With reference to the Bid Form, section 3 on Financial resources, on the financial information for the last three years for each organisation: Given that it is the beginning of 2025, and therefore, the accounts for 2024 are not yet final, is it possible to include relevant data for 2023, 2022 and 2021?
The bid requires an external audit report and a copy of latest accounts for the last financial year for which the accounts have been closed to be submitted. As the deadline is early in the year, not all of the consortium members will have completed account statements for 2024. Does it mean that they can submit the accounts for year 2023?
Providing audited statements for the three past years might be a challenge for small organisations, which might be part of the consortium. Do we need audits for financial statements for all members of the consortium?
Yes, the last available three years are required. Therefore, in 2025, it will usually be the case that financial statements from 2024 and before available to be submitted. If the financial statements for 2024 are not yet available by the time the bid is submitted, financial statements from 2023 and before may be submitted.
Only the most recent financial statements must have been audited. Financial statements must be provided for each member of the consortium. In all cases, the most recent financial statements must have been audited. The financial statements of the preceding years need not necessarily have been audited.