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491 Internal Audit Services

University of Lincoln

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

18 Sep 2026 at 15:20

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

29 May 2026 at 10:29

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Lincoln procured internal audit services to support its governance and assurance arrangements. The work covers developing and delivering an internal audit strategy and plan, advising on governance, risk management and internal controls, applying relevant knowledge and best practice, recommending ways to improve value for money, and producing a year-end audit report and audit opinion. The service must address the risks facing a higher education institution, including financial sustainability, cyber security, student recruitment volatility, Office for Students regulation, data quality, governance and organisational resilience. This is a professional auditing service (CPV 79212000) delivered for the University of Lincoln in the United Kingdom. The procurement is a service contract and is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

This procurement has been awarded following an open procedure. Forvis Mazars LLP was awarded the single lot on 18 September 2026 for £500,000 gross. The contract is due to run from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2029, with two optional 12-month extensions allowing a maximum end date of 30 September 2031. The original estimated lot value was £600,000 gross. The tender deadline and enquiry deadline were both 2 July 2026 at 11:00. The award decision period ended on 9 September 2026. Evaluation weighted quality at 70%, based on the method statement, and price at 30%. Nine bids were received, with seven reaching the final stage, including one from an SME. The award was active and the contract signature was scheduled for 30 September 2026.

This award demonstrates demand from the University of Lincoln for a broad, higher-education-focused internal audit capability rather than a narrow financial audit service. A credible future competitor would need to develop and deliver risk-based audit strategies and plans, advise senior governance bodies on controls and risk, and provide clear recommendations that improve value for money. Relevant experience should span financial sustainability, cyber security, student recruitment, regulatory compliance with the Office for Students, data quality, organisational resilience and wider governance. The successful service also needs to produce a year-end audit report and formal audit opinion for senior management, the Board of Governors and the Office for Students. Strong method statements and breadth of specialist knowledge were especially important, alongside the capacity to deliver an integrated service for a university.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

491 Internal Audit Services

Notice Description

This is a Contract Award Notice for the University of Lincoln's Internal Audit Services opportunity. A contract is being awarded for an initial 3 year period with a further 2 years of optional extensions (at the University's discretion). The core services required under the University's Internal Audit service in summary include the development and delivery of an internal audit strategy and plan, advice on governance, risk management and internal controls, incorporating proactive knowledge and best practice, providing recommendations on optimising value for money outcomes and a year end audit report and audit opinion to senior management, the Board of Governors and the Office for Students. The University operates within a rapidly evolving Higher Education landscape, facing sector wide pressures including financial sustainability challenges, cyber security threats, volatility in student recruitment, increasing regulatory expectations from the Office for Students, and rising demands around data quality, governance, and organisational resilience. Hence, interested suppliers will need to demonstrate that they have the breadth of specialisms to provide an effective internal audit provision across this range of risk areas. Demonstrating capabilities and added value across the breadth of audit provision will be a key area of assessment in the procurement exercise.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: There are 2 x 12 month extension options available resulting in a 5 year potential contract length in total.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a86f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/088794-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
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
£600,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£600,000 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
£500,000 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
2 Jul 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
18 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 30 Sep 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
University of Lincoln
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LINCOLN
Postcode
LN6 7TS
Postcode Area
Lincoln
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF3 Lincolnshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF30 Lincolnshire CC
Delivery Location
TLF3 Lincolnshire
Local Authority
Lincoln
Electoral Ward
Boultham
Westminster Constituency
Lincoln

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Forvis Mazars LLP

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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