Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
The Scottish Commission for Public Audit
The Scottish Parliament, Procurement Services
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA10284
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Scottish Commission for Public Audit
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Auditor for Public Audit
Reference number
NIC-SER-470
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79212000 - Auditing services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, on behalf of the Scottish Commission for Public Audit requires a Contractor to audit the accounts of Audit Scotland on an annual basis, as defined in the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of
Main site or place of performance
Edinburgh
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, on behalf of the Scottish Commission for Public Audit requires a Contractor to audit the accounts of Audit Scotland on an annual basis, as defined in the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000.
The Contractor may be required to carry out examinations into Economy, Efficiency and Effectiveness or other audit needs as required.
The Contractor must have experience of auditing annual accounts within a public sector context and must not carry out audits on behalf of Audit Scotland for the duration of the contract.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 60
Price - Weighting: 40
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The Contract duration may be extended by up to 12 months with the agreement of the Contractor and SCPA.
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
With reference to 3D.12 - bidders cannot be considered for this contract if, within the duration of the contact, they carry out audits of public bodies on behalf of Audit Scotland, as this would constitute a conflict of interest.
With reference to part 4A.1 - bidders are required to be enrolled in the relevant professional or trade registers within the country with which they are established.
With reference to 4A.2 - where it is required within a bidders country of establishment they must confirm which authorisation or memberships of the relevant organisations are required in order to be able to perform this service.
With reference to 4C - bidders will be required to provide one example that demonstrates they have the relevant experience to deliver the services. The example must be for a publicly funded body e.g. government agencies, NDPB’s, Local Authorities, NHS bodies etc.) or publicly regulated organisations such as registered Social Landlords or charities.
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria
On behalf of the SCPA, the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) uses Creditsafe, an independent provider of online business credit reports, to assess the financial standing of tenderers. Tenderers are encouraged to review their financial performance on Creditsafe and read information about how that data is collected and used prior to submitting a tender. Information and the opportunity to run a free
report can be found at http://www.creditsafe.com/products/business-credit-reports/ If a tenderer does not agree with the credit rating it has been given it can provide supporting evidence to demonstrate its current position and this will be taken into account when the financialstanding is being assessed.
If a tenderer is not listed on Creditsafe, for whatever reason, then it may be asked to submit equivalent accounts to enable the required assessment of financial standing to be carried out.
Tenderers should have a Creditsafe credit rating of 30 or higher to demonstrate satisfactory financial standing. If a tenderer has a lower credit rating score and has the backing of a parent company with a credit rating of 30 or higher the provision of a Parent Company Guarantee prior to the award of any contract will be acceptable. If a tenderer has a lower credit rating score and no evidence to support astable or improved financial standing then the tender may be rejected.
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required:
With reference to ESPD question 4B.5,it is a requirement that bidders hold, or can commit to obtain prior to the commencement of anysubsequently awarded contract, the types and levels of insurance indicated below:
Employers' (Compulsory) Liability Insurance 5million GBP
Professional Indemnity Insurance 5million GBP
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
List and brief description of selection criteria
In relation to the SPD, Bidders will be required to provide ONE example to demonstrate that they have the relevant experience to deliver the services. This example should be for a publicly funded body such as Government Agencies, NDPB’s, Local Authorities NHS
bodies, etc. or publicly regulated organisations such as Registered Social Landlords or Charities. bidders should note this question will not be weighted and will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis.
Bidders will be required to confirm whether they intend to subcontract and , if so, for what proportion of the contract.
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
Bidders will be required to confirm that they are eligible for appointment as a company auditor under section 1219(1)(a)(b) of the Companies Act 2006 or a member of a body of accountants established in the United Kingdom.
three.2.2) Contract performance conditions
Bidders cannot be considered for this contract if, within the duration of the contract, they carry out audits of public bodies on behalf of Audit Scotland, as this would constitute a conflict of interest.
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
1 November 2021
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
1 November 2021
Local time
2:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published: Five years.
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
Please note that there are minimum requirements concerning Cyber Security for this contract to which a pass/fail marking will attach.
Bidders will be required to complete an online Supplier Assurance Questionnaire using the Cyber Security Procurement Support Tool
(CSPST). A link to CSPST can be found here: https://cyberassessment.gov.scot.
The questionnaire will be aligned to a Cyber Risk Profile that has been established for the contract, based on the SPCB’s assessment of
cyber risk.
For this contract, minimum requirements also include the holding of Cyber Essentials (or equivalent).
Further details can be found in the Tender Invitation Letter. A contract condition for this procurement requires the bidder to comply with minimum security requirements.
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 19776. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343
(SC Ref:668558)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Edinburgh Sheriff Court House
Sheriff Course House, 27 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1LB
Country
United Kingdom