Deposit return scheme: gateway review report - March 2023

Annex B

Purposes of the Gateway Review 4: Readiness for Service DRS specific purpose of the Gate 4 Review:

• Taking a whole system view, the Review shall investigate and give opinion on the likelihood of a DRS successful implementation in Scotland in August 2023.
• The Review shall provide opinion on the risks and challenges to this likelihood, that may materialise both before and after implementation, and shall make recommendations to make a successful implementation more likely.
• The Review shall discuss possible options for a descoped, partial or delayed DRS implementation and shall provide opinion on the likely and relative risks and challenges of these options.

Standard purpose of the Gate 4 Review

The DRS Gateway Review will also consider the following elements, which are the standard purpose of a Gate 4 Review:

• Check that the current phase of the contract is properly completed and commercial documentation is completed;
• Ensure that the contractual arrangements are up-to-date;
• Check that the Business Case is still valid and unaffected by internal and external events or changes;
• Check that the original projected business benefit is likely to be achieved, that

they can be realised in the wider system and that the project will still deliver the policy and strategic intent;

• Ensure that there are processes and procedures to ensure long-term success of the project as it transitions into business as usual (BAU);
• Confirm that all necessary testing is done (e.g. commissioning of buildings, business integration and user acceptance testing) to the client's satisfaction and that the client is ready to approve implementation;
• Check that there are feasible and tested business contingency, continuity and/or reversion arrangements in place;
• Ensure that all ongoing dependencies, risks and issues are being managed effectively and do not threaten implementation;
• Evaluate the risk of proceeding with the implementation where there are any unresolved issues – this must include for the wider system as well as the project;
• Confirm the business has the necessary resources and that it is ready to implement the services and the business change – this should include timely delivery of other enabling projects or initiatives;
• Confirm that the client and supplier implementation plans are still achievable;
• Confirm that there are management and organisational controls to manage the project through implementation and operation;
• Confirm that contract management arrangements are in place to manage the operational phase of the contract;
• Confirm arrangements for handover of the project from the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) to the operational business owner;
• Confirm that all parties have agreed plans for training, communication, rollout, production release and support as required;
• Confirm that all parties have agreed plans for managing risk;
• Confirm that there are client-side plans for managing the working relationship, with reporting arrangements at appropriate levels in the organisation, reciprocated on the supplier side;
• Confirm information assurance accreditation/certification;
• Confirm that defects or incomplete works are identified and recorded – with a plan to remediate them; and
• Check that lessons for future projects are identified and recorded.