Provision of Internal Audit, Counter Fraud and Security Management Services for Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board

Concepts

• statutory audit
• basildon
• internal audit
• security management services
• south essex
• mid and south essex integrated care board
• counter fraud
• a new internal audit contract
• care
• board

Location

Mid and South Essex

Description

Following publication of a voluntary ex ante transparency notice on the 19th January and conclusion of the 10 days standstill period the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board's (hereinafter referred to as "the Authority") is to award a contract (for reasons of extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseeable by the Authority), to award a contract for Internal Audit, Counter Fraud and Security Management Services under Regulation 32 (2) (c) to TIAA Limited for a period of 24 months commencing 1st April 2024 with the option to extend for a further 12 months. The Authority have observed a 10-day standstill from the date of publication of the VEAT.

Total Quantity or Scope

The Authority is in a position where they need to secure a new Internal Audit contract from 1st April 24. There is a desire to work with existing system partners within the ICS given the strategic direction for the ICB and collaborative partners within the system. However, at this time the collaborative approach has not been possible or economically viable. Given the existing provider has notified the ICB of risks to ongoing effective delivery/performance of this statutory service, and significantly reduced service is being proposed in order to cover basics (keeping ICB safe), the ICB can rely on Regulation 32 (2) (c) "insofar as is strictly necessary where, for reasons of extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseeable by the contracting authority, the time limits for the open or restricted procedures or competitive procedures with negotiation cannot be complied with."

Award Detail

Renewal Options

Within the VEAT narrative allows for an additional 12 month extension.

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 79212300 - Statutory audit services

Indicators

• Options are available.
• Award on basis of price.

Legal Justification

Existing provider has reduced inadvertently cut back their resources due to financial climate which has had a major negative impact on their internal audit service delivered to the authority, creating a situation where there is not the workforce to deliver a robust / satisfactory internal audit. The incumbent has confirmed they are unable to continue with the contract post the natural contract expiry (31st March 2024). In the interim the incumbent has sought additional capacity from elsewhere, and an agreement has been made by the incumbent and the authority's existing contract) to continue with the remainder of the contract term on this basis, but with a significantly reduced scope of service, focusing on those crucial audits required in Q3 particularly, to keep the authority safe. The Authority is in a position where they need to secure a new Internal Audit contract from 1st April 24. There is a desire to work with existing system partners within the ICS given the strategic direction for the ICB and collaborative partners within the system. However, at this time the collaborative approach has not been possible or economically viable. Given the existing provider has notified the ICB of risks to ongoing effective delivery/performance of this statutory service, and significantly reduced service is being proposed in order to cover basics (keeping ICB safe), the ICB can rely on Regulation 32 (2) (c) "insofar as is strictly necessary where, for reasons of extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseeable by the contracting authority, the time limits for the open or restricted procedures or competitive procedures with negotiation cannot be complied with." The ICB published a VEAT to provide information and has waited until the 10 day standstill has concluded and will now conclude the award of contract.