Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
The Department for the Economy
Adelaide House, 39-49 Adelaide St
BELFAST
BT2 8FD
SSDAdmin.cpd@finance-ni.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
Buyer's address
https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the above-mentioned address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
DfE - Article 127 Audit of Operations
Reference number
4010699
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79212000 - Auditing services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Department for Economy (DfE) Audit Authority in Northern Ireland is seeking to establish a Framework Agreement of appropriately skilled Service Providers through the Open Competition process, to assist in the completion of Article 127 audits of operations on projects part funded by: the 2014-2020 European Structural Investment Funds (ESI Funds) ie the European Social Fund (ESF) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £500,000
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
- 79200000 - Accounting, auditing and fiscal services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKN0 - Northern Ireland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Department for Economy (DfE) Audit Authority in Northern Ireland is seeking to establish a Framework Agreement of appropriately skilled Service Providers through the Open Competition process, to assist in the completion of Article 127 audits of operations on projects part funded by: the 2014-2020 European Structural Investment Funds (ESI Funds) ie the European Social Fund (ESF) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
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: £500,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
24
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
It is anticipated that this Framework Agreement will commence on 1 April 2022. The Framework Agreement will be valid for 2 years with an option to extend up to 24 months. It should be noted that while contracts awarded under the scope of the Framework Agreement must be awarded before the end of the term of the Framework Agreement, the duration of the individual
contracts do not need to coincide with the duration of the Framework Agreement (i.e. individual contracts can extend beyond the life of
the Framework or may expire before the end of the Framework Agreement).
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: Yes
Identification of the project
2014-2020 European Structural Investment Funds (ESI Funds) ie the European Social Fund (ESF) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
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
as per Tender documentation
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria
as per Tender documentation
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
List and brief description of selection criteria
as per Tender documentation
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
Framework agreement with several operators
Envisaged maximum number of participants to the framework agreement: 3
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
23 February 2022
Local time
3:00pm
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
Tender must be valid until: 24 May 2022
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
23 February 2022
Local time
3:30pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.3) Additional information
Neither CPD nor the Authority can provide any guarantee as to the level of business under this Framework Agreement. The successful contractor’s performance of contractors on the Framework Agreement will be regularly monitored. Contractors not delivering on contract requirements. is a serious matter. It means the public purse is not getting what it is paying for. If a contractor fails to reach satisfactory levels of contract / framework agreement performance they will be given a specified time to improve. If, after the specified time, they still fail to reach satisfactory levels of contract. performance, the matter will be escalated to senior management in CPD for further action. If this occurs and their performance still does. not improve to satisfactory levels within the specified period, it may be regarded as an act of grave professional misconduct and they. may be issued with a Notice of Unsatisfactory Performance and the their place on the framework agreement / the contract may be terminated. The issue of a Notice of unsatisfactory Performance will result in the contractor being excluded from all procurement competitions being undertaken by Centres of Procurement Expertise on behalf of bodies covered by the Northern Ireland. Procurement Policy for a period of twelve months from the date of issue of. the Notice.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The UK does not have any such bodies with responsibility for appeal/mediation procedures. Instead; any challenges are dealt with by the High Court, Commercial Division, to which proceedings may be issued regarding alleged breaches of the PCR 2015 as amended.
N/A
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
CPD will comply with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (as amended) and, where appropriate, will incorporate a standstill period (i.e. a minimum of 10 calendar days) at the point information on the award of contract is communicated to tenderers. That notification will provide full information on the award decision. This provides time for the unsuccessful tenderers to challenge the award decision before the contract is entered into.. .