Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NORTH EAST ACCESS TO FINANCE LIMITED
3rd Floor Baltimore House, Abbots Hill
Gateshead
NE8 3DF
Contact
James Arkless
Telephone
+44 1914998552
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKC - NORTH EAST (ENGLAND)
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
Additional information can be obtained from another address:
james.arkless@nea2f.co.uk
3rd Floor Baltimore House
Gateshead
NE8 3DF
Contact
James Arkless
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKC2 - Northumberland and Tyne and Wear
Internet address(es)
Main address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Economic and financial affairs
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Procurement of Group Auditor
Reference number
NEA2F/041
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
We are inviting firms to tender for the contract as external Group Auditor for North East Access to Finance and its other group companies, including North East Finance (Holdco), for a period of three years commencing with the financial year 2020/21.
Interested parties who intend to bid are asked to register an expression of interest and we will send you the Applicant Pack. Although the invitation to tender published on the website includes the specification of requirements, the Applicant Pack contains more details on the companies and we recommend that you read it carefully before preparing your bid document.
Expressions of interest and any questions about the tender process should be emailed to our Company Secretary James Arkless c/o james.arkless@nea2f.co.uk.
The closing date for submission of bids is 12.00 noon on Monday 15 February 2021.
In keeping with recent changes to regulatory requirements, tax compliance services and advice do not form part of this tender.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £220,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79210000 - Accounting and auditing services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKC - NORTH EAST (ENGLAND)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Tenders are sought from suitably qualified firms to act as external Group Auditor for North East Access to Finance Limited ('NEA2F') and its group companies, including North East Finance (Holdco) Limited which is Holding Fund Manager for the North East JEREMIE programme, Finance for Business NE.
The appointment will be for three years beginning with the financial year ending 31 March 2021.
The primary role of the external audit is to report on the consolidated financial statements of the NEA2F group and the financial statements of the individual companies and to carry out such examination of the statements and underlying records and control systems as is necessary to reach an opinion on those statements. The opinion will be required to cover primarily whether the statements give a true and fair view and have been properly prepared in accordance with UK GAAP and the Companies Act 2006. We have adopted FRS 102.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £220,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
36
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
Any extension beyond the initial three years will be at the discretion of the Contracting Authority
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions
• The firm must be an FCA registered audit practice, with an appropriate level of PI cover, details of which must be provided.
• Bidders must confirm their ability to complete the audit within the required 6 month timescale, as set out in the invitation to tender.
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.2) Conditions related to the contract
three.2.1) Information about a particular profession
Execution of the service is reserved to a particular profession
Reference to the relevant law, regulation or administrative provision
Bidders must be FCA registered audit firms
three.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
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
15 February 2021
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 36 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
15 February 2021
Local time
1:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Stephen Lightley
3rd Floor Baltimore House
Gateshead
NE8 3DF
Country
United Kingdom