DLGH Audit Services for Local Authority Verifiers & Certification Scheme Providers

The Scottish Government has awarded a contract to an external service provider for the provision of audit services.

The Building (Scotland) Act 2003 sets out the role of verifiers and certification scheme providers with the Scottish building standards system and allows their appointment to perform their respective roles. Appointment of both verifiers and certification scheme providers is conditional on their ability to continue to meet the requirements of their respective Operating Frameworks (verification & certification) with periodic audits identified as one of the conditions of appointment.

The scope of the contract covers the auditing of 32 local authority verifiers and 6 certification scheme providers. The service provider will be required to deliver the following:

• Phase 1: Audit Plans and Schedules for both Certification Scheme Providers and Verifiers
• Phase 2: Audit of Certification Scheme Providers 2025-2026
• Phase 3: Audit of Verifiers 2026-2029
• Phase 4: Review of Certification Operating Framework
• Phase 5: Audit of Certification Scheme Providers 2027-2028

Delivery of additional cycles of audits of Certification Scheme Providers and delivery of stage 2 audits of Local Authority Verifiers may also be required during the contract term.. The period of the contract is from and including 15 October 2025 to and including 14 October 2030. The Scottish Government may, by giving notice to the service provider, extend the period of the contract to a date falling no later than 14 October 2032. Subject to that constraint, the Purchaser may extend the period of the contract on more than one occasion.

The service provider is accredited as a Living Wage Employer and has committed to paying staff that are involved in the delivery of services under the contract at least the real Living Wage.