Planning

External Audit

FIRST GARDEN CITIES HOMES

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

04 Jun 2026 at 16:28

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

First Garden Cities Homes, a public authority in the sub-central government sector, is in the planning stage of procuring external audit services. The process is part of the organisation's requirements for English Registered Providers of Social Housing, located in Letchworth Garden City, United Kingdom. The key procurement activity involves market engagement with a deadline for initial engagement scheduled for 26th June 2026. This engagement precedes a formal tendering stage, which aims to secure a contract starting from 1st April 2027, to fulfil statutory audit services over a five-year span with possible renewal. This procurement falls under the services category with accounting and auditing services identified as the primary classification.

This procurement offers significant business growth opportunities for UK-based audit firms, particularly those with a solid track record in social housing audit services. Companies with specialist teams dedicated to social housing or those familiar with the UK Housing Statement of Recommended Practice and the relevant regulatory environment are well-suited to compete. The engagement presents an opportunity for firms to expand their presence in this sector and build long-term business relationships. As the current contract expires soon, timely engagement can position a firm strategically ahead of the formal tender issuance.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

External Audit

Notice Description

First Garden Cities Homes Limited is an English Registered Provider of Social Housing. We were formed on 1 March 2020 through the amalgamation of Howard Cottage Housing Association and Welwyn Garden City Housing Association, two organisations with a combined history of over 170 years of providing affordable homes. Howe Cottage HA was established in 1911 to provide affordable housing in Letchworth, the world's first Garden City, whilst the eponymous Welwyn Garden City HA was founded fifty years later for the same purpose. Today, First Garden Cities Homes is a modern, dynamic housing association with an active development programme and deep roots in its communities. Our current contract for the provision of statutory audit services expires on 31/03/2027 and there is no option to extend or renew in a manner compliant with the Procurement Act 2023. We are now starting the process of procuring a new contract to provide statutory audit services. The appointed firm will be required to audit FGCH's financial statements prepared in accordance with the UK Housing Statement of Recommended Practice and applicable UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. Experience of auditing social housing providers and familiarity with the sector and the regulatory environment governing Registered Providers is therefore essential; a dedicated stand-alone specialist Social Housing team is desirable. We welcome market engagement from suitably qualified UK-based audit firms with a demonstrable and current track record in the social housing sector. First Garden Cities Homes is now conducting market engagement prior to issuing a formal tender, and welcomes responses from firms with relevant expertise and capacity.

Planning Information

First Garden Cities Homes welcomes engagement from suitably qualified parties with a proven track record of performing external audit for English Registered Providers of Social Housing. To arrange an individual initial briefing on the opportunity and procurement timeline in the first instance please contact us using the email address provided on this notice.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ae1e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053065-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
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

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Jun 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
6 Jul 20264 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2032 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
FIRST GARDEN CITIES HOMES
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LETCHWORTH GARDEN CITY
Postcode
SG6 1NY
Post Town
Stevenage
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH26 North and East Hertfordshire
Delivery Location
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Local Authority
North Hertfordshire
Electoral Ward
Letchworth South West
Westminster Constituency
North East Hertfordshire

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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