By
30th Mar 2021

We are delighted that CPC’s new and improved Audit Services framework agreement has been of interest to so many of our members since its launch in December 2020.

The new framework is split into 12 regional lots for both Internal and External Audit Services with a national lot for those large college groups or Multi Academy Trusts, that cover more than 1 region.  Forty four educational institutions so far, from primary schools to further education colleges, have chosen the framework as their route to market for Audit Services.

Milton Keynes Education Trust took advantage of the framework in March 2021 to appoint an internal auditor and rated the framework 5 stars recommending using the framework agreement to others.

The framework agreement covers all the requirements outlined in the Statements of Recommended Practice (SORP), Post-16 Audit Code of Practice and the Academies Financial Handbook 2019. Utilising it will ensure that you are covered by any future conditions imposed by the UK Government, funding bodies, Department for Education and other relevant bodies.

Use either the CPC Quote Tool or Sourcing Cloud portal (depending on the value of your contract) to issue your invitation to the framework suppliers and to get access to the competitive terms agreed under this framework.

Your further competition documentation, should as a minimum set out:

  • The Quote ID Reference
  • Details of your audit requirements
  • Call-off conditions (with any CPC member amendments to the standard framework call-off conditions highlighted)
  • A deadline for the submission of tenders (minimum of two weeks is recommended, ideally three or four weeks for suppliers respond)
  • The further competition award criteria and the manner in which the criteria will be applied.

A further competition template is provided in the user guide for this framework agreement for ease of use.

Should you need to tender for either internal or external audit services, please visit the dedicated Audit Services framework page or contact the framework Contract Manager Ria Logan on [email protected]  or 0161 974 0955 for more information.