Tender

Audit of HIE Group Companies

HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS ENTERPRISE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

08 Jan 2026 at 10:44

Summary of the contracting process

The Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is currently inviting tenders for the provision of auditing services for its group companies, under the title "Audit of HIE Group Companies". This procurement process is in the tender stage and falls under the services category, specifically focused on accounting and auditing services. The procurement is open until 12 February 2026, and the estimated contract value is between GBP 190,000 and GBP 210,000. The contract period will initially last for three years from April 2026, with the possibility of a one-year extension. The services will be delivered in the UKM6 region (Inverness) and carried out under an open procedure, ensuring a transparent and competitive procurement process. Submissions must be made electronically, and the tender includes incentives for delivering community benefits.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in accounting and auditing services, particularly those familiar with public sector frameworks and capable of engaging in complex audits. The inclusion of community benefits implies an opportunity for socially responsible firms to leverage their contributions to local development. Companies equipped to efficiently manage and deliver such services over extended periods and adapt to potential changes in legislative demands or organisational structure will likely find substantial growth prospects in this framework agreement. Furthermore, firms with robust management methodologies and experience in handling financial audits in a public context will be well-suited to benefit from this opportunity.

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Notice Title

Audit of HIE Group Companies

Notice Description

HIE currently has five active group companies which require to be audited and consolidated in HIE's Consolidation pack. In addition, we require the preparation and submission of the annual corporation tax returns. See Scope of Requirements and Guidance document for full details. It is expected that these services will be required from April 2026 for an initial period of 3 years, with HIE having the option to extend for a period or periods together not exceeding 1 year following the Initial Term. The initial 3 year budget currently available to deliver this service is between GBP 140,000 and GBP 157,500 (excluding VAT). The total value of the Framework, including the extension will be between GBP 190,000 and GBP 210,000.

Lot Information

Lot 1

This Framework will also be available for use by Cairngorm Mountain (Scotland) Ltd SC614703; HIE Orkney SC126871; HIE Ventures SC156337; Orkney Research and Innovation Campus (ORIC) SO306277; Wave Energy Scotland (WES) SC493764 as well as any other Contracting Authority wholly or partly under the control of, or funded by HIE, at any point during the term of this Framework (subject to case-by-case approval by HIE). Additional information: Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in Regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Options: In accordance with Regulation 72(1)(a) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, HIE reserves the right to make changes to the volume, scope or location of the Services to be supplied under the Framework following a review of the Services by HIE, particularly with regard to demand and budgetary availability. This may result in amendments to existing requirements under the Framework, including but not limited to: -A reduction in HIE available budget may result in lower service levels. -Changes in legislation may increase or decrease the required workload. -The addition or removal of HIE group companies due to mergers or dissolutions will impact on the work required.

Renewal: It is expected that these services will be required from mid April 2026 for an initial period of 3 years unless terminated in accordance with the provision of the Framework agreement with the option to extend for a period of one year (3 + 1) together not exceeding 4 years following the Initial Term.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06019e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001346-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open 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

79210000 - Accounting and auditing services

79212000 - Auditing services

79212100 - Financial auditing services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£210,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£210,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Jan 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
12 Feb 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
By 13th April 2030

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS ENTERPRISE
Additional Buyers

CAIRNGORM MOUNTAIN (SCOTLAND) LTD

HIE ORKNEY

HIE VENTURES

ORKNEY RESEARCH AND INNOVATION CAMPUS LLP

WAVE ENERGY SCOTLAND LIMITED

Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
enquiries@hient.co.uk, facilitiesmanagement@orkneycampus.co.uk, hieprocurement@hient.co.uk, info@caingormmountain.co.uk, wesprocurement@hient.co.uk
Contact Phone
+44 1463245245, +44 1479861261, +44 463713755, +44 7922426446

Buyer Location

Locality
INVERNESS
Postcode
IV2 5NA
Post Town
Inverness
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM2 Highlands and Islands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM20 Highlands and Islands
Delivery Location
TLM6 Highlands and Islands

Local Authority
Highland
Electoral Ward
Inverness South
Westminster Constituency
Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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