---
title: "Reform Options Business Case Audit"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-e4806759-ca61-4735-a66f-15bf00d811ec"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-e4806759-ca61-4735-a66f-15bf00d811ec"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-e4806759-ca61-4735-a66f-15bf00d811ec.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-e4806759-ca61-4735-a66f-15bf00d811ec.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY"
published: "2024-09-10"
---

# Reform Options Business Case Audit

Buyer: WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-e4806759-ca61-4735-a66f-15bf00d811ec

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-e4806759-ca61-4735-a66f-15bf00d811ec)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-e4806759-ca61-4735-a66f-15bf00d811ec.json)

## Summary

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), located in Birmingham, has completed the procurement process for the "Reform Options Business Case Audit," classified under Financial and Insurance Services. The procurement stage has concluded with an award. The contract, valued at £330,000, was awarded to ERNST & YOUNG LLP on 8th September 2024. The contract period runs from 2nd September 2024 to 25th November 2024. The project involves an independent audit of WMCA's proposed bus franchising scheme assessment, focusing on the quality of information and analysis, as well as adherence to the statutory guidance under the Bus Services Act 2017. The tender was conducted using a selective procurement method through a call-off from an existing framework agreement and was suitable for SMEs and VCSEs.

This tender provides significant opportunities for businesses specialising in financial and insurance services, particularly those experienced in conducting thorough and compliant audits. Companies with robust capabilities in producing quality assurance reports and offering expert opinions on financial assessments will find this project an excellent chance to demonstrate their expertise and secure a substantial contract. The awarded contract to a large firm like ERNST & YOUNG LLP indicates the level of competency needed, suggesting that well-established firms and growth-oriented SMEs with relevant qualifications could have effectively competed for this opportunity. Businesses seeking to expand their portfolio in public sector projects will find such contracts beneficial for business growth and enhanced reputation within the sector.

## Notice

WMCA (the "Authority") is currently preparing an assessment of a proposed bus franchising scheme in accordance with section 123B of the Transport Act 2000 as amended by the Bus Services Act 2017 (the "Act"), and is producing a franchising assessment ('the Assessment"). As part of meeting the requirements under the Act, the Authority requires a suitably qualified organisation to undertake an audit of the Assessment (the "Auditor"), to provide an independent assurance report (the "Report") and to express an opinion in relation to the following areas required by section 123D of the Act: Whether the information relied upon by the Authority in considering the matters referred to in section 123B(3)(d) of the Act (the affordability of the scheme) or section 123B(3)(e) of the Act (the value for money of the proposed scheme) is of sufficient quality; Whether the analysis of that information in the Assessment is of sufficient quality; and Whether the Authority had due regard to the guidance issued under section 123B of the Act in preparing the Assessment.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/2ae1a8b6-d4c2-4955-a18e-74505bd7b656 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Call-off from a framework agreement |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 10 Sep 2024 |
| Submission deadline | 2 Jun 2024 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 7 Sep 2024 |
| Contract period | 1 Sep 2024 - 25 Nov 2024 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £330,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £330,000 |
| 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 | WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY |
| Locality | BIRMINGHAM |
| Post town | Birmingham |
| Postcode | B19 3SD |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLG3 West Midlands |
| ITL 3 | TLG31 Birmingham |
| Local authority | Birmingham |
| Electoral ward | Newtown |
| Westminster constituency | Birmingham Ladywood |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | ERNST & YOUNG |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 66 - Financial and insurance services

### Codes

- 66000000 - Financial and insurance services

## Release History

- 10 Sep 2024 at 10:40 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/2ae1a8b6-d4c2-4955-a18e-74505bd7b656

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/2ae1a8b6-d4c2-4955-a18e-74505bd7b656
  10th September 2024 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder

## 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-e4806759-ca61-4735-a66f-15bf00d811ec. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-e4806759-ca61-4735-a66f-15bf00d811ec.json.