PRF59/25 Call for expression of interest and quotations External audit services – financial year ending 31 December 2025

Swiss Red Cross in Moldova (SRC) invites qualified and licensed independent audit firms to submit Expressions of Interest and Quotations to perform External Audit Services for SRC-funded projects implemented in the Republic of Moldova for the financial year ending 31 December 2025.

This call is issued in accordance with the revised Terms of Reference (ToR) for Independent External Audit (2025–2028) and accompanying annexes approved by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

1. Background and Scope

The SRC in Moldova implements humanitarian and development projects in cooperation with national and local partners. As part of its accountability, transparency, and compliance framework, the SRC commissions annual independent external audits for all projects financed by SRC.

The audit shall be performed in accordance with:

• International Standard on Auditing (ISA) 805 – Special Considerations: Audits of Single Financial Statements and Specific Elements, Accounts or Items of a Financial Statement;
• SRC Local Audit ToR 2025–2028, and
• local auditing standards and national accounting legislation.

2. Projects to Be Audited

The 2025 audit covers the following projects funded and managed by the Swiss Red Cross in Moldova:

1. Project Nr. 415938 – Strengthening the transfusion blood service in the Republic of Moldova (2024–2026)
2. Project Nr. 415940 – Social accountability in health, Moldova
3. Project Nr. 415941 – Strengthen MRC aiding vulnerable people II
4. Project Nr. 415942 – Healthy Ageing
5. Project Nr. 415925 – SRC Coordination Office in Moldova

A single audit ToR shall apply for the entire country programme, listing all the above projects.  The auditor will provide One Audit Report per country. The Audit Report consists of the following:

(i) Financial Report (Annex 3) with relevant project specific financial information.

(ii) Management Letter (Annex 2) per implementing partner.

(iii)  Questionnaire (Annex 1) per implementing partner.

3. Objectives of the Audit

The main objectives of the audit are to:

• Express an independent professional opinion on whether the financial reports of the above projects present fairly, in all material respects, the expenditure incurred and funds received during the period ending 31 December 2025, in accordance with donor agreements, national legislation, and applicable financial management policies.
• Assess the existence, adequacy, and effectiveness of internal control systems (ICS) of SRC and its partners.
• Verify conformity with project objectives and adherence to contractual terms.
• Assess the economical and efficient use of financial resources and identify areas for improvement in project financial management and control.

The audit must apply the Questionnaire (Annex 1), Management Letter Template (Annex 2), and Independent Auditor’s Financial Report Template (Annex 3) as integral parts of the deliverables.

4. Expected Deliverables

The One Audit Report of the Auditor shall provide an opinion on the financial information of the programme/project implementing organisation in accordance with the ISA 805 (Annex 3)

The Auditor’s response to the Questionnaire (Annex 1) and Management Letter (Annex 2) will be provided per each implementing partner.

The use of the Audit Report templates (Questionnaire, Independent Auditor’s Financial Report template and Management Letter) provided along with the SRC Terms of Reference for External Audit is mandatory.

The final audit deliverables must be submitted in English, in digitally signed PDF format.

5. Timelines and Deliverables

The expected timeline for the 2025 country programme audit is as follows:

Draft Audit Report and annexes – March 15th, 2025

Final Audit Report and annexes – March 31st , 2025

6. Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for selection, audit firms must:

• Hold a valid audit license issued by the authorized national regulatory body in the Republic of Moldova;
• Be independent and free from any conflicts of interest with the SRC or its partners;
• Have at least five (5) years of proven experience in auditing humanitarian and development projects;
• Demonstrate sectoral knowledge of international NGOs, donor-funded projects, and compliance with ISA standards;
• Have a team of certified auditors with relevant professional qualifications and experience;
• Possess a strong ethical reputation and references from international organizations, preferably from within the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, Swiss NGOs, or UN agencies.

7. Proposal Requirements

Interested audit firms are invited to submit:

1. Company Profile (CV) – including legal registration, ownership, organizational structure, and summary of experience;
2. Technical Proposal – understanding of ToR, audit approach, methodology, timelines, and key audit team members;
3. Financial Proposal – detailed quotation per project in MDL or EUR, inclusive of all applicable taxes and fees;
4. Copy of valid audit license and relevant professional certifications;
5. List of references from comparable assignments.

8. Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following weighted criteria:

9. Submission Details

Proposals must be submitted must be submitted in English, in digitally signed PDF format at e-mail Uliana.Cretu@redcross.ch or in hard copy, signed, and sealed, no later than:

17:00 (local time), 30 November 2025

To the following address:
Swiss Red Cross in Moldova
Attn: Country Representative
2, Alecsandri Street, Clinical Hospital “Em. Cotaga”,
Administrative Block, 1st Floor,
Chisinau, Republic of Moldova

A paper receipt will be issued by the SRC office upon submission.

10. Clarifications

Requests for additional information, ToR, or audit documentation (Annexes 1–4) should be sent by email to Uliana.Cretu@redcross.ch

Please indicate “External Audit Services 2025” in the subject line.
Questions will be accepted until 26 November 2025 only in written form.