Tender

Internal Audit Resource Partner

NORTHERN IRELAND WATER

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

12 Jan 2026 at 17:00

Planning

05 Sep 2025 at 12:46

Summary of the contracting process

Northern Ireland Water, a public authority within the sub-central government classifications, is seeking an "Internal Audit Resource Partner." This procurement process is currently in the "tender" stage, focusing on services in the auditing industry. Located in Belfast, United Kingdom, the procurement is operating under Northern Irish devolved regulations. Interested parties must submit their tenders by the deadline on 12 February 2026. The selection will occur through a competitive flexible procedure, allowing options for negotiation and Best and Final Offer (BaFO), with services commencing from 1 April 2026 until 31 March 2030, with possible extensions.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in general auditing and IT/Cyber audit services, including those with proficiency in areas such as artificial intelligence, ESG, data analytics, and forensic investigation. With a contract value of £1,687,500, firms providing these services stand to gain substantial business growth by bidding for this project. Companies with a strong background in offering senior management-level audit resources or subject matter expertise related to the water industry and broader corporate governance will find themselves well-positioned to compete for this contract.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Notice Title

Internal Audit Resource Partner

Notice Description

This Contract is for the following services: - * General audit resource to provide assistance or lead on general (non-IT) audits. Ability to complete professional standard working papers including preparing detailed process documentation, identification of relevant risks and controls, use of appropriate testing techniques, and documentation of audit findings. * Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in areas of specialism that would be of most relevance to NI Water, based on understanding of the NI Water business. This may be to support delivery of assurance or advisory services, or ad hoc investigations. * Specialist IT / Cyber Audit Resource expertise at consultant and manager / senior manager level.

Planning Information

Engagement deadline may be subject to change. An initial Request for Information is required, to be submitted by 26th September 2025. Supplier meetings should take place w/c 6th October 2025. The RFI must be submitted via eTendersNI.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0594f7
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002432-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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


CPV Codes

79200000 - Accounting, auditing and fiscal services

79210000 - Accounting and auditing services

79212200 - Internal audit services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,687,500 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,687,500 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Jan 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
12 Feb 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
1 Dec 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
2032-01-12

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NORTHERN IRELAND WATER
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
sourcing@niwater.com
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT14 6TE
Post Town
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Chichester Park
Westminster Constituency
Belfast North

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-0594f7-2026-01-12T17:00:38Z",
    "date": "2026-01-12T17:00:38Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-0594f7",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PCZH-7295-JJTZ",
            "name": "Northern Ireland Water",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PCZH-7295-JJTZ"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "40 Old Westland Road",
                "locality": "Belfast",
                "postalCode": "BT14 6TE",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKN06"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "sourcing@niwater.com"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    },
                    {
                        "id": "GB-NIR",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_DEVOLVED_REGULATIONS",
                        "description": "Northern Irish devolved regulations apply"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PCZH-7295-JJTZ",
        "name": "Northern Ireland Water"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "Engagement deadline may be subject to change. An initial Request for Information is required, to be submitted by 26th September 2025. Supplier meetings should take place w/c 6th October 2025. The RFI must be submitted via eTendersNI.",
                "dueDate": "2025-12-01T23:59:59+00:00",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "054293-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/054293-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-09-05T13:46:00+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "T142",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Internal Audit Resource Partner",
        "description": "This Contract is for the following services: - * General audit resource to provide assistance or lead on general (non-IT) audits. Ability to complete professional standard working papers including preparing detailed process documentation, identification of relevant risks and controls, use of appropriate testing techniques, and documentation of audit findings. * Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in areas of specialism that would be of most relevance to NI Water, based on understanding of the NI Water business. This may be to support delivery of assurance or advisory services, or ad hoc investigations. * Specialist IT / Cyber Audit Resource expertise at consultant and manager / senior manager level.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "79212200",
                        "description": "Internal audit services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "79210000",
                        "description": "Accounting and auditing services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "79200000",
                        "description": "Accounting, auditing and fiscal services"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "specialRegime": [
            "utilities"
        ],
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-04-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2030-03-31T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2032-03-31T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "status": "active",
                "value": {
                    "amountGross": 1687500,
                    "currency": "GBP"
                },
                "awardCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Award Criteria - Quality",
                            "description": "Award criteria, as detailed in the ITT and Specification documents.",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 70,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "price",
                            "name": "Award Criteria - Price",
                            "description": "Price criteria, as detailed in the ITT and Specification documents.",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 30,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "renewal": {
                    "description": "Extension periods of 1+1 years."
                }
            }
        ],
        "status": "active",
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 1687500,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "procurementMethod": "selective",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Competitive flexible procedure",
        "procedure": {
            "features": "ITT with the option of Negotiation and BaFO if required."
        },
        "submissionMethodDetails": "https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps",
        "submissionTerms": {
            "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed",
            "languages": [
                "en"
            ]
        },
        "tenderPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-02-12T12:00:00+00:00"
        },
        "awardPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-03-01T23:59:59+00:00"
        },
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            },
            {
                "id": "002432-2026",
                "documentType": "tenderNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK4",
                "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002432-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-01-12T17:00:38Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ],
        "hasRecurrence": true,
        "recurrence": {
            "dates": [
                {
                    "startDate": "2032-01-12T23:59:59+00:00"
                }
            ]
        }
    },
    "language": "en"
}