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Project Athena - Forensic Accountant Expert Witness

The Pensions Regulator

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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24 Jul 2026 at 09:27

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Pensions Regulator commissioned forensic accounting expert witness services for Project Athena. The work involves analysing evidence concerning complex flows of money in a criminal proceedings case, preparing an expert report and presenting that report as evidence in court. The appointed supplier must support the requirements of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996, Part 19 of the Criminal Procedure Rules and Chapter 7 of the Criminal Practice Directions 2023. This is a specialist accounting and investigative advisory service, classified under accounting, auditing and fiscal services (CPV 79200000). Delivery is across the United Kingdom. The buyer is The Pensions Regulator, a central government public authority based in Brighton. The requirement covers one completed lot and includes related court-facing expert evidence work.

The procurement has been awarded and the tender is complete. It used a below-threshold limited competition. Grant Thornton UK Advisory and Tax LLP was selected as the supplier for the single lot. The contract was signed on 8 July 2026 and runs from 10 July 2026 to 9 July 2027, with a maximum possible extension date of 9 July 2031. The awarded contract value is £67,000 excluding VAT and £80,400 including VAT. The contract is active. It includes options for additional services, including presenting evidence in court, attending further virtual meetings and attending further in-person meetings. Renewal is available to support court evidence, although the court date was unknown when the contract was recorded.

This award demonstrates demand from The Pensions Regulator for forensic accounting expertise in criminal proceedings involving complex financial flows. Competitors seeking similar work would need credible experience in forensic financial analysis, evidence review and the production of clear expert reports suitable for legal proceedings. They would also need to explain complex transactions and money movements in a way that can withstand scrutiny, comply with the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996, the Criminal Procedure Rules and the Criminal Practice Directions, and be prepared to give evidence in court. The requirement also favours suppliers able to support changing case demands through additional virtual and in-person meetings and further court-related work. Specialist accountancy, audit or forensic advisory practices with expert-witness capability are therefore the closest fit.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Project Athena - Forensic Accountant Expert Witness

Notice Description

Services for forensic accountant expert to analyse evidence of complex flow of money in relation to crimial proceedings case, provide report and ability to present report as evidence at court. Following Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996; Part 19 of the Criminal Procedure Rules; Chapter 7 of the Criminal Practice Directions 2023.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d2b3
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070027-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - limited competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

79200000 - Accounting, auditing and fiscal services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£67,000 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
24 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
10 Jul 2026 - 9 Jul 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
The Pensions Regulator
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BRIGHTON
Postcode
BN1 6AF
Postcode Area
Brighton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ21 Brighton and Hove
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Brighton and Hove
Electoral Ward
Preston Park
Westminster Constituency
Brighton Pavilion

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Grant Thornton UK LLP

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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