DLGH Audit Services for Local Authority Verifiers & Certification Scheme Providers

Description

The Scottish Government Building Standards Division (BSD) intends to run an open procurement procedure to award a contract with an external service provider for the development and 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. Lot 1: Subject to confirmation of the final requirements, the scope of the contract will include the following: Audit of verifiers - develop an audit plan including an audit strategy and specific audit procedures to assess performance of each local authority verifier against the Operating Framework (verification). - develop an audit programme and deliver initial audits for all 32 verifiers between January 2026 – October 2028. - prepare a draft audit report and final report for each verifier. - advise on timing for stage 2 audits over the lifetime of the contract and develop a future audit cycle. - allow provision for spot audits where risks/needs arise. Audit of certification scheme providers - develop an audit plan including an audit strategy and specific audit procedures to assess performance of the certification scheme providers against the Operating Framework. - develop an audit programme and deliver an audit of each scheme (6) by end April 2026. - prepare a draft audit report and final report for each scheme. - review and provide advice on the appropriateness and suggestions for change to the Operating Framework (certification) ahead of the re-appointment process May – October 2026. - undertake a further audit of each scheme provider in the financial year 2027- 2028. - advise on a future audit cycle. - allow provision for spot audits where risks/needs arise - Reviewing the Operating Framework (certification) and providing a recommendation report on appropriateness and suggestions for change or improvement.