Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Derbyshire Dales District Council
Town Hall, Bank Road
Matlock
DE4 3NN
Contact
Ms Sherry Russell
sherry.russell@derbyshiredales.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKF13 - South and West Derbyshire
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/
Buyer's address
https://www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/Index?advertId=1a190082-a9dc-ef11-8133-005056b64545
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/Index?advertId=1a190082-a9dc-ef11-8133-005056b64545
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
DDPT026 Reporting Accountant for Housing Benefit (Subsidy) Assurance Process (HBAP)
Reference number
DDPT026 (DN760706)
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79210000 - Accounting and auditing services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Derbyshire Dales District Council (the Council) requires a suitably experienced and qualified reporting accountant (external auditor) to audit and certify their Housing Benefit (HB) Subsidy Grant claims in England, commencing with the subsidy period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 (equivalent dates for any extension period), to meet the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) requirements to give the DWP assurance of a valid and true claim. The reporting accountant will conduct testing of all Housing Benefit Assurance Process (HBAP) aspects of the audit.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £155,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKF13 - South and West Derbyshire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Derbyshire Dales District Council (the Council) requires a suitably experienced and qualified reporting accountant (external auditor) to audit and certify their Housing Benefit (HB) Subsidy Grant claims in England, commencing with the subsidy period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 (equivalent dates for any extension period), to meet the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) requirements to give the DWP assurance of a valid and true claim. The reporting accountant will conduct testing of all Housing Benefit Assurance Process (HBAP) aspects of the audit.
A condition of participation is that you must be currently registered on the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW) register of licensed local auditors Local Auditor Register.
The initial contract period is for the audit relating to the housing benefit subsidy claim for 2024/25; the contract is estimated to commence 5 May 2025 and expire 4 May 2026.
There will be an option to extend the contract for up to four years in 2 yearly increments subject to satisfactory performance and business needs, to meet the 2025/26, 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29 audit requirements. The maximum contract period is five years.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 60%
Price - Weighting: 40%
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
12
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
There will be an option to extend the contract for up to 48 Months (4 years) in two 24 month increments subject to satisfactory performance and business needs.
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
You must be currently registered on the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW) register of licensed local auditors
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.2.2) Contract performance conditions
As per tender documentation
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: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
27 February 2025
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: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
27 February 2025
Local time
12:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published: The initial contract period is for 12 months; the contract is estimated to commence 5 May 2025 and expire 4 May 2026. There will be an option to extend the contract for up to four years in 2 yearly increments .
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
six.3) Additional information
The opportunity can be accessed via Derbyshire Dales District Council's e-Tendering system. Tenderers wishing to be considered for this contract must register their expression of interest and submit a tender through our e-Tendering system. If not already registered, candidates should register at https://procontract.due-north.com/Login
A condition of participation is that you must be currently registered on the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW) register of licensed local auditors Local Auditor Register.
All discussions, meetings, and communications will be conducted in English.
The contract will be subject to English law. Tenders and all supporting documents must be
priced in GBP and all payments under the contract will be made in GBP.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Royal Courts of Justice
London
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
The Council will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar days (or 15 if non-electronic or fax methods used) standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to the relevant economic operators. Debriefing by the Council shall be in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulation 2015 (as amended) 5 / 5 (the Regulations). Such information should be requested from the addressee in Section 1.1). If an appeal regarding the award of the contract has not been successfully resolved the Regulations provide for the aggrieved parties who are of the opinion that they have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the Regulations, to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). Any such action must be brought as soon as possible.