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External Assurance Reviews of Local Authorities

Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

This public procurement record has 6 releases in its history.

Implementation

16 Jun 2026 at 11:46

Award Notice
Implementation

08 Apr 2026 at 10:33

Award Notice
Award

03 Dec 2025 at 13:21

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

23 Oct 2025 at 14:23

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

05 Sep 2025 at 14:17

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

23 Jun 2025 at 16:05

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government is overseeing the procurement process for the "External Assurance Reviews of Local Authorities" under the tender ID CPD4128021. The procurement falls under the industry category of financial consultancy services and is aimed at conducting comprehensive external assurance reviews of local authorities in the United Kingdom, particularly those facing significant risk or demonstrating evidence of failure. The procurement process is currently in the implementation stage as of June 2026, with a focus on ensuring completed reviews are delivered within agreed timeframes. The Ministry, located at 2 Marsham Street, London, seeks to enhance governance processes, financial management, and sustainability through these reviews. The ongoing contract's performance metrics include cost adherence and timely submission of assessments, with social value deliverables slated between Q2 and Q3 of FY 2026/27.

This tender presents substantial opportunities for consultancy firms specialising in financial and governance reviews. Businesses with expertise in local government operations, risk assessment, and process improvement are ideal candidates to compete in this open procurement process. The project offers a chance to work closely with local authorities and contribute to sustainable public administration, providing an avenue for firms to expand their portfolio and demonstrate capability in managing complex challenges within the public sector. The involvement with the Ministry may also bolster a firm's reputation and facilitate access to further government contracts. Furthermore, the project's focus on social value offers the potential for businesses engaged in community initiatives to leverage their skills in delivering measurable societal benefits.

How relevant is this notice?

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/056560-2026
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
16 Jun 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
3 Oct 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
11 Jul 2025Expired
Award Date
22 Oct 202510 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
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON UNITED KINGDOM
Postcode
SW1P 4DF
Postcode Area
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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

CIPFA BUSINESS LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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