Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
DEPARTMENT FOR LEVELLING UP, HOUSING AND COMMUNITIES
2 Marsham Street
LONDON
SW1P4DF
Contact
Emily Wolfe
emily.wolfe@levellingup.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKI32 - Westminster
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-levelling-up-housing-and-communities
one.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
Housing and community amenities
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Provision of a new Technical Advisory Service
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 71241000 - Feasibility study, advisory service, analysis
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
This Pre-Tender Market Engagement (PTME) seeks information in preparation for the potential procurement of a new Technical Advisory Service.
Please review the PTME document attached and provide your response via email to the following mailbox: commercial@levellingup.gov.uk by 17:00 at 8th July 2022
The PTME document is available at: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/45928c53-9c58-4ef4-9d58-546131ae51fd
or on request by contacting: commercial@levellingup.gov.uk
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £250,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The service will respond to queries raised by auditors working on particularly complex local audit cases, ie this includes providing external audits to local bodies including local authorities, local drainage boards, national park authorities, waste authorities, etc.
The specialist technical advisory service to local auditors will respond to a wide range of difficult or complex audit queries such as - but not limited to:
• advice to assist auditors on how to respond to electors' objections
• assistance with such issues as how and when to produce a public interest report or a statutory recommendation
• advice on performance audit issues (for VfM arrangements).
two.2.14) Additional information
The contract being sought will oversee the start-up of a separate, standalone but central Technical Advisory Service to bolster the capability of auditors, by providing a mechanism for guaranteeing and supplementing the level of skills across the sector market, as well as quality assuring the response to individual cases.
It will be particularly useful for new or challenger firms, where these firms do not have a developed public sector technical service. We are seeking proposals from tenderers that can demonstrate the necessary expertise to:
• source personnel with the expertise and experience to answer queries raised with the Advisory Service
• act as a central contact point for the Advisory Service, coordinating and allocating queries from a range of audit firms and distributing them to appointed personnel
• establish an agile, digital systems along with the necessary protocols and administration to record, manage, monitor and store queries, and enable the smooth interface with clients
• ensure expert information or advice is provided in a timely fashion;
• represent the sector, co-ordinate views and offer leadership as well as steering the sector in dealings with outside stakeholders, including Government;
• oversee and implement the roll out of the training qualification to top up the credentials of auditors along with widening the pool of Key Audit Partners. This will involve initially setting up the digital platforms to allow the courses to be delivered to candidates. The tenderer will also need to successfully negotiate with the sector ongoing support and funding of the service, which is envisaged to be charged to the candidates who apply to go on the courses
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
1 August 2022
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No