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External Audit Tender

Arts University Bournemouth

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

14 Aug 2026 at 15:59

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

02 Mar 2026 at 17:00

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Arts University Bournemouth procured external audit services for its university operations. The requirement covers statutory external audit work, including compliance with UK audit and higher-education financial reporting requirements, together with audit capability for U.S. Federal Title IV requirements affecting UK universities with students receiving U.S. federal financial aid. The service is classified as auditing services and is delivered in the United Kingdom. The buyer is Arts University Bournemouth, based in Poole. The procurement was a single service requirement rather than a multi-lot programme. It is relevant to audit firms able to support higher-education institutions and charities preparing accounts under FRS 102 and the Higher Education and Further Education Statement of Recommended Practice, while also meeting UK statutory audit obligations.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded through a selective competitive flexible procedure, involving a request-to-participate stage followed by technical and commercial tenders. Bishop Fleming LLP was selected on 14 August 2026 for £312,500 excluding VAT, or £375,000 including VAT. The awarded contract period is 14 September 2026 to 13 September 2029, with an extension possible at the buyer’s discretion to 13 September 2031. The award includes optional ad hoc work with an approximate value of £50,000. Seven bids were received, with five reaching the final stage, including four from SMEs. Evaluation comprised four equally weighted quality criteria: statutory auditor registration, independence compliance, higher-education audit experience, and U.S. Federal Title IV audit capability. A standstill period ended on 26 August 2026.

This award demonstrates demand from a UK higher-education institution for an audit provider combining statutory audit registration with specialist sector knowledge. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need evidence of recent external audit work for at least one UK higher-education institution, or an equivalent charity preparing financial statements under FRS 102 and the HE/FE SORP. It would also need to demonstrate full compliance with the Financial Reporting Council Ethical Standard and OfS independence requirements, without services that compromise or appear to compromise independence. Capability to deliver audits meeting U.S. Federal Title IV requirements is essential where university students receive U.S. federal financial aid. The requirement was suitable for SMEs, and four SMEs reached the final stage.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

External Audit Tender

Notice Description

Provision of external audit service

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: some adhoc work over the course of the contract for approximate value of PS50,000

Renewal: 2 X 1 year extension

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-066031
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077819-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

79212000 - Auditing services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£312,500 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£312,500 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
£312,500 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Aug 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
14 Aug 20261 months ago
Contract Period
14 Sep 2026 - 13 Sep 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Arts University Bournemouth
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
POOLE
Postcode
BH12 5HH
Postcode Area
Bournemouth
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK6 North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK63 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Electoral Ward
Talbot & Branksome Woods
Westminster Constituency
Bournemouth West

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Bishop Fleming LLP

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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