National Audit Office: External Quality Reviews

UK-Victoria: Research and development services and related consultancy services.
Section I: Contracting Authority
      I.1) Name and addresses
             National Audit Office (NAO)
             157-197 Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria, SW1W 9SP, United Kingdom
             Tel. +44 2077987000, Email: nao.procurement@nao.org.uk
             Contact: Central Procurement Team
             Main Address: https://www.nao.org.uk
             NUTS Code: UKI
      I.2) Joint procurement
      The contract involves joint procurement: No.
      In the case of joint procurement involving different countries, state applicable national procurement law: Not provided       
      The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body: No.
      I.3) Communication
      The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Victoria:-Research-and-development-services-and-related-consultancy-services./4KUXAM578J
      Additional information can be obtained from: the abovementioned address
      Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to the abovementioned address       
      Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at: Not provided
      I.4) Type of the contracting authority
            Other type:: Body governed by public law
      I.5) Main activity
            Other activity:

Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
      II.1.1) Title: External Quality Reviews       
      Reference Number: GEN_22_102
      II.1.2) Main CPV Code:
      73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services.

      II.1.3) Type of contract: SERVICES
      II.1.4) Short description: As part of its quality assurance arrangements the NAO commissions independent quality assurance reviews of the technical rigour, methodological robustness, quality of argumentation and presentation of evidence in its published non-financial audit and VFM reports. Examples of reports are available on our website www.nao.org.uk. The NAO requires the following quality reviews to be carried out: A total of 20 reviews per year of individual NAO products (number to be shared between the successful suppliers) and a summary organisational review annually. The NAO intends to award two or three contracts for this quality assurance work, the exact allocation of which products to be reviewed will be at the discretion of the NAO.       
      II.1.5) Estimated total value:
      Value excluding VAT: 600,000       
      Currency: GBP
      II.1.6) Information about lots:
      This contract is divided into lots: No       
   
II.2) Description
      
      II.2.2) Additional CPV codes:
      Not Provided       
      II.2.3) Place of performance:
      UKI LONDON
      
      II.2.4) Description of procurement: As part of its quality assurance arrangements the NAO commissions independent quality assurance reviews of the technical rigour, methodological robustness, quality of argumentation and presentation of evidence in its VFM reports and other publications. Examples of reports are available on our website www.nao.org.uk. The range and variety of types of our outputs is continually evolving. The NAO continues to develop the range of products that it produces in order meet the needs of Parliament, and to make best use of its knowledge. Over the period of the contract, further changes to the style, content and structure of reports may be made and service providers will need to engage with the NAO in order to respond to changes to criteria. The NAO requires the following quality reviews to be carried out: • a total of 20 reviews per year of individual NAO products (number to be shared between the successful suppliers). Reviews of individual NAO products - these reviews generate a written report, commenting against an agreed set of criteria, within four weeks from receipt by you of an electronic version of the NAO draft report. The NAO intends to award two or three contracts for this quality assurance work, the exact allocation of which products to be reviewed will be at the discretion of the NAO. Each contract will consist of product reviews of 6-10 (depending on number of successful suppliers, minimum of 2, maximum of 3 suppliers) published non financial audit products per year, plus or minus 1, within four weeks of receiving each one, using an agreed set of evaluative criteria. In addition each contractor will be expected to complete an overall organisational review every year based on what they have learnt and seen in the NAO’s work. The Contractor will be required to conduct reviews of individual NAO products working to an agreed set of evaluative criteria and to discuss conclusions of the reviews with NAO study teams and senior staff as required.
      II.2.5) Award criteria:
            Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents            
      II.2.6) Estimated value:
      Value excluding VAT: Not provided       
      Currency: Not provided       
      II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system:
      Duration in months: 72       
      This contract is subject to renewal: Yes       
      Description of renewals: This is an ongoing requirement for the NAO and we will consider our procurement options for retendering or extending the contract in advance of the expiry of the initial contract period ( 3 years).
      
      II.2.10) Information about variants:
      Variants will be accepted: No
      II.2.11) Information about options:
      Options:       No             
      Description of options: Not provided
      II.2.12) Information about electronic catalogues:
      Tenders must be presented in the form of electronic catalogues or include an electronic catalogue: No
      II.2.13) Information about European Union funds:
      The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No       
      Identification of the project: Not provided             
      II.2.14) Additional information: Not provided       


Section III: Legal, Economic, Financial And Technical Information
   III.1) Conditions for participation
      III.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
      List and brief description of conditions:          
      Not Provided       
      III.1.2) Economic and financial standing       
      List and brief description of selection criteria:       
      Not Provided    
      Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required (if applicable) :       
      Not Provided    
      III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
      List and brief description of selection criteria:       
      Not Provided      
      Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required (if applicable) :          
      Not Provided   
      III.1.5) Information about reserved contracts (if applicable)   
      The contract is reserved to sheltered workshops and economic operators aiming at the social and professional integration of disabled or disadvantaged persons: No       
      The execution of the contract is restricted to the framework of sheltered employment programmes: No    
      
   III.2) Conditions related to the contract
      III.2.1) Information about a particular profession    
      Reference to the relevant law, regulation or administrative provision:          
      Not Provided    
      III.2.2) Contract performance conditions          
      Not Provided          
      III.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: No

Section IV: Procedure
   IV.1) Description OPEN
      IV.1.1) Type of procedure: Open   
   
   IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system    
         The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement - NO    
         In the case of framework agreements justification for any duration exceeding 4 years: Not Provided    
   
   
   IV.1.6) Information about electronic auction:
      An electronic auction will be used: No
      Additional information about electronic auction: Not provided
   IV.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
      The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes       
   IV.2) Administrative information
      IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure:
         Notice number in the OJ S: 2023/S 000 - 000404       
      IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
       Date: 16/03/2023 Time: 12:00
            
      IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: English,       
      IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender: Not Provided      
      IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders:
         Date: 16/03/2023
         Time: 12:00
      

Section VI: Complementary Information
   VI.1) Information about recurrence
   This is a recurrent procurement: Yes    
   Estimated timing for further notices to be published: 2028
   VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
   Electronic ordering will be used No       
   Electronic invoicing will be accepted No       
   Electronic payment will be used No       
   VI.3) Additional Information: The contracting authority considers that this contract may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement.
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Victoria:-Research-and-development-services-and-related-consultancy-services./4KUXAM578J

To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/4KUXAM578J
   VI.4) Procedures for review
   VI.4.1) Review body:
             National Audit Office
       London, United Kingdom
   VI.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures:
Not provided
   VI.4.3) Review procedure
   Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:    
    Not Provided    
   VI.4.4) Service from which information about the lodging of appeals may be obtained:
Not provided
   VI.5) Date Of Dispatch Of This Notice: 09/02/2023

Annex A