Consultation on proposed referrals guidance on appeals against assessment as a QSC and notices of cessation as a QSC

The Defence Reform Act 2014 and the Single Source Contract Regulations 2014 establish the grounds and circumstances on which the SRRO may be asked to determine an appeal against assessment as a QSC or to decide whether to agree a notice of cessation as a QSC. The SSRO has used its existing guidance on opinions as the basis for proposed processes for both appeals and notices of cessation. Significant departures from the opinions guidance are shown in the consultation document.

The SSRO is now consulting publicly on the proposed guidance on both appeals and notices of cessation.

The consultation document sets out significant differences between opinions guidance and the proposed guidance for appeals and notices of cessation. The guidance for both processes covers:

• the circumstances in which the SSRO may determine an appeal or agree a notice of cessation;
• how to refer matters to the SSRO;
• timescales; and
• the processes from early engagement through to publication of a decision.

Responses are requested in writing by 5pm Friday 6 December 2019. We ask that responses are provided to consultations@ssro.gov.uk preferably by completing the consultation form and emailing an electronic copy. A proposed timetable for publishing final guidance and specific consultation questions is included in paragraphs 1.15 to 1.17 of the stakeholder consultation document. Any queries may be directed to peter.regan@ssro.gov.uk or please call Peter Regan at 0203 771 4772.