National Audit Office: Provision of Legal Services - Local Public Audit Law

UK-Victoria: Legal services.
Section I: Contracting Authority
      I.1) Name and addresses
             National Audit Office
             157-197 Buckingham Palace Road, London, Victoria, SW1W 9SP, United Kingdom
             Tel. +44 2077987372, Email: NAO.Procurement@nao.org.uk
             Main Address: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/mainMenu.html
             NUTS Code: UK
      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:-Legal-services./6Z7AKSY7GV
      Additional information can be obtained from: the abovementioned address
      Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically via https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-title/6Z7AKSY7GV 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
            Body governed by public law
      I.5) Main activity
            Economic and financial affairs

Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
      II.1.1) Title: Provision of Legal Services - Local Public Audit Law       
      Reference Number: CPT_24_05_01
      II.1.2) Main CPV Code:
      79100000 - Legal services.

      II.1.3) Type of contract: SERVICES
      II.1.4) Short description: he National Audit Office is seeking to appoint an experienced advisor with a strong track record of providing local public audit legal services.

The maximum contract length is 6 years from 1 April 2025 until 31 March 2031 (4 years initial term and 2-year extension period). The estimated total contract value in this Notice is for the maximum duration of 6 years.

The tender document can be found on the NAO Delta e-sourcing portal : https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Victoria:-Legal-services./6Z7AKSY7GV

Access Code: 6Z7AKSY7GV       
      II.1.5) Estimated total value:
      Value excluding VAT: 450,000       
      Currency: GBP
      II.1.6) Information about lots:
      This contract is divided into lots: No       
   
II.2) Description
      
      II.2.2) Additional CPV codes:
      79110000 - Legal advisory and representation services.
      79111000 - Legal advisory services.
      79112000 - Legal representation services.
      79140000 - Legal advisory and information services.
      
      II.2.3) Place of performance:
      UK UNITED KINGDOM
      
      II.2.4) Description of procurement: The National Audit Office is seeking to appoint an experienced advisor with a strong track record of providing local public audit legal services.

The advisor will be expected to possess, and be able to demonstrate, authoritative knowledge of the UK public sector; the legal issues it faces and, where appropriate, how these affect the NAO in its capacity as the United Kingdom's principal public sector audit body.

This will include the provision of advice to audit teams, central support functions, senior NAO staff and the Comptroller and Auditor General as required. We are seeking to appoint an advisor who will work closely and collaboratively with us, while providing responsive, clear, independent and authoritative advice. This will include:

• supporting and advising on matters relating to the C&AG's Code of Audit Practice and guidance to local auditors;

• providing guidance and advice on all aspects of the local public audit regime in England;

• assisting the NAO in responding to queries from audit firms and other stakeholders on the interpretation of public law, audit law and the legal framework applicable to local public bodies; and

• advising on anticipated/actual changes in relevant primary and secondary legislation and regulations.
      II.2.5) Award criteria:
            Criteria below
            Quality criterion - Name: Competence / Weighting: 40
            Quality criterion - Name: Service Delivery / Weighting: 25
            Quality criterion - Name: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion / Weighting: 5
            Quality criterion - Name: Environmental Considerations / Weighting: 5
                        
            Cost criterion - Name: Price / Weighting: 25
                              
      II.2.6) Estimated value:
      Value excluding VAT: 450,000       
      Currency: GBP       
      II.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: Option to extend the contract by a further 2 years - total contract length 4+2
      
      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: To respond to this opportunity please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/6Z7AKSY7GV       


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          
      Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents       
      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    
      Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
      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: 2024/S 000 - 030497       
      IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
       Date: 10/12/2024 Time: 14:00
            
      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:
         Until: 09/04/2025
      
      IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders:
         Date: 10/12/2024
         Time: 14:00
      

Section VI: Complementary Information
   VI.1) Information about recurrence
   This is a recurrent procurement: No    
   Estimated timing for further notices to be published: Not provided
   VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
   Electronic ordering will be used Yes       
   Electronic invoicing will be accepted Yes       
   Electronic payment will be used Yes       
   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:-Legal-services./6Z7AKSY7GV

To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/6Z7AKSY7GV
   VI.4) Procedures for review
   VI.4.1) Review body:
             National Audit Office
       157-197 Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria, SW1W 9SP, United Kingdom
       Tel. +44 2077987372
   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: 05/11/2024

Annex A