Opportunity

ID 5114709 UREGNI - Provision of Internal Audit Services

  • Utility Regulator

F02: Contract notice

Notice reference: 2024/S 000-010362

Published 28 March 2024, 3:30pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Utility Regulator

Queens House 14 Queen Street

BELFAST

BT1 6ED

Email

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 electronically via

https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps

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

ID 5114709 UREGNI - Provision of Internal Audit Services

Reference number

ID 5114709

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 79212000 - Auditing services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation is a non-ministerial government department responsible for regulating the electricity, gas, water and sewerage industries in Northern Ireland. In doing so, we promote short and long-term interests of energy and water consumers. We are accountable to the Northern Ireland Assembly through financial and annual reporting obligations. The purpose of this Contract is to secure the provision of internal audit services defined as “an independent, objective assurance and consulting activity.” This is in accordance with the responsibilities, standards and ethics laid down by the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS). Please see ID 5114709 Specification document for further information.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £200,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
  • 79212200 - Internal audit services
  • 79200000 - Accounting, auditing and fiscal services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKN - Northern Ireland

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation is a non-ministerial government department responsible for regulating the electricity, gas, water and sewerage industries in Northern Ireland. In doing so, we promote short and long-term interests of energy and water consumers. We are accountable to the Northern Ireland Assembly through financial and annual reporting obligations. The purpose of this Contract is to secure the provision of internal audit services defined as “an independent, objective assurance and consulting activity.” This is in accordance with the responsibilities, standards and ethics laid down by the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS). Please see ID 5114709 Specification document for further information.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: AC1 Head of Internal Audit Experience / Weighting: 18

Quality criterion - Name: AC2 Proposed Team Experience / Weighting: 18

Quality criterion - Name: AC3 Proposed Methodology / Weighting: 7.8

Quality criterion - Name: AC4 Contract Management / Weighting: 6

Quality criterion - Name: AC5 Social Value / Weighting: 10.2

Cost criterion - Name: AC6 Total Contract Cost / Weighting: 40

two.2.6) Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: £200,000

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months

24

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

This contract is an ongoing requirement for the Utility Regulator and may be subject to renewal after the current contract expires.

two.2.10) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: No

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: Yes

Description of options

There are options to extend the contract for two separate periods of up to 12 months each.

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No

two.2.14) Additional information

The estimated total contract value in II.2.6 is a maximum estimated figure for the entire duration of the. contract. Options will align with budgets which are subject to confirmation and approval by the Utility Regulator. .


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

1 May 2024

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: 30 July 2024

four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders

Date

1 May 2024

Local time

3:30pm


Section six. Complementary information

six.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: No

six.3) Additional information

Contract Monitoring. The successful contractor’s performance on the contract 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 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 your performance does not improve to satisfactory levels within the. specified period, this can be considered grounds for.. termination of the contract at your. expense as provided for in the Conditions of Contract. In lieu of termination, CPD may issue a. Notice.. of Written Warning or a Notice of Unsatisfactory Performance. A supplier in receipt. of multiple Notices of Written Warning or a Notice. of. Unsatisfactory Performance may, in. accordance with The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (as amended) be excluded from. future. public. procurement competitions for a period of up to three years. The Authority. expressly reserves the. rights:. (I) not to award any. contract as. a result of the procurement. process commenced by publication of this notice; (II) to make whatever changes it may see. fit to. the content. and structure of the tendering Competition; (III) to award (a) contract(s). in respect of any part(s) of the services covered by. this notice; and. (IV) to award contract(s). in stages. In no circumstances will the Authority be liable for any costs incurred by. candidates.

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. Postal addres

Belfast

Country

United Kingdom