---
title: "Due Diligence Framework"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000621022"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000621022"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000621022.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000621022.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS ENTERPRISE"
published: "2020-11-03"
---

# Due Diligence Framework

Buyer: HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS ENTERPRISE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000621022

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## Summary

Highlands and Islands Enterprise has initiated the procurement for a "Due Diligence Framework" aimed at enhancing their decision-making processes related to investments. This procurement process was conducted using the open method and has reached the award stage. The contract, awarded on 29 October 2020, is valued at approximately £960,000 over four years, with the initial term of three years beginning in October 2020, and a possibility of a one-year extension. The framework will serve the Inverness region, with a budget range of £540,000 to £720,000 (excluding VAT) available for the first three years.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses, particularly those specialising in financial reviews, strategic and business evaluations, and technical assessments. Companies with expertise in advisory services, including those offering financial consulting or investment due diligence, will find this framework particularly suited for participation. With three suppliers awarded under the multi-supplier framework, there remains potential for small and medium enterprises as well as larger firms to contribute to future projects and enhance their business portfolios through successful collaboration with Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

## Notice

This is a Contract Award Notice and as such the procurement process is complete. The diversity of projects HIE deals with from clients or delivered directly requires us to undertake due diligence which necessitate a wide range of skillsets to understand the proposals, appraise the merits and understand the investment risks. In most cases, due diligence is undertaken by HIE staff themselves, but from time to time there can be more complex challenges or resourcing issues which lead to a requirement for HIE to seek external support. The contract has been awarded under a multi supplier Framework basis to 3 suppliers. The Framework will commence in October 2020 for an initial period of 3 years, with HIE having the option to extend for a period or periods together not exceeding 1 year following the Initial Term. The initial 3 year budget currently available to deliver this service is between 540 000 GBP and 720 000 GBP (excluding VAT).

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The Objectives of the Framework are to: - support HIE's decision making and resource prioritisation - provide access to specialist knowledge and - develop skills / build capacity in HIE. Types of support will include, but are not limited to: - financial reviews - strategic business reviews - assessing investor proposals - distress situations - R&D / Innovation - technical assessments / R&D tax assessments and - general technical assessments.. 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.

Options: HIE reserves the right to order any variation to any quantity or specification of any part of the Services that for any reason shall in HIE's opinion be desirable. Any such variation may include (but shall not be restricted to) additions, omissions, alterations, substitutions to the Services and changes in quality, form, character, kind, timing, method or sequence of the provision of Services. The conditions under which such variations may be required are as a result of changes to HIE and/or Scottish Government policy or strategy in relation to which the services and support HIE provides or is to provide, or a change to the nature of the services or the enterprises which HIE supports. Any such modification shall be in terms of Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Renewal: It is expected that the Framework will be awarded in October 2020 for an initial period of 3 years, with HIE having the option to extend for a period or periods together not exceeding 1 year following the Initial Term.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=NOV398859 |
| Notice type | OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large, SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 3 Nov 2020 |
| Submission deadline | 12 Aug 2020 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 29 Oct 2020 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | HIE reserves the right to re-tender for these services upon termination of the Framework or at the end of the Framework period, including any extension period. |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £960,000 |
| Lots value | £960,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £960,000 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS ENTERPRISE |
| Locality | INVERNESS |
| Post town | Inverness |
| Postcode | IV2 5NA |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM2 Highlands and Islands |
| ITL 3 | TLM20 Highlands and Islands |
| Local authority | Highland |
| Electoral ward | Inverness South |
| Westminster constituency | Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire |
| Delivery location | TLM6 Highlands and Islands |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 3 |
| Supplier names | AZETS HOLDING LTD (T/A AZETS; ERNST & YOUNG; FRONTLINE CONSULTANTS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 66 - Financial and insurance services
- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

### Codes

- 66171000 - Financial consultancy services
- 72221000 - Business analysis consultancy services
- 79211000 - Accounting services
- 79411100 - Business development consultancy services
- 79412000 - Financial management consultancy services

## Release History

- 3 Nov 2020 at 00:00 - Award - OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=NOV398859
- 1 Jul 2020 at 00:00 - Tender - OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL389571

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=JUL389571&idx=11
  4th August 2020 - Response to Q16 re T&Cs
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=JUL389571&idx=8
  16th July 2020 - Terms and Conditions
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=JUL389571&idx=10
  16th July 2020 - Revised Terms and Conditions - new clause Clause 30.4
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=JUL389571&idx=7
  3rd July 2020 - Forms for Signature
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=JUL389571&idx=9
  3rd July 2020 - HIE Business Travel Policy
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=JUL389571&idx=1
  3rd July 2020 - Scope of Requirements and Tender Guidance Notes
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=JUL389571&idx=2
  3rd July 2020 - Award Criteria Response Form
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=JUL389571&idx=3
  3rd July 2020 - Cyber Security Response Form
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=JUL389571&idx=4
  3rd July 2020 - Pricing Proforma
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=JUL389571&idx=5
  3rd July 2020 - Community Benefits and Fair Work Practices Guidance
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=JUL389571&idx=6
  3rd July 2020 - Community Benefits and Fair Work Practices Response Form
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL389571
  Due Diligence Framework - The diversity of projects HIE deals with from clients or delivered directly requires us to undertake due diligence which necessitate a wide range of skillsets to understand the proposals, appraise the merits and understand the investment risks. In most cases, due diligence is undertaken by HIE staff themselves, but from time to time there can be more complex challenges or resourcing issues which lead to a requirement for HIE to seek external support. The contract will be awarded under a multi supplier Framework basis to approximately 3 suppliers. It is expected that the Framework will be awarded in October 2020 for an initial period of 3 years, with HIE having the option to extend for a period or periods together not exceeding 1 year following the Initial Term. The initial 3 year budget currently available to deliver this service is between 540 000 GBP and 720 000 GBP (excluding VAT).
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=NOV398859
  Due Diligence Framework - This is a Contract Award Notice and as such the procurement process is complete. The diversity of projects HIE deals with from clients or delivered directly requires us to undertake due diligence which necessitate a wide range of skillsets to understand the proposals, appraise the merits and understand the investment risks. In most cases, due diligence is undertaken by HIE staff themselves, but from time to time there can be more complex challenges or resourcing issues which lead to a requirement for HIE to seek external support. The contract has been awarded under a multi supplier Framework basis to 3 suppliers. The Framework will commence in October 2020 for an initial period of 3 years, with HIE having the option to extend for a period or periods together not exceeding 1 year following the Initial Term. The initial 3 year budget currently available to deliver this service is between 540 000 GBP and 720 000 GBP (excluding VAT).

## Notice URLs

- http://www.azets.co.uk/
- http://www.ey.com
- http://www.frontline-consultants.com
- http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hse40.pdf
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000621022
- https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/the-courts/court-locations/inverness-sheriff-court-and-justice-of-the-peace-court

## 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-r6ebe6-0000621022. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000621022.json.