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External Audit Services

University of the Highlands and Islands

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

21 Jul 2026 at 16:26

Award Notice
Tender

31 Mar 2026 at 14:08

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) procured external audit services for the University and its three wholly owned subsidiaries: UHI Research and Enterprise Ltd, MPI (Dornoch) Limited and MPI (Elgin) Limited. The requirement covers annual audits of consolidated financial statements and an opinion on compliance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting for Further and Higher Education (SORP 2019), the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and Financial Reporting Standard 12. The work is delivered for UHI in Inverness. It is a professional financial auditing and accounting service, including statutory and regulatory reporting support and coordination of annual audit plans.

The procurement is complete and was awarded through an open procedure. Armstrong Watson was selected for the audit services, and the contract was signed on 1 July 2026. The contract value is £360,000, with a duration of 1,800 days and options for two further 12-month extensions. The first audit covers the financial period from 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026, with annual audits thereafter. Bids were evaluated on price (40%) and quality: management and delivery team (20%), service delivery management (15%), understanding of the requirement (10%), organisational culture (8%), complaints and dispute resolution (5%), and fair work practices (2%). Two bids were received, submitted electronically in English.

This opportunity demonstrates demand from a higher education institution for a firm able to audit consolidated university and subsidiary-company accounts, meet statutory and regulatory reporting deadlines, and provide clear assurance against sector-specific accounting and charity requirements. Credible competitors would need an eligible firm and signing partner registered with a recognised supervisory body such as ICAS or ICAEW, with evidence of registration and eligibility under Companies Act 2006 section 1212. The delivery team must include suitably qualified staff, provide staff names and qualifications, and ensure personnel attending UHI sites hold Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme disclosure. The requirement suits established audit practices with experience in complex consolidated reporting, public-interest governance, and structured client delivery.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

External Audit Services

Notice Description

University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) has a requirement for External Audit Services. The University has three (3) wholly owned subsidiary companies, UHI Research and Enterprise Ltd (UHIRE), MPI (Dornoch) Limited and MPI (Elgin) Limited whose accounts are consolidated with the University's. It is expected that these services will be required from June 2026 for an initial period of 4 years, unless terminated in accordance with the provisions of the Contract, with UHI having the option to extend for a further 2 x 12 months periods following the Initial Term. The 4 year budget currently available to deliver this service is between GBP180,000 to GBP240,000 (excluding VAT). The value provided in section II.1.5 and II.2.6. is the estimated maximum value for the full contract term (initial term plus optional extensions).

Lot Information

Lot 1

The first Audit required will be for the period 1st August 2025 to 31st July 2026. UHI's Financial year runs from 1st August to 31st July each year and will do annually until the end of the contract period including any optional extension(s). The annual audit plan to be agreed between the Contractor and client will ensure effective delivery of services to ensure that statutory and regulatory reporting deadlines are met with accounts approved by UHI Court prior to 31st December annually for the preceding financial year. The University seeks a Supplier to issue an annual report on its consolidated financial statements which provides an opinion as to their compliance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting for Further and Higher Education (SORP 2019) and any subsequent revisions applicable during the contract period, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, regulation 14 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 12.

Options: UHI reserves the right, on giving reasonable written notice from time to time, to require changes to the Services (whether by way of the removal of Services, the addition of new Services, or increasing or decreasing the Services or specifying the order in which the Services are to be performed or the locations where the Services are to be provided). UHI shall not require any such change other than where it is permitted by Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Renewal: UHI have the option to extend for a further 2 x 12 months following the initial term.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-067943
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068850-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

79210000 - Accounting and auditing services

79212100 - Financial auditing services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£360,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£360,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£360,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
4 May 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
UHI reserves the right to re-tender for these services upon termination of the contract or at the end of the contract, including any optional extension period(s).

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
University of the Highlands and Islands
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
INVERNESS
Postcode
IV2 3JH
Postcode Area
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 Millburn
Westminster Constituency
Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Armstrong Watson

Further Information

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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