Contract

Independent investigation into higher education institution

  • Scottish Funding Council

F03: Contract award notice

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-064348

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-05ad29

Published 10 October 2025, 4:28pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Scottish Funding Council

Apex 2, 97 Haymarket Terrace

Edinburgh

EH12 5HD

Contact

Stephen Connor

Email

sconnor@sfc.ac.uk

Telephone

+44 1313136500

Fax

+44 1313136501

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.sfc.ac.uk/

Buyer's address

https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00381

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

one.5) Main activity

Education


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Independent investigation into higher education institution

Reference number

SFC 24-25 014 Q4

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 79140000 - Legal advisory and information services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

An independent investigation to determine the causes and contributing factors to the deterioration of a higher education institution's financial position.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)

Value excluding VAT: £423,000

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 79720000 - Investigation services
  • 66171000 - Financial consultancy services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM - Scotland

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

An independent investigation to determine the causes and contributing factors to the deterioration of the higher education institution's financial position.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 60

Price - Weighting: 40

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 four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below

  • Extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseeable for the contracting authority

Explanation:

The award was required due to an urgent requirement for these services. This was brought about by a quickly developing and changing situation at the higher education institution. Further time pressure was been caused due an unsuccessful competition for these services in which 0 tenders were returned. (NB this was a competition under a Framework). SFC was therefore in a position where they need to appoint a provider urgently.

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes


Section five. Award of contract

Contract No

SFC 24-25 014 Q4

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

14 April 2025

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 1

Number of tenders received from SMEs: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received by electronic means: 0

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

BDO LLP

4 Atlantic Quay, 70 York Street

Glasgow

G2 8JX

Telephone

+44 1412495235

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKM - Scotland
The contractor is an SME

No

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Total value of the contract/lot: £423,000


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

The award was required due to an urgent requirement for these services. This was brought about by a quickly developing and changing situation at the higher education institution. Further time pressure was been caused due an unsuccessful competition for these services in which 0 tenders were returned. (NB this was a competition under a Framework). SFC was therefore in a position where they need to appoint a provider urgently.

The sensitive nature of this requirement meant it was not possible to delay further to carry out another competition.

(SC Ref:800830)

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Edinburgh Sheriff Court

Sherrif Court House, 27 Chambers Street

Edinburgh

EH1 1LB

Country

United Kingdom