Section one: Contracting entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Southern Water Services Ltd.
Southern House
Worthing
BN13 3NX
Kirsty.Lodge@southernwater.co.uk
Telephone
+44 1903264444
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKJ - SOUTH 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
https://southernwater.bravosolution.co.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://southernwater.bravosolution.co.uk
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the above-mentioned 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
https://southernwater.bravosolution.co.uk
one.6) Main activity
Water
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Statutory & Regulatory Audit
Reference number
prj_2036
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79212300 - Statutory audit services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Southern Water Services (SWS) under all Applicable Law relating to the financial reporting and audit of company accounts, including the statutory audit of public interest entities (PIEs), SWS is seeking to renew, for itself and on behalf of the Greensands Holdings Group (of which it is principal operating company), its statutory audit services by competitive tender.
As part of this process, Southern Water Services SWS is also seeking to renew the audit of its regulatory accounting statements within the annual performance report for each financial year, as required by its Instrument of Appointment (Licence) granted by the Secretary of State for the Environment as a water and sewerage undertaker under the Water Industry Act 1991 and as specified by the Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat).
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £6,000,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79212100 - Financial auditing services
- 79212300 - Statutory audit services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ - SOUTH EAST (ENGLAND)
Main site or place of performance
West Sussex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
TThe audit Services conducted by the successful Auditor must be conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) issued from time to time by the Financial Reporting Council.
The role of the external Auditor will be to report on the financial statements of SWS (or any corporate member of the Greensands Holdings Group as applicable); to carry out the necessary assessments of the statements and underlying records and control systems in order to reach a fair and unbiased opinion on the statements.
Audits must be able to provide assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement and give a true and fair view. The successful Auditor must obtain an understanding of the accounting and the internal control systems in order to assess their adequacy as a basis for the preparation of the financial statements and to form an opinion whether adequate accounting records have been maintained by the relevant audited company.
In addition to the regulatory audit required by Ofwat, SWS is also seeking to renew additional assurance on an “Agreed Upon Procedures” basis for other elements of its annual reporting, for example, but not limited to sections of the Annual Performance Report not covered by the Ofwat requirements and the viability statement
The auditor will carry out such investigations as to enable them to form an opinion as to:
(a) whether adequate accounting records have been kept by SWS and returns adequate for the audit
(b) whether SWS’s individual financial statements are in agreement with the accounting records and returns.
(c) whether certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law have been made.
(d) whether they have obtained all the information and explanations which, to the best of their knowledge and belief, are necessary for the purpose of our audit; and
The Auditor should provide a management report to SWS which highlights any potential issues, or risks within the audit that was conducted. The Auditor should provide reports on the financial statements of SWS income and expenditure, recognised gains and losses and statement of cash flow for the year. They should take into account relevant statutory and other mandatory disclosure and accounting requirements and funding body requirements.
The audit services conducted by the successful Auditor must be conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) issued from time to time by the Financial Reporting Council, relevant ethical standards and applicable law.
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: £6,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
120
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
120 months is required, 12 month periods awarded at any one time subject to annual audit committee and board approval
two.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
Maximum number: 4
Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates:
Pre-Qualification stage will be open to all suppliers, responses will be ranked suppliers as per the criteria
set out in
the Instruction and Invitation To
Tender (IITT).
A maximum of 4 suppliers will be invited to tender
The PQQ will be issued on around 12/1/21 here:
https://southernwater.bravosolution.co.uk
The PQQ response time is 15 days
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
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 audit services conducted by the successful Auditor must be conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) issued from time to time by the Financial Reporting Council, relevant ethical standards and applicable law.
Auditor independence is required, which can be considered to be a sub-set of objectivity, focused on the avoidance or management of particular relationships and activities that could, or could be seen to, compromise objectivity. For audits, auditor independence is required by law in the United Kingdom
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.1.4) Objective rules and criteria for participation
List and brief description of rules and criteria
Pre-Qualification stage will be open to all suppliers, responses will be ranked suppliers as per the criteria
set out in
the Instruction and Invitation To
Tender (IITT).
A maximum of 4 suppliers will be invited to tender
The PQQ will be issued 12/1/21 here:
https://southernwater.bravosolution.co.uk
three.1.7) Main financing conditions and payment arrangements and/or reference to the relevant provisions governing them
As advised in the procurment documents and assessed at PQQ
three.1.8) Legal form to be taken by the group of economic operators to whom the contract is to be awarded
The successful partners, whether being a single contractor, prime contractor (which may be an existing
company or special purpose vehicle) or consortium, will be required to be a single legal entity
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
The audit services conducted by the successful Auditor must be conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) issued from time to time by the Financial Reporting Council, relevant ethical standards and applicable law.
three.2.2) Contract performance conditions
As described in the procurement documents
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
Negotiated procedure with prior call for competition
four.1.4) Information about reduction of the number of solutions or tenders during negotiation or dialogue
Recourse to staged procedure to gradually reduce the number of solutions to be discussed or tenders to be negotiated
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.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2020/S 235-581564
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
27 January 2021
Local time
5:00pm
four.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates
8 February 2021
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: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: Yes
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
six.3) Additional information
Submission of expression of interest and procurement specific information: This procurement exercise
will be conducted on the BravoSolution e-procurement portal at:
https://southernwater.bravosolution.co.uk/ Candidates wishing to be considered for this contract must
register their expression of interest and provide additional procurement specific information through the
portal as follows: i) Candidates should register on the BravoSolution e-procurement portal at:
https://southernwater.bravosolution.co.uk/ ii) Once registered, candidates must express their interest as
follows: a) login to the portal; b) select ‘View current opportunities and notices’; c) access the listing
related to this framework d) click on Express Interest
button; iii) Once you have expressed interest, please complete the PQQ. You must then publish your
reply using the publish button; iv) For any support in submitting your expression of interest please
contact the eTendering help desk at. 0800 368 4850 or help@bravosolution.co.uk
CLOSING DATE FOR PQQ IS 27/01/21
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Southern Water Services Limited
Worthing
Telephone
+44 1903274444
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
Southern Water Ltd
Worthing
Country
United Kingdom