Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

External Audit Services

University of the Highlands and Islands

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

21 Jul 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

31 Mar 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of the Highlands and Islands commissioned external audit services for the University and its three wholly owned subsidiaries: UHI Research and Enterprise Ltd, MPI (Dornoch) Limited and MPI (Elgin) Limited. The subsidiaries’ accounts are consolidated with the University’s. The appointed auditor is required to report annually on the consolidated financial statements and provide an opinion on compliance with SORP 2019, subsequent applicable revisions, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and FRS 102. The work is delivered for UHI in Inverness and covers the University’s financial reporting cycle. This is a professional accountancy and statutory audit requirement for a higher education organisation and related entities.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded through an open procedure. One lot was evaluated on quality and price, with the published criteria including understanding of the requirement at 10% and price at 40%. Armstrong Watson was awarded the contract on 4 May 2026, and the contract was signed on 1 July 2026. The contract value is £360,000 including the full stated term and optional extensions. The contract is active for 1,800 days, with the service expected to run initially for four years and UHI holding an option to extend by two further 12-month periods. Two bids were received, both submitted electronically, including one from an SME. Variant bids were not allowed.

For a future requirement of this type, credible suppliers would need substantial external audit and financial reporting capability, with experience of consolidated accounts and organisations operating under statutory, charity and higher education accounting requirements. The selected firm must be able to interpret SORP requirements and relevant Scottish charity legislation, deliver annual audit plans, and issue reliable opinions against applicable reporting standards. The procurement also required the firm and signing partner to be eligible for appointment under Companies Act 2006 section 1212 and registered with a recognised supervisory body such as ICAS or ICAEW. Firms should be able to provide appropriately qualified staff, name personnel assigned to the work, support on-site activity, and ensure on-site staff hold Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme disclosure.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

External Audit Services

Notice Description

University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) has a requirement for External Audit Services. The University has three (3) wholly owned subsidiary companies, UHI Research and Enterprise Ltd (UHIRE), MPI (Dornoch) Limited and MPI (Elgin) Limited whose accounts are consolidated with the University's. It is expected that these services will be required from June 2026 for an initial period of 4 years, unless terminated in accordance with the provisions of the Contract, with UHI having the option to extend for a further 2 x 12 months periods following the Initial Term. The 4 year budget currently available to deliver this service is between GBP180,000 to GBP240,000 (excluding VAT). The value provided in section II.1.5 and II.2.6. is the estimated maximum value for the full contract term (initial term plus optional extensions).

Lot Information

Lot 1

The first Audit required will be for the period 1st August 2025 to 31st July 2026. UHI's Financial year runs from 1st August to 31st July each year and will do annually until the end of the contract period including any optional extension(s). The annual audit plan to be agreed between the Contractor and client will ensure effective delivery of services to ensure that statutory and regulatory reporting deadlines are met with accounts approved by UHI Court prior to 31st December annually for the preceding financial year. The University seeks a Supplier to issue an annual report on its consolidated financial statements which provides an opinion as to their compliance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting for Further and Higher Education (SORP 2019) and any subsequent revisions applicable during the contract period, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, regulation 14 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 12.

Options: UHI reserves the right, on giving reasonable written notice from time to time, to require changes to the Services (whether by way of the removal of Services, the addition of new Services, or increasing or decreasing the Services or specifying the order in which the Services are to be performed or the locations where the Services are to be provided). UHI shall not require any such change other than where it is permitted by Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Renewal: UHI have the option to extend for a further 2 x 12 months following the initial term.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000824605
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL560625
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

79210000 - Accounting and auditing services

79212100 - Financial auditing services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£360,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£360,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£360,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
4 May 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
UHI reserves the right to re-tender for these services upon termination of the contract or at the end of the contract, including any optional extension period(s).

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
University of the Highlands and Islands
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
INVERNESS
Postcode
IV2 3JH
Postcode Area
Inverness
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM2 Highlands and Islands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM20 Highlands and Islands
Delivery Location
TLM6 Highlands and Islands
Local Authority
Highland
Electoral Ward
Inverness Millburn
Westminster Constituency
Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Armstrong Watson

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.

Loading OCDS record...