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External Audit - Queen Margaret University

Queen Margaret University

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

29 Sep 2026 at 12:40

Award Notice
Tender

16 Jun 2026 at 15:45

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Queen Margaret University appointed an external audit firm to carry out the full statutory audits of the University and QMU Enterprises Ltd. The Edinburgh Innovation Park Joint Venture Company Ltd, in which the University is an equal partner with East Lothian Council, must be considered as part of the group, but its audit is not included in the auditor’s duties. The work is financial and statutory auditing, delivered for Queen Margaret University in Musselburgh, Scotland. The audits cover the University’s annual accounts and are intended to support the University’s reporting obligations to the Scottish Funding Council. This is a professional services requirement for an audit provider, rather than a purchase of goods or construction work.

The procurement is complete: BDO LLP was selected, and the contract is active. The contract was signed on 29 September 2026 at a value of £355,454.74. The stated initial term covers the financial years 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29, with the possibility of two one-year extensions by mutual agreement and subject to satisfactory performance. The competition used an open procedure. Tenders were evaluated on technical quality (70%) and price (30%). The submission deadline was 17 July 2026. Twelve bids were recorded for the requirement, including four from small and medium-sized enterprises. Tenderers had to confirm they could provide evidence of £2 million public liability insurance before award. The University’s accounts must be audited in time for annual submission by 31 December.

For audit firms, this award demonstrates demand for recurring statutory audit services across a university and its subsidiary, with a related joint venture included in group consideration. A credible competitor would need a team and audit methodology capable of delivering full year-end audits across those entities and supporting timely preparation of accounts for the University’s Scottish Funding Council reporting deadline. The procurement placed greater weight on technical quality than price, so relevant audit expertise, robust quality controls and the ability to manage a multi-entity engagement would be important. Suppliers would also need to meet the stated £2 million public liability insurance requirement and demonstrate capacity to deliver successive annual audits. The successful supplier was BDO LLP; the recorded competition attracted twelve bids.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

External Audit - Queen Margaret University

Notice Description

Queen Margaret University is seeking a company to supply External Audit Services

Lot Information

Lot 1

The University is seeking to appoint an External Audit firm to undertake the full statutory audits in respect of: Queen Margaret University, and QMU Enterprises Ltd. It should be noted that the University is an equal partner in a joint venture with East Lothian Council, The Edinburgh Innovation Park Joint Venture Company Ltd. While the External Auditor will not be required to conduct the audit of the joint venture, it will be required to be considered as part of the group. The University's financial year runs each year from 1 August to 31 July. The University expects to appoint the successful bidder for an initial three year term, in order that they can complete the FY 2026/27, FY 2027/28, and FY 2028/29 annual year-end audit. There is a possibility of extension of a further two year extensions in one year increments, subject to mutual agreement and satisfactory performance. The University is required to submit its annual accounts to the Scottish Funding Council by 31 December each year, and as such the successful applicant will be required to conduct their work such that this can achieved. 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.

Renewal: option to extend for up to 24 months

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06b632
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/091836-2026
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

79212000 - Auditing services

79212100 - Financial auditing services

79212300 - Statutory audit services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£355,454 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Sep 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
17 Jul 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
5 years after date of award

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Queen Margaret University
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
MUSSELBURGH
Postcode
EH21 6UU
Postcode Area
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM11 East Lothian and Midlothian
Delivery Location
TLM75 City of Edinburgh
Local Authority
East Lothian
Electoral Ward
Musselburgh
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

BDO LLP

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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