Commercial Assurance Contract Audit

Description

Procurement Scope: This notice seeks expressions of interest for establishing a framework agreement to cover Yorkshire Water's (YWS) requirements of third-party consultancy services to provide forensic auditing of commercial contracts. This framework aims to provide forensic auditing of commercial contracts to identify financial inefficiencies and unlock opportunities for significant financial gains. The risk-based audits focus on ensuring contract compliance and cost assurance, identifying cost recoveries, and recommending contract improvements. The framework will have an initial term of three years, with the option to extend for up to two additional years, followed by an optional one-year extension (3 + 2 + 1). Procurement Process: Expression of Interest (EOI) Interested parties must submit a notification of their intent to participate via e-mail to Maria Fe Arimana at maria.fe-arimana@yorkshirewater.co.uk Selection Questionnaire (SQ) YWS will issue a pre-qualification Selection Questionnaire via SAP Ariba to assess suppliers against key technical, financial, and compliance criteria. Suppliers must be registered on SAP Ariba to respond. Suppliers that fail to meet the minimum criteria can be excluded from the tender process. Invitation to Tender (ITT) Qualified bidders will proceed to the ITT stage, where commercial and technical submissions will be evaluated based on predefined criteria. This stage also includes contractual compliance. Evaluation and Award Successful suppliers will be awarded a place in the framework based on the most economically advantageous tender (MEAT), balancing cost, quality, and compliance. Additional Notes: Any estimated values or volumes provided are indicative only. Yorkshire Water reserves the right to adjust its requirements during the framework's duration. YWS reserves the right to cancel or amend this procurement process at its discretion without liability. Securing a place on the framework does not guarantee work. Lot 1: CAPEX (capital, excluding Alliance Contracts) To review contract and cost compliance for Capital contracts (typically NEC), identify value leakage, cost overruns, overpayments, and strengthen contracts for better cost control in non-alliance projects. This lot has a total estimated value (excluding VAT) of £900k, £150k annually. Additional information: This proposed lot structure is indicative and may be refined during the Invitation to Tender (ITT) stage based on market feedback and Yorkshire Water's requirements. Final lot arrangements will be confirmed in the tender documentation issued to qualified suppliers after the Selection Questionnaire (SQ) stage. Lot 2: Alliance Contracts To review contract and cost compliance, identify value leakage, cost overruns, and support the year end close out and annual financial reconciliation process. This lot has a total estimated value (excluding VAT) of £600k, £100k annually. Additional information: This proposed lot structure is indicative and may be refined during the Invitation to Tender (ITT) stage based on market feedback and Yorkshire Water's requirements. Final lot arrangements will be confirmed in the tender documentation issued to qualified suppliers after the Selection Questionnaire (SQ) stage. Lot 3: OPEX To review contract and cost compliance for operational spending, identifying value leakage, inefficiencies, overpayments, and recommending process improvements to enhance value recovery. This lot has a total estimated value (excluding VAT) of £900k, £150k annually. Additional information: This proposed lot structure is indicative and may be refined during the Invitation to Tender (ITT) stage based on market feedback and Yorkshire Water's requirements. Final lot arrangements will be confirmed in the tender documentation issued to qualified suppliers after the Selection Questionnaire (SQ) stage.