Audit and Assurance Services Two (A&AS2)
Framework Description
RM6310 Audit and Assurance Services Two (A&AS2) is a Government Commercial Agency (GCA, formerly Crown Commercial Service) framework let under PCR 2015. It gives central government and wider public sector bodies access to audit, assurance and counter-fraud services from suppliers ranging from SMEs to large multinationals, across four lots. It runs until 21 July 2029.
Context & Use Case
Departments, arm's-length bodies, councils and other public bodies use it to buy internal audit, external audit, counter-fraud investigation and independent assurance without running a full procurement. Terms are adapted for the audit market, and buyers can choose time and materials, fixed price or risk and reward pricing when they run a further competition under the relevant lot.
Scope of Services
Lot 1: Internal audit and assurance Lot 2: External audit Lot 3: Counter-fraud and investigation Lot 4: Other independent assurance
Lots
Lot 1: Internal audit and assurance; Lot 2: External audit; Lot 3: Counter-fraud and investigation; Lot 4: Other independent assurance
Who Can Apply
Suits audit, assurance and counter-fraud firms of all sizes. Membership is fixed for the life of the framework, so firms not on it cannot join before 21 July 2029. All current suppliers hold Cyber Essentials, which shows the baseline expected at re-tender.
Buyer Benefits
Public bodies need independent assurance they can trust, often at short notice when a risk emerges. They value audit-specific terms, flexible pricing models, access to SMEs and multinationals in one place, and suppliers already checked on independence and security. Lot structure also matches how audit committees commission work.
Next Steps
Appointed firms should respond to further competitions under their lot and track performance for case studies. Others cannot join until the re-procurement, so watch GCA's pipeline for the successor to RM6310, register on GCA's eSourcing portal and secure Cyber Essentials if it is not already held.
How Athena Can Help
For firms on A&AS2, Athena's bid management experts help you win further competitions: win themes around independence and sector knowledge, competitor scoring and pricing across time and materials, fixed or risk and reward models.
For firms planning for the successor, our framework entry planning builds the evidence pack early. Our public sector bidding consultants help you decide which lot gives the best return. We also compliance-check every response, so nothing is lost on a technicality.
