The primary aims and objectives of the Scottish Government’s flagship Heat in Buildings scheme are to:
1. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from Scottish homes and buildings which contain domestic properties, by increasing energy efficiency by reducing both heat loss and direct emissions through the installation of low and preferably zero-emissions heating technologies (and associated systems).
2. Support those in or at risk of fuel poverty through the heat transition, by removing poor energy efficiency as a driver of fuel poverty.
In addition, the scheme seeks to:
1. Contribute to the development of the supply chain and skills base across all regions of Scotland - including rural and island locations, and through this to support rapid acceleration in zero emissions heating system conversions and energy efficiency upgrades.
2. Improve Scotland’s housing stock by installing measures appropriate to the dwelling which will benefit current and future inhabitants.
3. Align with Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies and Delivery Plans in order to maximise benefits to local communities from the heat transition.
4. Provide benefits to the wider community through vocational training and employment opportunities.
The procurement exercise sought to complement and enhance the schemes’ climate ambitions and the Scottish Government’s broader decarbonisation agenda through:
1. Developing a robust Technical Specification which fully reflected the Scottish Government’s climate ambitions, as well as crafting appropriate Supplier Selection and Contract Award Criteria to ensure that these priorities were appropriately addressed and subsequently evaluated in tender responses.
2. Future-proofing the contract to support innovation – allowing new and emerging technologies, installation techniques and customer groups to be brought online.
In addition, the procurement was intended to deliver robust ambitious community benefits targets. This involved building on opportunities to drive improved supply chain planning and capacity building – including in areas experiencing skills and resource shortages; linking into SME opportunities; and the circular economy. Another outcome was to mandate payment of the Real Living Wage and driving Fair Work First principles.
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