Tender

External Audit Services

SOUTHERN HOUSING

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

13 Jan 2026 at 17:43

Planning

20 Nov 2025 at 19:43

Summary of the contracting process

The Southern Housing Group has initiated a public procurement process for External Audit Services, valued at approximately £5,000,000 GBP. The process is currently at the tender stage, with submissions due by 23rd February 2026. Southern Housing, a substantial entity within the sub-central government sector, manages over 80,000 homes across London, the South East, Midlands, and the Isle of Wight. Operating from their headquarters in London, the organisation seeks to procure auditing services to ensure compliance with International Standards on Auditing (UK). The open procedure will evaluate bids primarily on quality and price, as specified in the invitation to tender. The resulting contract, commencing in October 2026, will extend over a period of up to five years, pending annual reappointments. Interested firms must access the tender documents electronically, with an inquiry period available until 16th February 2026.

This tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in financial auditing services to engage with a major player in the housing sector. Firms that can offer innovative solutions, maintain proactive communication, and present themselves as informed consultants in the field of auditing will find this contract particularly beneficial. The opportunity is well-suited to established audit firms capable of handling the complexities associated with auditing a diverse portfolio of subsidiaries and joint ventures. With a contract value exceeding £5,000,000 and the potential for ad hoc related services, this represents a substantial win for a capable and prepared audit service provider looking to expand their business within the regulatory framework of UK public sector procurement. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are particularly encouraged to participate, aligning with Southern Housing’s commitment to diverse supplier engagement.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

External Audit Services

Notice Description

Southern Housing are seeking to procure External Audit Services to undertake an independent audit of Southern Housing and its related subsidiaries to be carried out in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)). Southern Housing published a Preliminary Market Engagement notice related to this procurement (Ref 2025/S 000-075860 on 20 November 2025 and have undertaken Preliminary Market Engagement which has included: a) submission of questionnaire responses b) use of the questionnaire responses to understand the market, capability and inform the procurement strategy Please note the estimated contract value stated excludes inflation. The contract will be for a maximum term of 5 years and will be subject to the annual re-appointment of the external auditors by the Southern Housing Board. The Client is targeting the following strategic objectives and added value benefits: a. Deliver work requirements in line with the scope and specified instructions b. Deliver works within the required timelines c. Proactive communication - working in partnership d. Act as a professional and informed sounding board e. Provide proactive support to the Audit & Risk Committee f. Being kept informed of forthcoming / potential changes in financial reporting requirements g. Ideas for how the external audit process could be delivered more efficiently by SH / audit firm each year. The Client reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to update, modify or replace its strategic objectives or policies after the date of this Invitation to Tender by notification to the Bidders in writing. In accordance with section 52 of the Procurement Act 2023, wherever the Client enters into a public contract with an estimated value of more than PS5 million, the Client must set and publish at least three key performance indicators in respect of the Contract. In light of the estimated value of the Contract, the Client has set the following indicative key performance indicators for the purposes of this procurement: KPI 1 - Audits completed within agreed timelines KPI 2 - Number of audit findings requiring rework/clarification or that are inaccurate/incomplete KPI 3 - Average number of days between audit completion and report submission KPI 4 - Average response time on technical accounting queries The Client will enter into Contract with the with the successful Supplier which shall be based on the Client's Standard form of Services Contract (including a Schedule of Amendments).

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: Adhoc related services within the scope of the contract, arising from day to day financial services requirements may be instructed.

Planning Information

This notice is not an invitation for formal expressions of interest. The purpose of this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice and the questionnaire that we are asking you to complete is to gain some early insight and feedback from the market in relation to this exciting opportunity. Potential future bidders will not be prejudiced by any response or failure to respond to this Pre Market Engagement Notice. The procurement of the contracts by Southern Housing will be carried out strictly in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. This process is being undertaken to share some headline information about the opportunity and also gather knowledge, feedback and insight in the following areas: • Capacity and resources • Interest and possible barriers • Scope and requirements • Pricing and commercial considerations • Procurement process and timelines • Compliance or regulatory factors. The information gathered will be used: • to inform the procurement process • to inform and influence the structure and content of the tender documents and • to provide feedback in relation to the appetite of the market together with information that will allow the exercise to be shaped to elicit a positive response from providers. The benefits to your organisation in participating in this process include: - the chance to assess whether the opportunity will be suitable and of interest to you - ensuring that the approach is realistic and market-focused - the chance to raise any risks, concerns or issues regarding the potential opportunity Your responses will assist us in creating a process which is well-framed, focused, feasible and likely to be of interest to the market. There is no commercial advantage or disadvantage to your organisation as a result of being involved in this exercise. This process focuses on the market as a whole, rather than on the merits of individual suppliers. It involves no element of supplier selection or bid evaluation. Finally, please be assured that any commercially sensitive information provided to us as part of this process will be treated in confidence, used only for the purposes of this market engagement exercise, and will not be disclosed to any other organisation, subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Interested companies are to complete the online questionnaire at https://forms.office.com/e/3CQ1y8SJ1q by the engagement deadline.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05e5ee
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002875-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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


CPV Codes

79212000 - Auditing services

79212100 - Financial auditing services

79212300 - Statutory audit services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£5,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£5,000,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Jan 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
23 Feb 20262 months to go
Future Notice Date
16 Dec 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Sep 2026 - 30 Sep 2031 Over 5 years
Recurrence
2030-01-11

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SOUTHERN HOUSING
Contact Name
Kim Newman
Contact Email
procurement@pmlgroup.com
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
EC1M 5LA
Post Town
Central London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI43 Haringey and Islington
Delivery Location
TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England)

Local Authority
Islington
Electoral Ward
Clerkenwell
Westminster Constituency
Islington South and Finsbury

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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