Audit and Assurance Services Two (A&AS2)

Central government and wider public sector can access cost effective audit and assurance services from a range of suppliers across 4 specific lots. This agreement was awarded under PCR 2015.

Updates

The  RM6310 (A&AS2) Audit and Assurance Services 2 customer launch events will be held on:

Wednesday 20 August 11am to 12pm

Tuesday 26 August 2pm to 3pm

These events we will cover:

  • key information on the agreement
  • how to use the agreement
  • support available

Register your interest with your public sector email address on Eventbrite. After you register a diary invitation with the joining instructions will be emailed. Microsoft Teams will be the platform used on the day.

This is a customer only event. If you are not a CCS customer or use a personal email address to register you will not be admitted.

Description

You can access the following services through this agreement:

  • Internal audit and assurance
  • External audit
  • Counter fraud and investigation 
  • Other independent assurance

For a more detailed description of the service lines provided under each lot, read the lot description document.

This agreement will run for 4 years and there will be no option to extend.

Benefits

  • a new agreement designed to provide audit and assurance services
  • wide range of suppliers from SMEs to large multinationals
  • all suppliers are Cyber Essentials accredited
  • terms and conditions specifically adapted for the audit market
  • competitive market rates
  • comprehensive customer guidance and templates
  • choice of pricing models including: time and materials, fixed, or risk and reward
  • dedicated and knowledgeable contract management team to support you

Carbon Reduction

All suppliers have committed to comply with Procurement Policy Note 006, 'Taking account of Carbon Reduction Plans in the procurement of major government contracts' as required. If a supplier is required to publish a carbon reduction plan, you can find it on their individual supplier details page.

Products and suppliers

There are 51 suppliers on this agreement

Lot 1: Internal audit and assurance

Expires:

35 suppliers

Lot 2: External audit

Expires:

19 suppliers

Lot 3: Counter-fraud and investigation

Expires:

28 suppliers

Lot 4: Other independent assurance

Expires:

40 suppliers

How to buy

Before using this agreement, you will need to read the buyer guide.

Further competition is the standard route to market under this agreement.

Further Competition

You can use your own eSourcing system or you can use Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS’) eSourcing portal to run your further competition. If this is your first time using CCS’ eSourcing suite, you will need to register an account.

To run a further competition you will need to:

  1. Define your needs using the T2 attachment 3 Statement of requirements template.
  2. Read lot descriptions to identify which lot is best for your needs.
  3. Develop your tender documents.
  4. Use the service line matrix to find suppliers that meet your needs. 
  5. Set up timescales for your buying. 
  6. Issue expression of interest (EOI). This is optional. 
  7. Give tender to all agreement suppliers using the service line matrix. 
  8. Assess supplier responses.
  9. Award a contract to the successful supplier or suppliers and notify unsuccessful suppliers.
  10. You can include a 10 day standstill period before award. This is optional.

Direct award

Direct award is allowed under specific circumstances. Get legal advice to ensure direct award is the right approach. It is your responsibility to justify this route to market. 

For more details, read the Framework schedule 7 – Call-off award procedure.

Call-off agreement

When awarding a contract, you should fill out a Framework schedule 6: Call-off Order Form or Framework Schedule 6a: Short Order Form.

As the buyer you need to decide which order form is best for your call-off contract.

Use Framework schedule 6: Call-off order form if you need to amend the standard PSC or where your requirement is expected to be £5 million or more. For information on completing the call-off order form and schedules read how to use contractual documents.

Framework schedule 6a: Short order form should be used for simple requirements under the value of £5 million, including extensions.

CCS has included a number of schedules that may apply to orders placed using the short order form, read the ‘order form guide’ for more information. 

Agreement pricing request

Pricing is available upon request by emailing CCS on info@crowncommercial.gov.uk.

Documents