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THE PROVISION OF EXTERNAL AUDIT SERVICES FOR 2 COUNCIL OWNED COMPANIES

Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

26 Oct 2026 at 16:04

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk is buying external audit services for two council-owned companies: West Norfolk Housing Company Limited and West Norfolk Property Limited. The work covers audits of each company’s accounts. The housing company focuses on affordable homes for people unable to access market-priced accommodation and has a portfolio of 59 properties; the property company holds and manages private rented homes and has 126 properties. Both companies use QuickBooks, and the property company’s lease model is accounted for under IFRS 16. Services are for the companies’ operations in West Norfolk, Norfolk. Suppliers may tender for either company or both.

The buyer invited offers through an open competition. The contract is due to start on 1 January 2027, with an initial two-year term and an option to extend by up to two further years; the published contract period runs to 31 March 2030. The estimated value is £100,000 excluding VAT (£120,000 including VAT), split equally between the two lots at £50,000 excluding VAT each. Questions were due by 20 November 2026 at 12 noon, and tenders by 23 November 2026 at 12 noon. Evaluation for each lot assigns 60% to price and 40% to quality. The successful contractor will be reappointed annually, subject to approval by the relevant Audit and Governance Sub-Committee or company board.

This opportunity suits audit firms with the qualifications and experience to deliver external audits for two distinct council-owned businesses: an affordable-housing company and a commercially operated private-rented-property company. Bidders need to explain how they will provide the required audit services and demonstrate innovation in service delivery, efficiency savings and reduced demands on council resources during the audit process. Experience with housing-company accounts, property leasing arrangements and IFRS 16 accounting may be relevant to the respective lot. Both companies use QuickBooks, so familiarity with that accounting software would support delivery. SMEs are identified as suitable for the housing-company lot. Firms can pursue either lot or both; a discount may be offered if awarded both contracts. The requirement is divided into two separately priced lots.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

THE PROVISION OF EXTERNAL AUDIT SERVICES FOR 2 COUNCIL OWNED COMPANIES

Notice Description

The Council is seeking comprehensive external audit services to commence with the audit of the accounts for the 2026/2027 financial year, ending on 31 March 2027. There will be an initial contract period of two years, with an option to extend for up to a further two years, performance will be monitored through agreed key performance indicators (KPI's), and the contractor will be formally re-appointed on an annual basis subject to the approval of the Audit and Governance Sub-Committee or the Board of Directors. To be successful your organisation will need to demonstrate how you would provide the services needed in addition to identifying how your organisation can innovate the service delivery model, provide efficiency savings and reduce demands on council resources during the audit process. We invite suitably qualified and experienced firms to tender for the provision of these services. Bidders may submit a tender for one or more of the individual organisations listed in section 2 (i.e. Lot 1 and/or 2). There is also provision for bidders to offer a discount if they are awarded the contracts for both companies. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-King%27s-Lynn:-Accounting%2C-auditing-and-fiscal-services./SJM48FEZ35 To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/SJM48FEZ35

Lot Information

West Norfolk Housing Company Limited

West Norfolk Housing Company Ltd (WNHC) aims to focus on meeting the housing needs of those who cannot meet the costs of market priced accommodation by demonstrating flexibility and innovation in its response to the needs arising in West Norfolk. WNHC's mission is to serve our communities by working closely with the Borough Council to address gaps in provision for those in the greatest housing need, particularly vulnerable homeless households and ensure investment opportunities taken in our area benefit local communities and local services. WNHC is actively involved with a number of developments, that will see an increasing number of affordable housing units become available for occupation. The company currently has a portfolio of 59 properties. WNHC has agreed leasing arrangements with a local Housing Association to undertake management and maintenance on behalf of the company. A formal agreement covering the transfer of affordable housing capital from the council to WNHC is in place. WNHC uses quickbooks as their financial software

West Norfolk Property Limited

West Norfolk Property Ltd (WNPL) was established to hold and manage private rented housing units being developed by the Council. WNPL operates in the same manner as any other private sector company, driven by the requirement to produce profits and to operate in a commercial manner. The Council's rights as a shareholder in WNPL is set out in WNPL's Articles of Association and the Shareholder's Agreement WNPL currently works on a lease model, leasing the properties from the council and is accounted for under IFRS16. There are currently 126 properties within the portfolio. The day to day management of the properties is undertaken by a third-party agent. WNPL uses quickbooks as their financial software

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-079079
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/101182-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
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

79210000 - Accounting and auditing services

79211000 - Accounting services

79212500 - Accounting review services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£100,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£100,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
26 Oct 2026Today
Submission Deadline
23 Nov 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jan 2027 - 1 Apr 2030 3-4 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
Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
KING'S LYNN
Postcode
PE30 1EX
Postcode Area
Peterborough
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH5 Norfolk
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH52 North and West Norfolk
Delivery Location
TLH15 Norwich and East Norfolk, TLH16 North and West Norfolk
Local Authority
King's Lynn and West Norfolk
Electoral Ward
St. Margaret's with St. Nicholas
Westminster Constituency
North West Norfolk

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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