Current status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 25 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what procedure is in place to ensure that any companies receiving Scottish Government contracts for cavity wall insulation are of the appropriate standard.
According to data obtained via the Public Contracts Scotland Contract Register, the Scottish Government currently has one active contract that includes the requirement to install cavity wall insulation. This is the Managing Agent for the Heat in Buildings Scotland National Scheme (HIBS), which oversees the delivery of the Warmer Homes Scotland programme (WHS).
The Managing Agent and all installation sub-contractors are required to have the skills outlined in the PAS 2030:2019 and PAS 2035:2019 standards (note: adherence with the new PAS 2035:2023 standard shall be required from 31 March 2025). These PAS standards ensure a consistent, high-quality approach to retrofitting buildings for energy efficiency, focusing on assessment, design, and installation practices.
At procurement phase, the suppliers were required to demonstrate that they had appropriately skilled staff and to provide a detailed implementation plan on how they would organise their team and resources in order to meet both the contract requirements and PAS 2035 standards. In addition to having the essential skills and experience, the supplier is required to continue to develop and improve their workforce - sharing knowledge and skills with their sub-contractors.
Each installation completed is also subject to multiple quality inspections with further independent audit inspections carried out on a sample of work at various stages of the WHS Customer Journey.
A link to the Contract Award Notice for the HIBS Managing Agent contract is provided for information.
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUN481760