Scottish Government Research Opportunity
Tenders are sought for this research project no later than noon on Wednesday 4 November 2009
SCOPING PHASE: CARBON MANAGEMENT IN SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT
TENDER REF: RERAD/005/09
Visit RESEARCH SPECIFICATION for additional information on the requirements of the project.
The project will commence in November 2009
Should you wish to tender for this work the tender documents can be obtained by e-mailing one of the following quoting the tender reference above:
Mrs Jacqui DiCarlo e-mail : jacqui.dicarlo@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 0131 244 6269 Fax 0131 244 6566
Mrs Audrey Watson e-mail: audrey.watson@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 0131 244 6057 Fax: 0131 244 6566
Mrs Bridget McGee e-mail: bridget.mcgee@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 0131 244 6050 Fax: 0131 244 6566
RESEARCH SPECIFICATION
Scoping phase: Carbon management in Scottish Government
TENDER REF: RERAD/005/09
Contractors are invited to bid for a short desk study to provide a scoping report on internal processes of carbon management for the Scottish Government.
1. Background
1.1 The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 requires annual statutory targets for emissions reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to be made between 2010 and 2050. Policies and proposals must be brought forward by July 2010 which contain the actions that will take Scotland towards those targets.
1.2 With the emergence of targets for emissions, a fundamental shift in the way that the Scottish Government (SG) manages this issue is required. We will need to be able to manage carbon in a similar fashion to that used for financial resources. We will also need to know the level of emissions associated with our policies and the level of influence we can exert over them. In order to fulfil those aims, a carbon management system, appropriate to the scale of Scottish Government, is required. Any proposed system must be able to track both responsibility for emissions and where accountability resides for their reduction. Where necessary, the system should also be able to generate management information which will be the trigger for remedial action.
1.3 There is a carbon management system in operation for UK Government Departments as part of the response to the requirements of the UK Climate Change Act 2008. No decision has been made to replicate this system in Scotland, but consideration of that system should feature in this study.
1.4 In order to help guide the development of any potential carbon management system, contractors are now invited to bid for a short consultancy in which a scoping exercise will be undertaken with key policy contacts within Scottish Government. There has already been some internal discussion regarding potential options for a carbon management system. There is a note of that meeting which can be made available to potential bidders on request.
2. Key elements of the scoping phase
- Develop initial options for an allocation method, including one in which a simplified approach to allocating Scotland-wide emissions to Directorates is applied within the Scottish Government (approx. 4 days).
Topics to be addressed include:
- The basis of allocation;
- Issues of materiality e.g. degree of SG influence on emissions within a given sector;
- Advantages and disadvantages of options presented, including relationships with the DECC carbon management system;
- Added value of options given that Scotland will have annual targets, annual reporting, and the detailed report on proposals and policies;
- Technical issues around baseline and measurement.
- Identify the supporting tools needed to operate and manage carbon allocations within any proposed system (approx. 3 days).
Topics to be addressed include:
- The role of carbon appraisal for policies and programmes, and the potential to operate a tiered analysis, reflecting magnitude of associated emissions.
- Consider which aspects of a financial management system provide the most scope for replication within a carbon management system (approx. 2 days).
Topics to be addressed include:
- The principles and governance aspects of financial management; issues regarding integration with existing data systems should be noted, but further detail at this stage is not required.
- Make recommendations for the work required during the development phase of a carbon management system (approx. 1 day).
3. Approach
3.1 Contractors would be expected to undertake the scoping exercise through structured interviews and one or two workshops with SG staff, and if timings permit, potentially present findings to the Climate Change Operational Group. The key staff to be involved in the scoping phase will be within Climate Change Division, Rural and Environment Analytical Services and Finance.
3.2 These staff will commit to spending time with the consultants to maximise the value of the time input to the scoping phase.
3.3 In generating the structured interviews and producing the final report, the successful contractors should be able to draw on:
- a knowledge of DECC's approach to carbon budget management;
- an understanding of the SG's budget process [1] and carbon assessment work [2] to date;
- the findings from the initial work on carbon reduction mechanisms; and
- knowledge of financial management and accounting more generally.
4. Outputs
- Two internal workshops, and presentation if time permits;
- A short issues paper, covering each of the key elements outlined above; and,
- Recommendations for further work during the development phase, in the form of a brief project management plan.
5. Timing
5.1 The scoping phase should be completed before the end of November 2009. The expected time input by contractors is 10-15 days. Ideally, the work will be carried out over a short time period - within one month - to allow both SG staff and contractors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the issues. For the same reason, we would expect the successful bidders to spend a significant part of the time working in SG offices in Edinburgh.
[1]http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/09/17093831/0
[2] http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/climatechange/scotlands-action/assessment