---
title: "Provision of External Audit Services"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-eacce159-ce09-4066-b030-9c920487e590"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-eacce159-ce09-4066-b030-9c920487e590"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-eacce159-ce09-4066-b030-9c920487e590.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-eacce159-ce09-4066-b030-9c920487e590.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "KENT COMMUNITY HEALTH NHS FOUNDATION TRUST"
published: "2025-01-20"
---

# Provision of External Audit Services

Buyer: KENT COMMUNITY HEALTH NHS FOUNDATION TRUST  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-eacce159-ce09-4066-b030-9c920487e590

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-eacce159-ce09-4066-b030-9c920487e590)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-eacce159-ce09-4066-b030-9c920487e590.json)

## Summary

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust has awarded a contract titled "Provision of External Audit Services" in the statutory audit services industry category. This procurement process was conducted through a selective call-off from the NHS Shared Business Services Framework. The procurement stage is at the award phase, with the contract starting on 1st April 2025 and ending on 31st March 2028. The awarded contract, valued at £4,473,000, has been granted to Grant Thornton UK LLP. This project involves several NHS trusts in Kent, including Kent & Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, and others. The tender period ended on 4th November 2024, and the contract's initial term is three years, with potential extensions of two further 12-month periods.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in statutory audit services, particularly those able to deliver high-quality financial assurance services. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may find this contract particularly advantageous, given the suitability considerations. Companies with expertise in catering to NHS framework agreements and those with a strong presence in the healthcare sector will be well-suited to competing for similar contracts in the future. This opportunity allows businesses to enhance their portfolio by working with prominent NHS organisations and to leverage the substantial contract value to support sustainable business growth.

## Notice

Notice of award : Collaborative further competition exercise to secure External Audit Services via the NHS Shared Business Services Framework for Internal and External Audit, Counter Fraud & Financial Assurance Services. Reference Number: SBS/20/MA/ZA/10024, (Lot 1 : External Audit). 3 years initial term with 2 x 12 month possible extensions. Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, Kent & Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, Kent & Medway ICB, Medway NHS Foundation Trust, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust Contract and provision of services due to start 25/26 Financial year

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/378d595a-ee4c-437e-b827-6175ca541941 |
| 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 |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 20 Jan 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 4 Nov 2024 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 31 Dec 2024 |
| Contract period | 31 Mar 2025 - 31 Mar 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £4,473,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £4,473,000 |
| 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 | KENT COMMUNITY HEALTH NHS FOUNDATION TRUST |
| Locality | ASHFORD |
| Post town | Tonbridge |
| Postcode | TN25 4AZ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ4 Kent |
| ITL 3 | TLJ45 Mid Kent |
| Local authority | Ashford |
| Electoral ward | Goat Lees |
| Westminster constituency | Ashford |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | GRANT THORNTON |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 79212300 - Statutory audit services

## Release History

- 20 Jan 2025 at 15:47 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/378d595a-ee4c-437e-b827-6175ca541941

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/378d595a-ee4c-437e-b827-6175ca541941
  20th January 2025 - 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-eacce159-ce09-4066-b030-9c920487e590. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-eacce159-ce09-4066-b030-9c920487e590.json.