Vetting Contractors Based on EHS and ESG Criteria for UK-Based Renewable Energy Company

The client, a UK-based solar, wind, and hydro power company, is entering the US market and is seeking assistance in vetting contractors. While the UK has specific regulatory requirements via the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM), the US does not. CDM Regulations govern everything relating to Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) on a construction project – from concept to completion – ensuring all parties (owners, design, General Contractors, etc.) are in compliance.  

In the process of opening operations in the US, the client is seeking help to identify applicable criteria for vetting vendors for each high-risk EHS regulatory program to ensure that they are a top performer in their industry. Sustainability is a key element of the client’s brand so, in addition to EHS regulatory requirements, they asked Antea Group to include each vendor’s ESG policies as part of the evaluation.  

Because the client is a signatory to the UN’s Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), it is imperative that the contractors selected to design, build, and operate the final power system in compliance with EHS requirements and in support of global ESG goals. 

The client sought out Antea Group for our contractor management services – specifically contractor vetting. This is a service that has historically been used by larger clients that are looking for a more granular review and/or utilize the process to set the client and vendors up for a successful engagement. Our starting point was to take the client’s UK-specific tool and revise it to fit the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) paradigm.  

Using this revised tool, each vendor must answer and provide evidence related to applicable risks in their proposed operations. Antea Group also created a scoring rubric to document the evaluation of the evidence, which is reviewed with the vendor via Web Conference. The tool ensures that their vendors have a best-in-class ESG policy and metrics. The vetting process demonstrates the client’s commitment to responsible investment and placing their work at the heart of a global community seeking to build a more sustainable financial system.  

With this tool, we will review design, construction, and high voltage contractors to ensure that the client only engages with fully compliant companies that also have strong ESG policies. 

Antea Group has developed the tools and is now awaiting the opening of the bid for a new solar array.   

Antea Group will perform an initial vendor review and, once the construction starts, will perform monthly site EHS audits to ensure the sites are effectively managing construction risks and personnel safety and operating within the client’s standards.