Purpose

This report requests the approval of a proposed procurement approach to commission additional Internal Audit and advisory services to support the Internal Audit Team. The possible call-off requirements also include ad-hoc services to Council departments for specialist one-off projects.

This paper is being brought to the Executive Director Corporate Services due to the possibility that the aggregated value of individual call-offs from Internal Audit service may exceed the procurement threshold over the framework term. It must also be noted that the majority of spend relates to Internal Audit services as described within this report.

Therefore, the proposed procurement strategy is to give Camden the ability to use the Cross Council Assurance Service (CCAS) Framework Agreement, led by the London Borough of Barnet for the Provision of Internal Audit and Advisory Services.
 

This proposed CCAS framework agreement we aim to use is ‘live’ as it commenced on 1 April 2026 for an initial term of three years. It may be extended by the London Borough of Barnet for up to a further five years, with a potential end date of 31 March 2034, this will give Camden the option to call-off from the framework for an extended period of time, should we require these services.

As a participating organisation, Camden has the option to call off individual contracts from the framework by way of a direct award or a further competition for an initial 3-year term for an initial value of £450,000 (£150,000 per annum) excluding VAT.

Should the framework be extended by the framework provider for an additional 5 years, the total aggregated spend for Camden may reach up to £1,200,000 (excluding VAT).

This procurement strategy is presented to the Executive Director Corporate Services following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Cost of Living in accordance with Contract Standing Orders.

Decision

THAT the Executive Director Corporate Services, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance Cost of Living, approves the use of the Cross Council Assurance Service (CCAS) Framework Agreement for the procurement of Internal Audit and Advisory Services. The call-off period Camden is eligible to use will be an initial period of 36 months (with a spend threshold of £150,000 per annum) plus an additional extension period to use the framework of up to 60 months at the sole discretion of the Council). The total spend of multiple call -off using this framework is estimated at an aggregated spend (including extension) of £1,200,000 excluding VAT.