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External Audit Service

AVANTI SCHOOLS TRUST

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

20 Oct 2026 at 15:04

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

19 Oct 2026 at 17:52

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Avanti Schools Trust sought an external audit provider for audit, regularity assurance and related statutory reporting across its multi-academy trust. The trust operates 12 schools across London, Leicester, the South West and Hertfordshire, and is accountable to the Department for Education under its funding agreement. The work covers the trust and its subsidiaries, including subsidiary audits, corporation tax compliance, and iXBRL tagging and filing. It includes external audit and regularity assurance as well as associated reporting. Delivery addresses cover England’s North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East and South West. This is a professional accounting and audit services requirement (CPV 79200000).

The trust invited offers through an open procedure, and the process reached the tender stage. The enquiry deadline was 23 November 2026 at 15:00 UTC; bids were due by 11 December 2026 at 15:00 UTC. The planned award date was 5 March 2027. The contract was scheduled to run from 5 April 2027 to 31 March 2030, with an extension option to 31 March 2032. The estimated value is £370,200 excluding VAT (£444,240 including VAT). The requirement is one lot. Evaluation is on the most economically advantageous tender, weighted 60% for quality and 40% for price. Quality assessment covers academy-sector and team experience, trust accounts, audit and regularity, team and resourcing, subsidiaries and tax, and quality and independence.

This opportunity suits audit firms with deep academy-sector knowledge and experience serving multi-academy trusts. Bidders need the technical capacity to deliver external audit, regularity assurance and statutory reporting, including subsidiary audits, corporation tax compliance, and iXBRL tagging and filing. The firm must be registered with a recognised supervisory body, and the engagement partner must be a responsible individual. Professional indemnity insurance must be held and maintained throughout the contract. Firms must demonstrate independence from the trust and its subsidiaries under the FRC Ethical Standard, with any conflicts disclosed in full. The work calls for robust audit quality and resourcing, alongside practical understanding of the financial, regulatory and governance environment of academy trusts. Relevant requirements include the Companies Act, Charity SORP, Financial Reporting Standard 102, the Academies Accounts Direction and the Academy Trust Handbook.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

External Audit Service

Notice Description

Avanti Schools Trust invites offers from suitably qualified audit firms for the provision of external audit, regularity assurance and related statutory reporting services. The Trust is a successful multi-academy trust with 12 schools across London, Leicester, South West and Hertfordshire. It is a company limited by guarantee, an exempt charity and is accountable to the Department for Education (DfE) through its funding agreement. The Trust requires an audit provider with deep academy sector expertise, strong technical audit quality, robust independence arrangements and a practical understanding of the financial, regulatory and governance environment in which multi-academy trusts operate. The Trust expects bidders to comply with the applicable audit legislation, Companies Act requirements, Charity SORP, Financial Reporting Standard 102, the Academies Accounts Direction, the Academy Trust Handbook and relevant Financial Reporting Council standards. How to Participate Organisations wishing to make a tender submission need to go to https://in-tendhost.co.uk/educationportal/aspx/Home. You will be able view and respond to the ITT at the same time, view other attached documents and send questions and queries via the messaging system within the portal. All communications regarding this tender must be via this messaging system. ITT Reference number: AST-AUDIT-2026-135: External Audit, Regularity Assurance and Associated Reporting Services. If you need any assistance using the e-tendering website please call or email: support@in-tend.com or call the support phone number: +44 (0)114 4070065.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: For the audit of the year ending 31 August 2027 and subsequent contract years

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078b42
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099095-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

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
£370,200 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£370,200 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Oct 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
11 Dec 20262 months to go
Future Notice Date
20 Oct 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
5 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2030 2-3 years
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
AVANTI SCHOOLS TRUST
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
STANMORE
Postcode
HA7 2EQ
Postcode Area
Harrow
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI7 Outer London - West and North West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI74 Harrow and Hillingdon
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
Harrow
Electoral Ward
Belmont
Westminster Constituency
Harrow East

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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