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Audit Qualification 2030: Structured interviews with non-PIE Audit firms

THE FINANCIAL REPORTING COUNCIL LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

22 Jul 2026 at 11:26

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Financial Reporting Council requires research services on pre-qualification education, training and assessment for UK statutory auditors working in non-PIE audit firms, meaning firms that do not audit Public Interest Entities. The work will involve structured interviews with a selection of non-PIE audit firms, including firms that employ trainee auditors and provide training, and firms that do not. The research will explore current training approaches and barriers to effective training. Required outputs include appropriately anonymised interview transcripts, an early findings presentation, and interim and final reports or presentations identifying themes and illustrating them with quotes. The work is delivered for the Financial Reporting Council, based in London, and falls within research and related consultancy services.

The procurement reached the tender stage: the FRC invited offers through a below-threshold open competition. Enquiries had to be submitted by 3 August 2026 at 12:00 noon, and tenders by email were due by 19 August 2026 at 12:00 noon. The contract is scheduled to run from 7 September to 7 December 2026, with a possible extension or maximum end date of 31 March 2027. Its estimated value is £50,000 excluding VAT, or £60,000 including VAT. The buyer reserves the right to purchase further services of the same or a related nature. Offers will be assessed on quality and price, with full requirements and evaluation detail set out in the Invitation to Tender.

This opportunity suits research agencies and consultancies experienced in qualitative research, structured interviews and analysis of professional or regulated sectors. Suppliers need to recruit and interview a suitable range of UK non-PIE audit firms, including organisations with different approaches to employing and training trainee auditors. They must be able to produce accurate, appropriately anonymised transcripts and turn interview evidence into clear findings, themes and illustrative quotations. Strong capability in research reporting and presentation will be important, as the outputs include early findings, an interim report or presentation and final reporting. The supplier must protect the identities of participating firms and individuals, while producing findings that can support the FRC’s future public consultation or discussion documents.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Audit Qualification 2030: Structured interviews with non-PIE Audit firms

Notice Description

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) regulates auditors, accountants and actuaries and sets the UK's Corporate Governance and Stewardship Codes. As the Competent Authority for audit in the UK, we set auditing and ethical standards and monitor and enforce audit quality. The FRC requires Research Services. This research concerns the pre-qualification education, training, and assessment of UK statutory auditors insofar as those matters relate specifically to non-PIE UK audit firms. By non-PIE UK audit firms we mean firms that carry out UK statutory audits, but do not audit Public Interest Entities (PIEs). The project will interview a selection of non-PIE audit firms to gain insights from them about current approaches to training, and to understand the barriers to effective training. The interviewed sample of firms will include both those that do, and that do not, currently offer training (i.e. that do/do not employ trainee auditors during their pre-qualification years). Outputs and Deliverables * Full transcripts (appropriately anonymised) from the interviews * A presentation of early indicative findings from the initial interviews, by late September * A report/presentation drawing out themes that emerged, with illustrative quotes, etc. The report/presentation will be delivered in interim form (by mid-October) and final form (by late-December). The Supplier will anonymise all outputs so the FRC will not be able to identify which firms and individuals participated. Anonymised data/findings from the research may be referred to and quoted in published FRC documents (e.g. public consultation/discussion papers). PLEASE REFER TO THE INVITATION TO TENDER (ITT) FOR FULL DETAILS INCLUDING HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR TENDER

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid. The FRC reserves the right to procure further Services of the same / related nature.

Renewal: The supplier should deliver the Services (as per the Invitation to Tender (ITT) by the 7th December 2026). Should the FRC amend/alter the requirement the timeline may change.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d0a4
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069069-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£50,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
£50,000 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
19 Aug 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
7 Sep 2026 - 7 Dec 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE FINANCIAL REPORTING COUNCIL LIMITED
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
E14 9GE
Postcode Area
East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI42 Tower Hamlets
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Tower Hamlets
Electoral Ward
Blackwall & Cubitt Town
Westminster Constituency
Poplar and Limehouse

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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