--- title: "External Assurance Services/PRO/PIN/2021" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-02c5dc" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02c5dc" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02c5dc.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02c5dc.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "OPEN UNIVERSITY(THE)" published: "2021-07-08" --- # External Assurance Services/PRO/PIN/2021 Buyer: OPEN UNIVERSITY(THE) Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-02c5dc [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02c5dc) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02c5dc.json) ## Summary The Open University, located in Milton Keynes, is planning to initiate a procurement process for external assurance services, detailed in a prior information notice titled "External Assurance Services/PRO/PIN/2021". This procurement falls under the auditing services category and is aimed at evaluating the quality and scope of the Core Systems Replacement Programme Reporting and the Associate Lecturer Contract Change Programme's Reporting. A key deadline for interested suppliers to submit their responses to the Request for Information is set for 9th August 2021, with one-to-one briefing sessions available during the week of 19th July 2021 to provide further context and answer supplier questions. This tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in auditing and assurance services, particularly those with expertise in educational system evaluations and performance reporting. Companies that can demonstrate a strong understanding of financial management and operational assessments would be well-suited for this contract. Engaging in this process could lead to further partnerships and projects within the educational sector, particularly in areas aligning with system change and quality assurance measures. ## Notice This is a prior information notice informing the market of the intention by the Open University to tender for the provision of external independent assurance services on the scope and quality of its Core Systems Replacement Programme Reporting and Associate Lecturer Contract Change Programme's Reporting. An independent review of the financial and operational case for the reset of its Core Systems Replacement (CSR) Programme This Prior Information Notice (PIN) and request for information is intended to gauge the interest of potential suppliers, prior to commencing a procurement process. ### Lot Information Lot 1 The Open University (OU) will require the provision of independent assurance on the scope and quality of the Core System Replacement (CSR) reporting and Associate Lecturer Contract Change (ALC) Programme's reporting. The OU also requires an independent review of the financial and operational case for the reset of its Core Systems Replacement (CSR) Programme It is anticipated that the services required will provide assurances to the OU that; a) the CSR business change and technology plans and associated financial plans are technically sound, realistically deliverable in the identified timescales, provide a robust assessment of all the costs necessary to deliver them, and have a sound assessment of the risks; and b) the scope and content of the on-going reporting of progress against the reset CSR operational and financial plans provides a complete, accurate and transparent assessment of delivery, and; c) the scope and content of the on-going reporting of progress against the operational and financial plans relating to the ALC programme provides a complete, accurate and transparent assessment of delivery. Suppliers are requested to respond to this PIN via The Open University's e-tendering website, In-Tend https://in-tendhost.co.uk/openuniversity Suppliers should complete and return a Request for Information Response Document by 9th August 2021 The OU is offering one-to-one briefing sessions to suppliers on a first come, first served basis. The purpose of the briefing session is to provide further context to our requirement and for suppliers to ask questions prior to providing the information requested. The briefing sessions will be held w/c 19th July 2021 and further correspondence via the In-Tend function will confirm a time-slot. The sessions will be held via Microsoft Teams. Additional information: This is a Prior Information Notice; this is not a call for competition. Any description of requirements is yet to be fully determined for the supply and services described. Any potential resulting tender will be advertised via the OU's tender portal: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/openuniversity and will require further registration. Registration is free and interested parties can register at any time and search for tenders (and PINs) as and when they are advertised. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015978-2021 | | Notice type | Planning Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 8 Jul 2021 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 16 Aug 2021 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planned | | Lots status | Planned | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | OPEN UNIVERSITY(THE) | | Locality | MILTON KEYNES | | Post town | Milton Keynes | | Postcode | MK7 6AA | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire | | ITL 3 | TLJ12 Milton Keynes | | Local authority | Milton Keynes | | Electoral ward | Monkston | | Westminster constituency | Milton Keynes Central | | Delivery location | TLJ12 Milton Keynes | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ### Codes - 79212000 - Auditing services ## Release History - 8 Jul 2021 at 17:27 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015978-2021 ## Notice URLs - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/openuniversity ## 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-h6vhtk-02c5dc. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02c5dc.json.