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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Audit and Assurance Services Dynamic Purchasing System

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust · compiled

Tender information last checkedLast checked 29 Sept 2026, 18:37.

Opportunity overview

The DPS includes all forms of independent audit for UK public sector bodies, including statutory external audit requirements. Also in scope are are governance requirements including counter-fraud services and other independent assurance such as: • Assurance over non-financial information including but not limited to strategy, risk and corporate governance • Assurance over KPIs including but not limited to environmental reporting, sustainability reporting and workforce reporting • Compliance monitoring and risk management • Grant funding assurance including but not limited to programme reviews and impact assessments • Service auditor reports including but not limited to ISAE 3402 standards • Special purpose reviews and investigations • Tax compliance • Third party risk management including supply chain assurance • Well led governance reviews • Workforce audit services including but not limited to temporary, fixed term or permanent staffing (clinical and non-clinical)

Awarded to

Amounts belong to published awards or contracts. Where several suppliers share one value, it is labelled as shared and is not a supplier-specific allocation.

AZETS HOLDINGS LIMITED

Match pending…
Contract value
£557.5k
Awarded
Not supplied
Contract signed
31 Jan 2023
Award ID
007150-2023-1
Status
active
Location
WALSALL, UKH, WS4 2LA, United Kingdom

Classification

  • CPV79200000 — Accounting, auditing and fiscal services
  • CPV79000000 — Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
  • CPV79212000 — Auditing services
  • CPV79212200 — Internal audit services
  • CPV79212300 — Statutory audit services
  • CPV79212400 — Fraud audit services
  • CPV79700000 — Investigation and security services

Lots

  • The Trust wishes to agree a contract for external audit services covering the next three years from 2022/23 to 2024/2025 with the possibility to extend for a further two years beyond that. Included in the tender response should be an indicative plan for Year 1.<br/><br/>The auditor will be required to meet all requirements, including but not limited to, the accounting and reporting requirements as set out in the Comptroller and Auditor General’s Code of Audit Practice which applies for 2020-21 audits and beyond – The Audit Office Code of Audit Practice (the code), the NHS Foundation Trust Code of Governance (updated July 2014), the NHS Foundation Trust Annual Reporting Manual and the National Health Service Act 2006 as amended.Value not stated
  • Lot 1 Core Services • Advice on governance, risk management and controls including but not limited to o IT o Finance o Human resources; and o Facilities management • Benchmarking and quality assurance review of internal audit performance including external quality assessment • Development of internal audit strategy and/or methodologies • Outsourced, co-sourced or one-off internal audit services£2m
  • Lot 2 Core Services • External statutory audit to provide an independent assessment of financial statements • Advice on financial statements and related documents • Grant audits and certification£2m
  • Lot 3 Core Services • Advice and/or assessment of: o fraud awareness training and/or changes to legislation o fraud risk plan and/or support in improving risk management o fraud prevention and detection strategy o whistleblowing policies and procedures o approach to proactive testing in high risk areas • Fraud risk assessment and fraud maturity matrix • Use of technology including but not limited to data analytics to support the delivery of proactive counter-fraud services including fraud detection • Counter-fraud investigation Optional non-core Services in addition to the Core Services: • Corporate intelligence techniques • Financial irregularity investigations • Investigation of non-financial irregularities incl. regulatory breaches & misconduct • Investigation of suspected fraud, bribery or corruption • Investigation of whistleblower allegations and tip offs • Forensic extraction and review of structured and unstructured digital evidence • Support to deliver criminal investigations in counter-fraud including capability to conduct interviews that are compliant with police & criminal evidence legislation • Expert witness services • Use of data analytical technology tools and techniques to investigate fraud • Upskilling of new technology and techniques of fraud detection£2m
  • Lot 4 Core Services • Assurance over non-financial information including but not limited to strategy, risk and corporate governance • Assurance over KPIs including but not limited to environmental reporting, sustainability reporting and workforce reporting • Compliance monitoring and risk management • Grant funding assurance including but not limited to programme reviews and impact assessments • Service auditor reports including but not limited to ISAE 3402 standards • Special purpose reviews and investigations • Tax compliance • Third party risk management including supply chain assurance • Well led governance reviews • Workforce audit services including but not limited to temporary, fixed term or permanent staffing (clinical and non-clinical)£2m

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
ocds-h6vhtk-0290d7
Status
complete
Has Recurrence
No
Procurement Method
open
Main Procurement Category
services
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure

Covered By

GPA

Amendments

Entry 1
Id
1

Unstructured Changes

Entry 1

Where

Section
V.2.3

New Value

Text
Azets Audit Services LimitedHSBC Bank plc130 New StreetBirminghamB2 4JU

Old Value

Text
AZETS HOLDINGS LIMITED20 Hatherton StreetWALSALLWS4 2LA
Entry 2
Id
2
Description
Awarded Supplier Name and Address Changed fromAZETS HOLDINGS LIMITED20 Hatherton StreetWALSALLWS4 2LAAwarded Supplier Name and address changed toAzets Audit Services Limited2nd Floor Regis House45 King William StreetLondonEnglandEC4R 9AN
Entry 3
Id
3

Unstructured Changes

Entry 1

Where

Section
II.1.5

New Value

Text
Value excluding VAT: £26,000,000

Old Value

Text
Value excluding VAT: £2,000,000
Entry 2
Related Lot
2

Where

Section
II.2.6

New Value

Text
Value excluding VAT: £20,000,000

Old Value

Text
Value excluding VAT: £2,000,000
Entry 3

Where

Section
IV.2.2

New Value

Date
21 Mar 2025

Old Value

Date
8 Mar 2021
Entry 4
Id
4

Unstructured Changes

Entry 1

Where

Section
II.2.5

New Value

Text
Value excluding VAT: £40,000,000

Old Value

Text
Value excluding VAT: £26,000,000
Entry 2
Related Lot
2

Where

Section
II.2.6

New Value

Text
Value excluding VAT: £34,000,000

Old Value

Text
Value excluding VAT: £20,000,000
Entry 3
Related Lot
1

Where

Section
II.2.7

New Value

Text
Duration in months 95

Old Value

Text
Duration in months 48
Entry 4
Related Lot
2

Where

Section
II.2.7

New Value

Text
Duration in months 95

Old Value

Text
Duration in months 48
Entry 5
Related Lot
3

Where

Section
II.2.7

New Value

Text
Duration in months 95

Old Value

Text
Duration in months 48
Entry 6
Related Lot
4

Where

Section
II.2.7

New Value

Text
Duration in months 95

Old Value

Text
Duration in months 48
Entry 7

Where

Section
IV.1.3

New Value

Text
The period of validity of the DPS will be extended by up to an additional 47 months, subject to the DPS ending no later than midnight at the end of 23rd February 2029.

Old Value

Entry 8

Where

Section
IV.2.2

New Value

Date
23 Feb 2029

Old Value

Date
21 Mar 2025
Entry 5
Id
5
Description
We have transitioned to the Atamis e-tendering portal. Future applications will have to be made through that system. I have enclosed a link to Atamis, and their User Guide. https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome User Guide: https://services.atamis.co.uk/docs/Supplier_User_Guide.pdf

Unstructured Changes

Entry 1

Where

Section
VI.3

New Value

Text
Supplier instructions how to express interest and bid: 1) Browse to the esourcing portal https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome and click on view Live Opportunities 2) Register your organisation on the eSourcing portal (this is only required once); 3) Accept the portal terms and conditions and click 'continue', enter your organisation and user details; note the username you chose and click 'Save' when complete; you will shortly receive an e-mail with your unique password (please keep this secure); 4) Login to the portal with the username/password; 5) Search for the relevant PQQ; 6) Select the title of the PQQ; 7) Click the 'Express Interest' button at the top of the page. You can now access the PQQ Application Documents from the relevant envelope; 8) Review the PQQ documents; 9) Responding to the PQQ. You can choose to 'Create Response' or to 'Decline to Respond' (please give a reason if declining). You can now use the messages function to communicate with the buyer and seek any clarification. Note the deadline for completion, then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the PQQ. There may be a mixture of online and offline actions for you to perform (there is detailed online help available). You must then submit your reply using the 'Submit Response' button at the top of the page. If you require any further assistance please consult the online help, or contact the eTendering help desk.

Old Value

Text
How to express interest and apply to this DPS: 1) browse to the esourcing portal https://www.nhssourcing.co.uk and click on view current opportunities. 2) select the title of the DPS. 3) review the Introduction and instructions, outline specification, pre-requisites and list of eligible users (you may do this without registering). 4) register your organisation on the eSourcing portal (this is only required once). 5) accept the portal terms and conditions and click ‘continue’, enter your organisation and user details; note the username you chose and click ‘Save’ when complete. You will shortly receive an email with your unique password (please keep this secure). 6) login to the portal with the username/password. 7) click the ‘PQQs/ITTs Open To All Suppliers’ link. (These are pre-qualification questionnaires or invitations to tender open to any registered supplier). 8) click on the relevant PQQ/ITT to access the content. 9) click the ‘Express Interest’ button at the top of the page. This will move the PQQ/ITT into your ‘My PQQs/My ITTs’ page. (This is a secure area reserved for your projects only). You can now access any attachments by clicking ‘Buyer Attachments’ in the ‘PQQ/ITT Details’ box. 10) Responding to the PQQ. Click ‘My Response’ under ‘PQQ/ITT Details’, you can choose to ‘Create Response’ or to ‘Decline to Respond’ (please give a reason if declining). You can now use the messages function to communicate with the buyer and seek any clarification. Note the deadline for completion, then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the PQQ. There may be a mixture of online and offline actions for you to perform (there is detailed online help available). You must then submit your reply using the ‘Submit Response’ button at the top of the page. If you require any further assistance please consult the online help, or contact the eTendering help desk.

Legal basis

Id
32014L0024
Scheme
CELEX

Lot Details

Maximum Lots Bid Per Supplier
9,999,999

Techniques

Has Electronic Auction
Yes
Has Dynamic Purchasing System
Yes

Electronic Auction

Description
Electronic auctions may be used in further competitions.

Dynamic Purchasing System

Type
open

Tender Period

Ends
8 Mar 2021, 23:59

Contract terms

Has Electronic Payment
Yes
Has Electronic Ordering
Yes
Electronic Invoicing Policy
allowed

Classification

Id
79200000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Accounting, auditing and fiscal services

Submission terms

Languages

en

Submission Method

electronicSubmission
written

Selection criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
suitability
Description
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents

Applies To

supplier

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
Lot 1 Internal audit & assurance
Status
active
Has Options
No
Has Renewal
No
Description
Lot 1 Core Services • Advice on governance, risk management and controls including but not limited to o IT o Finance o Human resources; and o Facilities management • Benchmarking and quality assurance review of internal audit performance including external quality assessment • Development of internal audit strategy and/or methodologies • Outsourced, co-sourced or one-off internal audit services

Value

Amount
2,000,000
Currency
GBP

Contract period

Duration In Days
1,440

Submission terms

Variant Policy
allowed
Entry 2
Id
Lot 2 External audit
Status
active
Has Options
No
Has Renewal
No
Description
Lot 2 Core Services • External statutory audit to provide an independent assessment of financial statements • Advice on financial statements and related documents • Grant audits and certification

Value

Amount
2,000,000
Currency
GBP

Contract period

Duration In Days
1,440

Submission terms

Variant Policy
allowed
Entry 3
Id
Lot 3 Counter-fraud & investigation
Status
active
Has Options
No
Has Renewal
No
Description
Lot 3 Core Services • Advice and/or assessment of: o fraud awareness training and/or changes to legislation o fraud risk plan and/or support in improving risk management o fraud prevention and detection strategy o whistleblowing policies and procedures o approach to proactive testing in high risk areas • Fraud risk assessment and fraud maturity matrix • Use of technology including but not limited to data analytics to support the delivery of proactive counter-fraud services including fraud detection • Counter-fraud investigation Optional non-core Services in addition to the Core Services: • Corporate intelligence techniques • Financial irregularity investigations • Investigation of non-financial irregularities incl. regulatory breaches & misconduct • Investigation of suspected fraud, bribery or corruption • Investigation of whistleblower allegations and tip offs • Forensic extraction and review of structured and unstructured digital evidence • Support to deliver criminal investigations in counter-fraud including capability to conduct interviews that are compliant with police & criminal evidence legislation • Expert witness services • Use of data analytical technology tools and techniques to investigate fraud • Upskilling of new technology and techniques of fraud detection

Value

Amount
2,000,000
Currency
GBP

Contract period

Duration In Days
1,440

Submission terms

Variant Policy
allowed
Entry 4
Id
Lot 4 Other independent assurance
Status
active
Has Options
No
Has Renewal
No
Description
Lot 4 Core Services • Assurance over non-financial information including but not limited to strategy, risk and corporate governance • Assurance over KPIs including but not limited to environmental reporting, sustainability reporting and workforce reporting • Compliance monitoring and risk management • Grant funding assurance including but not limited to programme reviews and impact assessments • Service auditor reports including but not limited to ISAE 3402 standards • Special purpose reviews and investigations • Tax compliance • Third party risk management including supply chain assurance • Well led governance reviews • Workforce audit services including but not limited to temporary, fixed term or permanent staffing (clinical and non-clinical)

Value

Amount
2,000,000
Currency
GBP

Contract period

Duration In Days
1,440

Submission terms

Variant Policy
allowed
Entry 5
Id
1
Status
cancelled
Has Options
No
Description
The Trust wishes to agree a contract for external audit services covering the next three years from 2022/23 to 2024/2025 with the possibility to extend for a further two years beyond that. Included in the tender response should be an indicative plan for Year 1.<br/><br/>The auditor will be required to meet all requirements, including but not limited to, the accounting and reporting requirements as set out in the Comptroller and Auditor General’s Code of Audit Practice which applies for 2020-21 audits and beyond – The Audit Office Code of Audit Practice (the code), the NHS Foundation Trust Code of Governance (updated July 2014), the NHS Foundation Trust Annual Reporting Manual and the National Health Service Act 2006 as amended.

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
price

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
Lot 1 Internal audit & assurance
Related Lot
Lot 1 Internal audit & assurance

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UK

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
79212200
Scheme
CPV
Description
Internal audit services
Item 2
Id
Lot 2 External audit
Related Lot
Lot 2 External audit

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UK

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
79212000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Auditing services
Entry 2
Id
79212300
Scheme
CPV
Description
Statutory audit services
Item 3
Id
Lot 3 Counter-fraud & investigation
Related Lot
Lot 3 Counter-fraud & investigation

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UK

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
79212400
Scheme
CPV
Description
Fraud audit services
Entry 2
Id
79700000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Investigation and security services
Item 4
Id
Lot 4 Other independent assurance
Related Lot
Lot 4 Other independent assurance

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UK

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
79000000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
Item 5
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKH12

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
79212300
Scheme
CPV
Description
Statutory audit services

Published documents

Entry 1
Id
economic
Document Type
economicSelectionCriteria
Entry 2
Id
technical
Document Type
technicalSelectionCriteria

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Id
GB-FTS-4643
Name
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Roles

buyer

Address

Region
UKD63
Locality
Chester
Postal Code
CH2 1UL
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Liverpool Road

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Id
MINISTRY
Scheme
TED_CA_TYPE
Description
Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions
Entry 2
Id
07
Scheme
COFOG
Description
Health

Identifier

Legal Name
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Contact

Organisation 2
Id
GB-FTS-4644
Name
The eligible users of the proposed dynamic purchasing system are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: www.nhssourcing.co.uk

Roles

buyer

Address

Region
UK
Locality
UK
Country Name
United Kingdom

Details

Identifier

Legal Name
The eligible users of the proposed dynamic purchasing system are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: www.nhssourcing.co.uk

Contact

Organisation 3
Id
GB-FTS-92
Name
Royal Courts of Justice

Roles

reviewBody

Address

Locality
London
Country Name
United Kingdom

Identifier

Legal Name
Royal Courts of Justice
Organisation 4
Id
GB-FTS-77295
Name
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust

Roles

buyer

Address

Region
UKH12
Locality
Cambridge
Postal Code
CB21 5EF
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Elizabeth House, Fulbourn Hospital, Fulbourn

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Id
BODY_PUBLIC
Scheme
TED_CA_TYPE
Description
Body governed by public law
Entry 2
Id
07
Scheme
COFOG
Description
Health

Identifier

Legal Name
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust

Contact

Name
Katherine Jarvis
Telephone
+44 7507534437
Organisation 5
Id
GB-FTS-77296
Name
AZETS HOLDINGS LIMITED

Roles

supplier

Address

Region
UKH
Locality
WALSALL
Postal Code
WS4 2LA
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
20 Hatherton Street

Details

Scale
large

Identifier

Legal Name
AZETS HOLDINGS LIMITED

Contact

Organisation 6
Id
GB-FTS-72838
Name
NHS Shared Business Services Limited

Roles

reviewBody

Address

Locality
Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
Postal Code
HP2 7AH
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Three Cherry Tree Lane

Details

Identifier

Legal Name
NHS Shared Business Services Limited
Organisation 7
Id
GB-FTS-98511
Name
The eligible users of the proposed dynamic purchasing system are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://www.coch-cps.co.uk/

Roles

buyer

Address

Region
UK
Locality
UK
Country Name
United Kingdom

Details

Identifier

Legal Name
The eligible users of the proposed dynamic purchasing system are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://www.coch-cps.co.uk/

Contact

Organisation 8
Id
GB-FTS-136437
Name
The eligible users of the dynamic purchasing system are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://www.coch-cps.co.uk/

Roles

buyer

Address

Region
UK
Locality
UK
Country Name
United Kingdom

Details

Identifier

Legal Name
The eligible users of the dynamic purchasing system are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://www.coch-cps.co.uk/

Contact

Organisation 9
Id
GB-FTS-149626
Name
The eligible users of the proposed dynamic purchasing system are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://www.coch-cps.co.uk/frameworks/corporate-services/#DPS07

Roles

buyer

Address

Region
UK
Locality
UK
Country Name
United Kingdom

Details

Identifier

Legal Name
The eligible users of the proposed dynamic purchasing system are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://www.coch-cps.co.uk/frameworks/corporate-services/#DPS07

Contact

Award information

Award 1
Id
007150-2023-1
Status
active

Suppliers

Supplier 1
Id
GB-FTS-77296
Name
AZETS HOLDINGS LIMITED

Related lots

1

Contracts and changes

Entry 1
Id
007150-2023-1
Status
active
Award ID
007150-2023-1
Date Signed
31 Jan 2023, 00:00

Value

Amount
557,456.25
Currency
GBP

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Chester · UKD63 · CH2 1UL · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UK
  • Delivery location · UKH12

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. ocds-h6vhtk-0290d7-2025-05-29T10:42:25+01:00compiled ·