University of Lincoln: 359 - External Audit Services

UK-Lincoln: Financial auditing services.
Section I: Contracting Authority
      I.1) Name and addresses
             University of Lincoln
             Brayford Pool, Lincoln, LN6 7TS, United Kingdom
             Tel. +44 1522886762, Email: LSIMMS@LINCOLN.AC.UK
             Contact: Laura Simms
             Main Address: https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/
             NUTS Code: UKF3
      I.2) Joint procurement
      The contract involves joint procurement: No.
      In the case of joint procurement involving different countries, state applicable national procurement law: Not provided       
      The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body: No.
      I.3) Communication
      The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Lincoln:-Financial-auditing-services./554P9P2DK8
      Additional information can be obtained from: the abovementioned address
      Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically via https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-title/XW737XJ8S7 to the abovementioned address       
      Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at: Not provided
      I.4) Type of the contracting authority
            Body governed by public law
      I.5) Main activity
            Education

Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
      II.1.1) Title: 359 - External Audit Services       
      Reference Number: 359
      II.1.2) Main CPV Code:
      79212100 - Financial auditing services.

      II.1.3) Type of contract: SERVICES
      II.1.4) Short description: The University is seeking to appoint External auditors who have in-depth knowledge and experience of the Higher Education (HE) Sector. The Contract will run for a period of 3 years commencing c. July 2022. There will be an option for the University to extend the Contract by two further periods of 12 months until June 2027. The services are to include:

• Provision of a statutory audit of the Group financial statements initially for year ending 31 July 2022, in accordance with applicable auditing standards.
• Produce Audit findings report for Senior Management, the Governing Body and the Office for Students (OfS).
• Identify process and control improvements and make recommendations to Senior Management.
• Audit and sign-off of the US Federal Loan Return in accordance with US Department of Education requirements.
• Audit and sign-off of the Teacher’s Pension Scheme (TPS) return in accordance with TPS requirements.
• Audit and sign-off of financial covenant calculations.       
      II.1.5) Estimated total value:
      Value excluding VAT: 500,000       
      Currency: GBP
      II.1.6) Information about lots:
      This contract is divided into lots: No       
   
II.2) Description
      
      II.2.2) Additional CPV codes:
      Not Provided       
      II.2.3) Place of performance:
      UKF3 Lincolnshire
      
      II.2.4) Description of procurement: The University is seeking to appoint External auditors who have in-depth knowledge and experience of the Higher Education (HE) Sector. The Contract will run for a period of 3 years commencing as soon as possible following contract award (c. July 2022). There will be an option for the University to extend the Contract by two further periods of 12 months until June 2027. The services to include:

•Provision of a statutory audit of the Group financial statements initially for year ending 31 July 2022, in accordance with applicable auditing standards.
•Produce Audit findings report for Senior Management, the Governing Body and the Office for Students (OfS).
•Identify process and control improvements and make recommendations to Senior Management.
•Audit and sign-off of the US Federal Loan Return in accordance with US Department of Education requirements.
•Audit and sign-off of the Teacher’s Pension Scheme (TPS) return in accordance with TPS requirements.
•Audit and sign-off of financial covenant calculations.
      II.2.5) Award criteria:
            Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents            
      II.2.6) Estimated value:
      Value excluding VAT: 500,000       
      Currency: GBP       
      II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system:
      Duration in months: 36       
      This contract is subject to renewal: Yes       
      Description of renewals: 2 x 12 month extensions available, in yearly increments.
      
      II.2.10) Information about variants:
      Variants will be accepted: No
      II.2.11) Information about options:
      Options:       Yes             
      Description of options: The Contract will run for a period of 3 years commencing as soon as possible following Contract award (c. July 2022). There will be an option for the University to extend the Contract by two further periods of 12 months in yearly increments.
      II.2.12) Information about electronic catalogues:
      Tenders must be presented in the form of electronic catalogues or include an electronic catalogue: No
      II.2.13) Information about European Union funds:
      The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No       
      Identification of the project: Not provided             
      II.2.14) Additional information: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Lincoln:-Financial-auditing-services./554P9P2DK8       


Section III: Legal, Economic, Financial And Technical Information
   III.1) Conditions for participation
      III.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
      List and brief description of conditions:          
      As stated in the procurement documents.    
      III.1.2) Economic and financial standing          
      Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents       
      List and brief description of selection criteria:       
      Not Provided    
      Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required (if applicable) :       
      Not Provided    
      III.1.3) Technical and professional ability    
      Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
      List and brief description of selection criteria:       
      Not Provided      
      Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required (if applicable) :          
      Not Provided   
      III.1.5) Information about reserved contracts (if applicable)   
      The contract is reserved to sheltered workshops and economic operators aiming at the social and professional integration of disabled or disadvantaged persons: No       
      The execution of the contract is restricted to the framework of sheltered employment programmes: No    
      
   III.2) Conditions related to the contract
      III.2.1) Information about a particular profession    
      Reference to the relevant law, regulation or administrative provision:          
      Not Provided    
      III.2.2) Contract performance conditions       
      In support of the University's strategic objectives to have employable and successful graduates, the successful Tenderer will be required to deliver the Careers and Employability Schedule included within the contract terms and conditions.          
      III.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
      Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract: No

Section IV: Procedure
   IV.1) Description OPEN
      IV.1.1) Type of procedure: Open   
   
   IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system    
         The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement - NO    
         In the case of framework agreements justification for any duration exceeding 4 years: Not Provided    
   
   
   IV.1.6) Information about electronic auction:
      An electronic auction will be used: No
      Additional information about electronic auction: Not provided
   IV.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
      The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes       
   IV.2) Administrative information
      IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure:
         Notice number in the OJ S: Not provided       
      IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
       Date: 23/03/2022 Time: 11:00
            
      IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: English,       
      IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender:
         Duration in month(s): 3
      
      IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders:
         Date: 23/03/2022
         Time: 11:00
      

Section VI: Complementary Information
   VI.1) Information about recurrence
   This is a recurrent procurement: No    
   Estimated timing for further notices to be published: Not provided
   VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
   Electronic ordering will be used No       
   Electronic invoicing will be accepted No       
   Electronic payment will be used No       
   VI.3) Additional Information: For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
https://neupc.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Lincoln:-Financial-auditing-services./554P9P2DK8

To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://neupc.delta-esourcing.com/respond/554P9P2DK8
   VI.4) Procedures for review
   VI.4.1) Review body:
             University of Lincoln
       Campus Way, Lincoln, LN6 7TS, United Kingdom
       Tel. +44 1522886762, Email: LSIMMS@LINCOLN.AC.UK
   VI.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures:
Not provided
   VI.4.3) Review procedure
   Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:    
    The Contracting Authority will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar day standstill period following electronic notification (minimum of 15 calendar days for any other means of communication) to applicants of the award decision. This notification will provide the information that tenderers are legally entitled to regarding the award decision. The standstill period provides time for unsuccessful tenderers to challenge the award decision before the contract is entered into. The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 provide aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales andNorthern Ireland).    
   VI.4.4) Service from which information about the lodging of appeals may be obtained:
Not provided
   VI.5) Date Of Dispatch Of This Notice: 16/02/2022

Annex A