---
title: "Skills Programmes External Audit and Assurance Reviews"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-57a89495-5689-44de-9dcc-2d576e99c856"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-57a89495-5689-44de-9dcc-2d576e99c856"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-57a89495-5689-44de-9dcc-2d576e99c856.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-57a89495-5689-44de-9dcc-2d576e99c856.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "MERSEYTRAVEL / LIVERPOOL CITY REGION COMBINED AUTHORITY"
published: "2024-10-02"
---

# Skills Programmes External Audit and Assurance Reviews

Buyer: MERSEYTRAVEL / LIVERPOOL CITY REGION COMBINED AUTHORITY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-57a89495-5689-44de-9dcc-2d576e99c856

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## Summary

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) has awarded a contract titled "Skills Programmes External Audit and Assurance Reviews" to Icca Education Training and Skills Limited. This procurement, classified under "Education and training services" (CPV: 80000000), focuses on conducting funding assurance reviews and investigative audits for various educational programmes funded by LCRCA in the North West region of the United Kingdom. The procurement method used was an open procedure, and the contract commenced on 26th August 2024 and will end on 31st December 2026. The total value of the contract is £120,000, with the scope including reviews for Adult Skills Fund, Level 3 Free Courses for Jobs, Skills Bootcamps, and other future programmes as required.

This tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in audit and assurance services within the education sector, particularly those experienced with ESFA Audit Code of Practice and further education funding. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with expertise in adult skills and further education assurance, audit, and investigation work are well-suited to compete for this type of contract. The procurement process involved periodic assurance reviews and potential additional investigative works, making it an excellent opportunity for businesses looking to establish or develop their capabilities in the education audit sector while working with LCRCA.

## Notice

This specification forms the basis for submissions from potential applicant organisations to deliver funding assurance reviews, other targeted funding assurance reviews and investigative reviews with colleges and providers in receipt of LCRCA Adult Skills, Free Courses for Jobs and Skills Bootcamps funding. Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) is looking to procure assurance reviews for devolved Further Education Post age 19 Funding that has been devolved or delegated to LCRCA. This will include the Adult Skills Fund (previously the Adult Education Budget), Level 3 Free Courses for Jobs and potentially Skills Bootcamps and Multiply. The scope of assurance reviews and the approach can be amended from time to time to account for changes in funding rules or other requirements of the LCRCA. Audit firms should be experienced in undertaking audits for the skills sector and have relevant knowledge and understanding of ESFA Audit Code of Practice and processes along with experience of adult skills and Further Education assurance, audit, and investigation work * A minimum of three Adult Skills Fund assurance reviews per academic year for the duration of the contract period aligned to the continued administration of delegated Adult Skills Funding (previously the Adult Education Budget). It is anticipated that each review would be based on a learner record sample of 30 learners. * Additional assurance reviews for programmes such as Skills Bootcamps, Multiply, Free Courses for Jobs and other future programmes. These would be conducted on a similar scale to that described above and will be based on a call off basis as and when required. * Additional investigation works as and when required. The scope of this work cannot be anticipated. LCRCA requires applicants to provide a quote for a daily rate for both on-site and remote work in these circumstances and to produce a summary report of findings. * LCRCA reserves the right without prior notice not to follow up on additional work outlined in this specification. In such cases, LCRCA will not reimburse any expenses incurred by the successful applicant. Any costs associated with responses, proposals and submissions relating to this request for quotes will not be reimbursed. Additional information: This procurement is being procured via the online portal, The Chest: www.the-chest.org.uk It is being published via our Merseytravel account.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/08d306f7-a820-4c64-84ef-89173e005aa0 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 2 Oct 2024 |
| Submission deadline | 17 May 2024 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 11 Aug 2024 |
| Contract period | 25 Aug 2024 - 31 Dec 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £120,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £120,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | MERSEYTRAVEL / LIVERPOOL CITY REGION COMBINED AUTHORITY |
| Locality | LIVERPOOL |
| Post town | Liverpool |
| Postcode | L3 1BP |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD7 Merseyside |
| ITL 3 | TLD72 Liverpool |
| Local authority | Liverpool |
| Electoral ward | Waterfront South |
| Westminster constituency | Liverpool Riverside |
| Delivery location | TLD North West (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | ICCA EDUCATION TRAINING AND SKILLS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 80 - Education and training services

### Codes

- 80000000 - Education and training services

## Release History

- 2 Oct 2024 at 10:44 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/08d306f7-a820-4c64-84ef-89173e005aa0
- 17 Apr 2024 at 13:40 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/0173940a-6998-4a2f-a980-80f81d691cdf

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/08d306f7-a820-4c64-84ef-89173e005aa0
  2nd October 2024 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/0173940a-6998-4a2f-a980-80f81d691cdf
  17th April 2024 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder

## Notice URLs

- http://www.liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-57a89495-5689-44de-9dcc-2d576e99c856. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-57a89495-5689-44de-9dcc-2d576e99c856.json.