy claims to be submitted to DWP by accountancy firms and LAs. The contract length covers a period of 2 years and 4 months - this includes 3 audit reporting periods. After consideration and due diligence, we are proposing to award this contract as a single tender to the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) as we believe that there is not an active market of Regulatory Bodies with the powers or capacity to undertake this work. We believe that the ICAEW are the only viable supplier for this area of work, given that they are the Recognised Supervisory Body (RSB) for all of the audit firms undertaking HBAP testing, and have the delegated authority to carry out local audit work on behalf of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC). The FRC website states that "Monitoring of ... [these types of] statutory audits is delegated by the FRC to Recognised Supervisory Bodies under a series of Delegation Agreements". For the purposes of local audits the two bodies that hold these delegated powers are the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS), and the ICAEW. ICAS have confirmed that they do not believe they have responsibility for undertaking any quality monitoring work in respect of firms for which they are not the registered RSB. ICAEW are the registered RSB for all of the audit firms eligible to undertake HBAP testing, and for all of those who have been appointed by LAs.

Procurement Information

We believe that there is not an active market of regulatory bodies with the powers or capacity to undertake this work. We believe that the ICAEW are the only viable supplier for this area of work, given that they are the Recognised Supervisory Body (RSB) for all of the audit firms undertaking HBAP testing, and have the delegated authority to carry out the work from the Financial Reporting Council (FRC). The FRC website states that "Monitoring of ... [these types of] statutory audits is delegated by the FRC to Recognised Supervisory Bodies under a series of Delegation Agreements". For the purposes of local audits the two bodies that hold these delegated powers are the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS), and the ICAEW. ICAS have confirmed that they do not believe they have responsibility for undertaking any quality monitoring work in respect of firms for which they are not the registered RSB. ICAEW are the registered RSB for all of the audit firms eligible to undertake HBAP testing, and for all of those who have been appointed by LAs.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-041bdd
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/034503-2023
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
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

79212300 - Statutory audit services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£232,117 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Nov 20232 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
22 Nov 20232 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Department for Work and Pensions
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
MANCHESTER
Postcode
M2 3AA
Postcode Area
Manchester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD3 Greater Manchester
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD33 Manchester
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Manchester
Electoral Ward
Deansgate
Westminster Constituency
Manchester Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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