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External Audit - Queen Margaret University

Queen Margaret University

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

29 Sep 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

16 Jun 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Queen Margaret University appointed an external audit firm to carry out the full statutory audits of the University and QMU Enterprises Ltd. The Edinburgh Innovation Park Joint Venture Company Ltd, in which the University is an equal partner with East Lothian Council, is to be considered as part of the group, but its audit is not part of the appointment. The work is for an education-sector buyer and is delivered for Queen Margaret University in Musselburgh, Scotland. This is professional external audit and accountancy work covering the University’s financial reporting and associated group considerations.

The procurement is complete and BDO LLP was selected through an open procedure. One lot covered the audit services. The contract was signed on 29 September 2026, with a recorded value of £355,454.74. The planned initial term is three years, with options for two further one-year extensions by mutual agreement and subject to satisfactory performance. The University’s financial year runs from 1 August to 31 July; the audits cover financial years 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29, and work must enable annual accounts to reach the Scottish Funding Council by 31 December each year. Evaluation weighted technical quality at 70% and price at 30%. Bidders had to demonstrate £2 million public liability insurance and robust supply-chain payment systems, including prompt payment performance or an improvement plan.

This award indicates demand for recurring statutory audit services across a university and its associated enterprise, with the related joint venture considered in the group audit context. A credible competitor would need the audit capacity and technical expertise to manage a multi-entity engagement, deliver annual year-end audits to a fixed reporting timetable, and support timely submission of accounts to the Scottish Funding Council. The competition put substantially greater weight on technical quality than price, so a strong future supplier would need to evidence a sound audit approach and reliable delivery, rather than compete on cost alone. Financial resilience and responsible supply-chain management also mattered: the successful bidder had to meet the public liability insurance threshold and show effective systems for paying subcontractors promptly, backed by recent payment performance or a director-signed improvement plan.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

External Audit - Queen Margaret University

Notice Description

Queen Margaret University is seeking a company to supply External Audit Services

Lot Information

Lot 1

The University is seeking to appoint an External Audit firm to undertake the full statutory audits in respect of: Queen Margaret University, and QMU Enterprises Ltd. It should be noted that the University is an equal partner in a joint venture with East Lothian Council, The Edinburgh Innovation Park Joint Venture Company Ltd. While the External Auditor will not be required to conduct the audit of the joint venture, it will be required to be considered as part of the group. The University's financial year runs each year from 1 August to 31 July. The University expects to appoint the successful bidder for an initial three year term, in order that they can complete the FY 2026/27, FY 2027/28, and FY 2028/29 annual year-end audit. There is a possibility of extension of a further two year extensions in one year increments, subject to mutual agreement and satisfactory performance. The University is required to submit its annual accounts to the Scottish Funding Council by 31 December each year, and as such the successful applicant will be required to conduct their work such that this can achieved.. Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Renewal: option to extend for up to 24 months

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000834767
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP565494
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

79212000 - Auditing services

79212100 - Financial auditing services

79212300 - Statutory audit services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£355,454 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Sep 20264 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
17 Jul 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
5 years after date of award

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Queen Margaret 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
MUSSELBURGH
Postcode
EH21 6UU
Postcode Area
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM11 East Lothian and Midlothian
Delivery Location
TLM75 City of Edinburgh
Local Authority
East Lothian
Electoral Ward
Musselburgh
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

BDO LLP

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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