Planning

Audit of Data Communications Company

  • Ofgem

F01: Prior information notice (prior information only)

Notice identifier: 2021/S 000-028886

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-02f845

Published 19 November 2021, 9:04am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Ofgem

10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf

London

E14 4PU

Email

Procurement2@ofgem.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 2079017000

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKI - London

Internet address(es)

Main address

http://www.ofgem.gov.uk

Buyer's address

https://www.mytenders.co.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA10021

one.2) Information about joint procurement

The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body

one.3) Communication

Additional information can be obtained from 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

Audit of Data Communications Company

Reference number

2021-091

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 79212000 - Auditing services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Ofgem is seeking an independent auditor to annually assess the Data Communications Company’s (DCC’s) contract management and procurement activities.

The DCC is the central communications body licensed to provide the communications, data transfer and management required to support smart metering. DCC was appointed using an outsourced service model, to manage contracted smart metering service providers. As such, external costs compose the largest proportion of DCC’s costs, and it is critical that these contracts are entered into, managed and closed out effectively and efficiently. Each year, Ofgem scrutinises DCC’s incurred and forecast costs through the annual Price Control process to determine whether these costs are economic and efficient. Alongside the cost assessment, DCC also faces financial incentives under the Operational Performance Regime (OPR).

The audit will run on an annual cycle alongside Ofgem’s annual price control process and is expected to have four main stages: evaluation, reporting, consultation and decision. The evaluation stage is expected to take six weeks, with the auditor producing an interim report for DCC to provide comment. In this stage, the auditor will need to assess DCC’s commercial activity over the course of a Regulatory Year to provide a score and rationale against each supporting question against the NAO framework, covering contract management, procurement and re-procurement.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £265,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 79212000 - Auditing services
  • 79212200 - Internal audit services
  • 79212300 - Statutory audit services
  • 79418000 - Procurement consultancy services
  • 79210000 - Accounting and auditing services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Ofgem is seeking an independent auditor to annually assess the Data Communications Company’s (DCC’s) contract management and procurement activities.

two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice

16 December 2021


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: Yes


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the myTenders Web Site at https://www.mytenders.co.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=224523.

(MT Ref:224523)