PCD 1411 Operation Northleigh – Request for Single Tender Action (STA) for Forensic Accountancy Support

PCD 1411 Operation Northleigh – Request for Single Tender Action (STA) for Forensic Accountancy Support

Forensic accountancy services are required to support a criminal investigation being undertaken by MPS Specialist Crime investigators.  

This decision seeks approval for a single tender action (STA) award to Quantuma Ltd for a contract worth c£150k. 

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to:   

1. Approve a Single Tender Action (STA) to award a contract for forensic accountancy services to Quantuma Ltd following a failed competitive procurement process. The estimated value of the contract requiring approval is £150k. 

1. Introduction and background  

1. The MPS Specialist Crime command require specialist forensic accountancy services as part of a criminal investigation.  The MPS does not have the required resources to undertake the enquiries and external services are required. 

2. Financial Comments  

1. The estimated budget for the required external forensic accountancy services is £150k. MPS have confirmed that funding is available to support this. 

3. Legal considerations  

1. As both bidder responses from the previous procurement  process have been rejected, there is latitude under Regulation 32(2)(a) of the 2015 Public Contract Regulations (PCR’s) to instigate the Negotiated Procedure Without Prior Publication (the Single Tender Action process) on the basis that no suitable tenders were submitted in response to a restricted tender process. 

2. The Mayor's Office for Policing Crime is a contracting authority as defined in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ("the Regulations").  All awards of public contracts for goods and/or services valued at £213,477 or above will be procured in accordance with the Regulations. This report confirms the value of the proposed contract is below this threshold. 

1. Paragraph 4.13 of the MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent provides the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime has delegated authority to approve all contract exemptions valued at £100,000 above.   

4. Commercial Issues  

1. In June 2022, the MPS engaged the National Crime Agency (NCA) to understand the forensic accountancy supply market. In October 2022, Quantuma were identified as a potential supplier based on their capability and capacity. 

2. A procurement process was undertaken utilising a Crown Commercial Services Framework for Audit and Assurance Services (comprising 10 suppliers). A mini-competition was published on 7th December 2022 with a response deadline of 6th January 2023. As of the tender closure date, the MPS received two bids, but neither could be taken forward.  

3. Following confirmation of the failed tender, MPS Commercial Services advised a suitable bidder identified through the earlier scoping exercise could be approached to understand if they could undertake the work. This established that Quantuma could deliver the services required by the MPS, within the required investigation timescales.  

5. GDPR and Data Privacy  

1. The data processing taking place in this project is business as usual within the context of a police investigation. Consequently the processing falls under existing systems and processes as they pertain to the gathering of evidence as part of a police investigation. A DPIA is not required in these circumstances. 

6. Equality Comments  

1. There are no adverse equality or diversity impacts associated with this award of contract to Quantuma Ltd. 

7. Background/supporting papers 

1. None