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Independent Accountant's Reports (IARs) & Grant Assurance Services

Aston University

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

02 Sep 2026 at 17:12

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Aston University is preparing a future procurement for independent accountant’s reports and grant assurance services. The work is aimed at assuring and certifying research and grant-funded projects, including Innovate UK, UKRI, Horizon Europe and successor programmes, as well as projects funded by charitable, governmental and other research organisations. The anticipated scope also includes agreed-upon procedures engagements and related advisory services connected with grant assurance and certification. This is professional accounting, audit, financial review and grant assurance work, with CPV classifications for accounting services, financial auditing services and accounting review services. Delivery is expected across the United Kingdom. Aston University, based in Birmingham, is the buying organisation.

The procurement is at the planning stage and is currently a preliminary market engagement exercise, intended to inform the University's procurement strategy and future tender documents. Aston University expects to use supplier feedback to understand market capability, service delivery models, pricing approaches, innovation and potential routes to market. Suppliers were asked to complete an electronic questionnaire through the procurement portal by 15 September 2026 at 23:59. The anticipated contract period is 11 January 2027 to 10 January 2030. The procurement is described as above the applicable threshold and is arranged as one lot. No contract value or budget is stated. Participation in the market engagement will not affect any later procurement process.

This will suit accountancy, audit and grant assurance practices that work with publicly funded research, innovation or charitable programmes. Relevant suppliers are likely to have experience preparing independent accountant’s reports, certifying grant expenditure, conducting agreed-upon procedures and advising organisations on funder compliance. Familiarity with Innovate UK, UKRI, Horizon Europe or comparable UK and international research-funding requirements would be useful, together with the ability to support several types of funding body and adapt assurance approaches to different grant conditions. The single-lot structure may suit providers able to offer a broad range of assurance and related advisory services, although the procurement is also identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises. The current exercise is for preparation and market intelligence, not for submitting a tender.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Independent Accountant's Reports (IARs) & Grant Assurance Services

Notice Description

Aston University is undertaking a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) exercise to inform a future procurement for the provision of Independent Accountant's Reports (IARs) and Grant Assurance Services. The University wishes to engage with suppliers active in the grant assurance, audit and accountancy sector to better understand market capability, service delivery models, pricing approaches, innovation opportunities, and routes to market. The anticipated scope may include, but is not limited to: Independent Accountant's Reports (IARs) for Innovate UK funded projects; Grant assurance and certification services for UKRI funded projects; Assurance engagements relating to Horizon Europe and successor programmes; Agreed-Upon Procedures (AUP) engagements; Grant assurance requirements arising from charitable, governmental and other research funders; Related advisory services associated with grant assurance and certification requirements. The purpose of this engagement is solely to gather market intelligence and obtain supplier feedback to help shape the University's procurement strategy and future tender documentation. Participation in this PME exercise will not confer any advantage or disadvantage in any subsequent procurement process.

Planning Information

Please use the link to ProContract to access the Specification and Questionnaire to be completed by suppliers associated. https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=3816a788-cca6-f111-813c-005056b64545&fromProjectDashboard=True Completed questionnaires should be submitted electronically via the procurement portal. Deadline submission 15 September 2025, 12:00noon

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f0bd
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083230-2026
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

79211000 - Accounting services

79212100 - Financial auditing services

79212500 - Accounting review services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
11 Jan 2027 - 10 Jan 2030 3-4 years
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
Aston 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
BIRMINGHAM
Postcode
B4 7ET
Postcode Area
Birmingham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG3 West Midlands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG31 Birmingham
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Birmingham
Electoral Ward
Nechells
Westminster Constituency
Birmingham Ladywood

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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