External Financial Audit and Funding Assurance Services

The National Oceanography Centre intends to apply proportionate legal and financial capacity conditions of participation that are appropriate to the nature, scale and risk of the external financial audit and funding assurance services. Conditions of participation may include requirements for bidders to confirm that they are legally constituted, professionally competent, and appropriately authorised to deliver external audit and assurance services in accordance with applicable professional, regulatory and ethical standards. Bidders may be required to demonstrate financial standing and organisational capacity through proportionate means, such as declarations or summary financial information. The National Oceanography Centre does not intend to require the submission of audited accounts as a condition of participation. The National Oceanography Centre does not intend to require bidders to hold or evidence specific levels of insurance prior to contract award. Any insurance requirements will be confirmed prior to contract commencement and set out in the procurement documents. The final legal and financial capacity conditions will be specified in the procurement documents and applied in a manner consistent with the Procurement Act 2023.

The National Oceanography Centre intends to apply proportionate technical ability conditions of participation that are appropriate to the nature, complexity and regulatory requirements of external financial audit and funding assurance services. Conditions of participation may include requirements for bidders to demonstrate relevant technical experience in delivering external financial audit and grant or programme assurance services to public sector, publicly funded, or comparable organisations. Where reference is made to specific professional qualifications, standards, frameworks or regulatory requirements, the National Oceanography Centre will accept equivalent qualifications, standards or frameworks that demonstrate an equivalent level of technical competence, professional assurance and regulatory compliance. Bidders may be required to demonstrate experience through proportionate evidence such as descriptions of relevant contracts, summaries of similar services delivered, and confirmation of access to suitably qualified and experienced personnel. The final technical ability conditions of participation will be set out in the procurement documents and applied in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.