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Pre-Market Engagement - Provision of Internal Audit Services

Bedford College

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

19 Aug 2026 at 10:39

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

12 Aug 2026 at 09:57

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Bedford College is preparing to procure internal audit services for the College and its subsidiaries. The anticipated requirement is a risk-based internal audit service, including annual audit planning, reporting to the Audit Committee and advisory support when required. This is a professional financial governance and assurance service, classified under CPV 79212200 (internal audit services). Delivery is described as taking place across the United Kingdom. The engagement is intended to help the College explain its requirements, obtain feedback on the proposed scope and approach, and shape a future procurement for a high-quality, cost-effective service. Bedford College is the buying organisation and is proceeding under the Procurement Act 2023 and associated regulations.

The process is at the planning stage and is currently a preliminary market engagement, not an invitation to tender, request for quotation or call for competition. The buyer expects to conduct the engagement by 2 September 2026 and anticipates a subsequent notice on 2 November 2026. The planned contract period is 11 January to 11 March 2027. The procurement is intended to be below the applicable threshold, and the recorded procurement value is £0 GBP. One planned lot covers the internal audit service. Participation in the engagement will not confer an advantage or disadvantage in any future procurement. The engagement is being used to test and refine the proposed scope and procurement approach before the market process is formed.

This will suit internal audit firms and specialist assurance providers able to deliver a risk-based programme across a further-education college and its subsidiary organisations. Relevant providers should be prepared to undertake annual audit planning, produce clear reports for an Audit Committee and provide practical advisory support alongside scheduled audit work. The requirement is likely to favour teams with experience of public-sector governance, audit planning, risk assessment, committee reporting and operating across more than one related legal entity. Smaller businesses and voluntary, community or social enterprises are identified as suitable for the planned lot. Providers can use the engagement to explain how they would deliver a high-quality, cost-effective service and to comment constructively on the proposed scope and approach.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Pre-Market Engagement - Provision of Internal Audit Services

Notice Description

Bedford College is undertaking a pre-market engagement (PME) exercise ahead of a planned procurement for the provision of internal audit services. The purpose of this engagement is to inform potential providers of the College's requirements, gather market feedback on the proposed scope and approach, and help shape a procurement process that secures a high-quality and cost-effective service. The anticipated scope includes the delivery of a risk-based internal audit service across the College and its subsidiaries, annual audit planning, reporting to the Audit Committee, and advisory support as required. This engagement is for market consultation purposes only and is not an invitation to tender, request for quotation, or call for competition. Participation in this engagement will not confer any advantage or disadvantage in any future procurement process

Planning Information

The Contracting Authority will conduct the procurement in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 and the associated regulations, ensuring compliance with the statutory objectives.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e20c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078839-2026
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
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

79212200 - Internal audit services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
2 Nov 20263 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
11 Jan 2027 - 11 Mar 2027 1-6 months
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
Bedford College
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BEDFORD
Postcode
MK42 9AH
Postcode Area
Milton Keynes
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH24 Bedford
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Bedford
Electoral Ward
Cauldwell
Westminster Constituency
Bedford

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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