Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Fry Building
2 Marsham Street, London
SW1P 4DF
Contact
SGB-Proc@Levellingup.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-levelling-up-housing-and-communities
Buyer's address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-levelling-up-housing-and-communities
one.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Pre-Market Engagement for EPC Accreditation Audit Schemes
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 72225000 - System quality assurance assessment and review services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (the Department) intends to go out to market to appoint a supplier to provide assurance services in relation to the energy assessor industry’s compliance to the required standards. The Department expects this assurance service to be provided, in part, by regular independent audits of all aspects of Accreditation Scheme (Schemes) operations. The Department is seeking views from the market place to help shape its procurement strategy.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79212300 - Statutory audit services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This market sounding exercise relates to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (the Department) expected requirement for assurance services in relation to the energy assessor industry’s compliance to the required standards. The Department expects this assurance service to be provided, in part, by regular independent audits of all aspects of Accreditation Scheme (Schemes) operations.
The purpose of Schemes is to ensure that energy assessments carried out by their members and their recommendations are cost-effective and of high-quality, accurate and consistent. Schemes are therefore, regularly audited by independent auditors to ensure that they comply with Scheme Operating Requirements (SORs) and the Secretary of State’s letter of Approval. The SORs sets out the minimum operating standards for Schemes. There are currently six approved Schemes operating different strands of the EPBRs. All Schemes are required to comply with the SORs, which includes minimum operating standards in relation to quality assurance, the audit approach that must be adopted and the profomas used for reporting outcomes to DLUHC, covering Domestic Energy Assessor (DEAs); Non-Domestic Energy Assessor (NDEAs) level 3 and level 4; NDEA level 5; On Construction Domestic Energy Assessor (OCDEAs); Display Energy Certificates (DECs) and Air Conditioning Inspection Report (ACIRs).
The purpose of this pre-market engagement exercise is to:
(a) inform the market of the upcoming contracting
opportunity.
(b) assess market interest in this opportunity, and
(c) to obtain views from the market to help shape the
Department’s procurement strategy.
All interested parties are invited to respond by completing the online questionnaire found here: https://forms.office.com/e/mQUtQDdPmH?origin=lprLink
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
15 January 2024
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes