CONTRACT NOTICE – NATIONAL

1 Authority Details

1.1

Authority Name and Address

1.2

Address from which documentation may be obtained

As in 1.1

1.3

Completed documents must be returned to:

2 Contract Details

2.1

Title

Gwasanaethau Archwilio Mewnol S4C Internal Audit Services

2.2

Description of the goods or services required

S4C is the only Welsh language television channel in the world and one of the five UK public service television broadcasters. It is an independent broadcasting authority established under the Broadcasting Act 1981, and is regulated by the Communications Act 2003 and the Broadcasting Act 1990.

S4C provides a wide range of diverse, high quality programmes. The channel broadcasts over 115 hours of Welsh language programmes each week. S4C's programmes are available to watch live on S4C's website via broadband and the on-demand viewing service on the s4c.cymru website, via the BBC iPlayer and on YouView, smart TV, Sky, Freeview and a number of other platforms.

From April 2022 onwards, all of S4C’s public funding will provided by the licence fee – the value of which is set by the Department for Media, Culture and Sport (DCMS). S4C generates additional income through commercial activities and advertising. In addition, the BBC provides an average of 10 hours per week of Welsh language programming to S4C, funded by the BBC’s own public funding via the licence fee.

The scope of work under the contract for the Internal Auditing Services shall include an audit of the financial and other records and processes for an initial three year period commencing with the reporting year 2022/23, in accordance with a work schedule agreed with the Committee.

We estimate that the number of days required to fulfil the service would be approximately 25 days per annum (including planning and administration).

The majority of the documentation relating to the audit services is available in Welsh only. The Tenderer will therefore need to ensure and demonstrate adequate linguistic abilities in its application.

S4C has a duty to ensure that there is no direct or indirect subsidy of its commercial activities from the Public Service Fund. It is also required to deal separately with the Public Service Fund and the General Fund, submissions should, therefore, indicate the Tenderer’s proposals for reflecting these requirements in the arrangements governing the internal audit function.

The successful Tenderer will be expected to make an initial risk assessment and to draw up a new three-year audit plan during the first year of the new contract.

The Tenderer should explain how it will communicate with the National Audit Office, as S4C's external auditors, and confirm that it will allow them unrestricted access to its working papers.

NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=116867.

2.3

Notice Coding and Classification

2.4

Total quantity or scope of tender

The contract will be for an initial period of three years.

3 Conditions for Participation

3.1

Minimum standards and qualification required

Tenders are invited from economic operators which are able to demonstrate experience of successfully providing internal auditing services.

4 Administrative Information

4.1

Type of Procedure

Single stage

4.2

Reference number attributed to the notice by the contracting authority

N/a

4.3

Time Limits

4.5

Language or languages in which tenders or requests to participate can be drawn up

4.6

Tender Submission Postbox

5 Other Information

5.1

Additional Information

S4C shall not be bound to accept any tender and reserves the right: a) to withdraw from and/or abandon and/or defer this procurement at any time; and/or b) not to award any contract as a result of this procurement.

For further information concerning S4C's requirements and this tender process please refer to the Invitation to Tender a copy of which can be obtained via the S4C website (www.S4C.co.uk) by clicking on "tenders" and following the link.

Economic operators wishing to participate in this tender must obtain and complete the Invitation to Tender. Applications not submitted in accordance with the Invitation to Tender will not be considered.

S4C reserves the right not to proceed with the award of this contract at any stage of the tendering process and not to accept any tenders submitted.

Freedom of Information

S4C is subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“FOI Act”). Information supplied by any economic operator to S4C may be disclosable by S4C under the provisions of the FOI Act. If any economic operator considers that any information supplied by it to S4C pursuant to this contract notice is commercially sensitive or confidential in nature, this should be highlighted explicitly and the reasons for sensitivity set out in full in the expression of interest. This will enable S4C to take account of such sensitivity or confidentiality in deciding whether to release the information in response to freedom of information requests. However, economic operators accept that S4C may disclose such information in response to any request under the FOI Act if S4C determines that it is appropriate to do so.

Data Protection

By submitting a tender response, Tenderers confirm that they have informed all individuals identified in the tender submission that they will share their personal data in this way. Tenderers acknowledge that S4C will process all personal data provided as part of the tender response in accordance with applicable data protection legislation (including the General Data Protection Regulation 2016 and the Data Protection Act 2018). The S4C Privacy Notice is available on www.s4c.cymru and Tenderers hereby confirm that they will notify all individuals whose personal data is provided to S4C. S4C will process any personal data provided in tender responses on the basis that it is in the Tenderer’s and S4C’s legitimate interests to process all personal data provided as part of the tender response for the purpose of evaluating the tender response.

(WA Ref:116867)

The buyer considers that this contract is suitable for consortia bidding.

5.2

Additional Documentation

5.3

Publication date of this notice