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PS26192 - External auditor for SIL

UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

27 Jul 2026 at 12:56

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) required an external auditor for SIL. The procurement covers auditing services, with the work delivered in the United Kingdom. UKRI is the buying organisation, while UK Shared Business Services Ltd managed the procurement as its shared service provider. The requirement is for an external audit capability rather than goods, construction or general consultancy. The selected supplier is a professional accountancy and audit firm, indicating that the work concerns independent external assurance and related audit activity for SIL. Businesses considering similar work should therefore have relevant statutory or organisational audit expertise, be able to operate in the UK and understand the requirements of working with a central government research and innovation organisation.

This procurement has been awarded and the tender is complete. It was a below-threshold direct award without competition, on the stated basis that there were no reasonable alternatives. One lot was completed. JAMES COWPER LLP was awarded the contract on 30 June 2026. The contract was signed on the same date and runs from 30 June 2026 to 30 June 2027. Its value is £17,000 excluding VAT and £20,400 including VAT. The award is active and the contract is active. The evaluation route was therefore a direct appointment rather than a competitive assessment of bids. UK Research and Innovation is the buyer, with UK Shared Business Services Ltd acting as the procuring entity.

This award confirms demand from UK Research and Innovation for independent external auditing of SIL, delivered through a direct, below-threshold route where the buyer considered there to be no reasonable alternatives. A credible future competitor would need demonstrable audit expertise relevant to SIL, the capacity to provide independent assurance throughout a full contract year, and the governance and professional standards expected when working for a central government research and innovation organisation. The incumbent is an SME professional services firm, showing that the requirement can be delivered by a specialist practice rather than only a large national provider. Firms with comparable audit capability, public-sector readiness and UK-wide delivery capacity would be the closest competitors for this requirement when it returns.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

PS26192 - External auditor for SIL

Notice Description

***** THIS IS A CONTRACT DETAILS NOTICE, NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION ***** This procurement is being concluded without competition due to there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. Brief Description of Requirement UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) have a requirement to create an External auditor for SIL

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d43e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070763-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without 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

79212000 - Auditing services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£17,000 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Jun 2026 - 30 Jun 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SWINDON
Postcode
SN2 1FL
Postcode Area
Swindon
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK71 Swindon
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Rodbourne Cheney
Westminster Constituency
Swindon North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

JAMES COWPER 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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