Notice Information
Notice Title
External Assurance Reviews of Local Authorities
Notice Description
To appoint an external Supplier that can quickly mobilise resources to coordinate and conduct external assurance reviews of local authorities where those local authorities are identified as carrying significant risk and / or exhibiting evidence of failure. The reviews may cover a range of subject areas that include but are not limited to: governance processes, financial management, financial sustainability, commercial and companies, and procurement and contract management. Reviews will include recommendations on appropriate steps local authorities could take to address the issues / risks identified. It is expected that the areas of focus for each review will not be mutually exclusive, and the Supplier is expected to consider the interdependencies across the different areas as required. There may be additional focuses for specific local authorities that may be included in review scopes, for instance, specific demand pressures or investments / companies that are driving financial pressures. External Assurance Reviews will be categorised as either (but not limited to) "in depth assessment (finance and governance)" - will encompass a wide scope across a range of subject areas "in depth assessment (finance)" - scopes which are principally focused on financial management & sustainability and/ or capital / debt & investments / assets, and improvement only "in depth assessment (governance)" - reviews focused on the governance, culture and leadership of organisation or service delivery (and improvement) - with only limited focus on financial elements of the authority under view "rapid review" (which could be financial or governance focused in nature) Under this contract the Supplier will be expected to deliver against the following objectives: Objective 1 - Delivering Reviews: To deliver to MHCLG completed external assurance reviews of local authorities to an agreed timeframe to enable timely actions to be taken in response to their findings; Objective 2 - Consistency and Quality: To ensure consistency of quality, depth, and presentation of external assurance reviews, and that all reviews meet a good standard of written English; Objective 3 - Constructive Working Relationships: To work constructively with local authorities subject to an external assurance review to ensure review analysis and findings are robust, and maintain as far as possible a collaborative working relationship between local authority, Supplier and MHCLG; Objective 4 - Due Diligence to Reduce Legal Risk: To ensure that conflicts of interest are managed appropriately, and that the Supplier undertakes due diligence to reduce legal risk in all respects, this includes ensuring appropriate due diligence where a review implicates an identifiable individual. Objective 5 - Resource Capacity: To ensure resource capacity and flexibility is provided so that reviews can continue to be delivered to the agreed timeframes, particularly where reviews are occurring concurrently. Objective 6 - Expertise: To ensure Supplier reviewers / review teams have the necessary experience, expertise, qualifications and understanding of the local authority sector, reflecting the review scope may flex subject to the issues identified in individual local authorities.
Lot Information
Lot 1
Renewal: There will be an optional extension period of two years (+1+1). The financial cap for the initial 12 months will be a maximum of PS1,500,000 ex VAT. Any extension period would be subject to requirements, a variation process, funding approval and performance of the supplier up to a maximum value of PS3,000,000 ex VAT (for the optional extension years). The maximum value of the contract including any extension years is PS4,500,000 ex VAT.
Planning Information
To request a copy of the PME document please email the below address ensuring to insert 'CPD4128021 - Local Assurance Reviews" into the subject header of the email. Commercialtenders.gov.uk Specific questions from the Authority are detailed in section 8 of the PME document.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-0551fe
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079356-2025
- Current Stage
- Award
- All Stages
- Planning, Tender, Award
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- UK7 - Contract Details Notice
- Procurement Type
- Standard
- Procurement Category
- Services
- Procurement Method
- Open
- Procurement Method Details
- Open procedure
- Tender Suitability
- Not specified
- Awardee Scale
- SME
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
66 - Financial and insurance services
-
- CPV Codes
66171000 - Financial consultancy services
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- £4,500,000 £1M-£10M
- Lots Value
- £4,500,000 £1M-£10M
- Awards Value
- £4,500,000 £1M-£10M
- Contracts Value
- £4,500,000 £1M-£10M
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 3 Dec 20252 months ago
- Submission Deadline
- 3 Oct 2025Expired
- Future Notice Date
- 11 Jul 2025Expired
- Award Date
- 21 Oct 20254 months ago
- Contract Period
- 28 Nov 2025 - 1 Dec 2026 1-2 years
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Complete
- Lots Status
- Complete
- Awards Status
- Active
- Contracts Status
- Active
Buyer & Supplier
Contracting Authority (Buyer)
- Main Buyer
- MINISTRY OF HOUSING, COMMUNITIES & LOCAL GOVERNMENT
- Contact Name
- Not specified
- Contact Email
- commercial@communities.gov.uk
- Contact Phone
- Not specified
Buyer Location
- Locality
- LONDON UNITED KINGDOM
- Postcode
- SW1P 4DF
- Post Town
- South West London
- Country
- England
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- TLI London
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- TLI3 Inner London - West
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- TLI35 Westminster and City of London
- Delivery Location
- Not specified
-
- Local Authority
- Westminster
- Electoral Ward
- St James's
- Westminster Constituency
- Cities of London and Westminster
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079356-2025
3rd December 2025 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067853-2025
23rd October 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/054317-2025
5th September 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/034487-2025
23rd June 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-4531
Associated tender documents https://atamis-5407.my.site.com/login?locale=us The key documents supporting this procurement can be found and accessed in the Log on to the MHCLG Atamis e-procurement supplier website. The Authority will be administering the Procurement Process electronically via this eSourcing Portal. All communications with the Authority must be conducted via the Portal. Support is available to help Suppliers to understand and use the Portal or query any issues with the eSourcing Portal via the following link: https://suppliersupport.atamis.co.uk/hc/en-gb/sections/4612344115359 For urgent technical assistance please call the helpdesk, Phone 44 29 2280 9277 Operational Hours 08:00-18:00 Monday - Friday Excluding Public Holidays Guide to accessing the tender documents Access Tender in Portal (4).pdf
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
View full OCDS Record for this contracting process
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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