20 December 2007: The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) is conducting the second review of the Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS).

The ACS 'conditions for approval' are subject to annual, independent review and are the key to updating and improving the scheme.

The scope of the review includes ACS benefits, eligibility requirements and routes to approval as currently defined in:

• How to Become an SIA Approved Contractor' brochure (download size: 427kb)
• ACS web pages
• The ACS Standard (download size: 86kb)
• The Self Assessment Workbook (download size: 559kb)
• ACS Terms and Conditions (download size: 350kb)

There are three questionnaires specific to ACS companies, non-ACS companies and buyers of security services.

Responses should be received by Friday 17 January 2008 and the SIA intends to publish the results in Spring 2008.

Notes to Editors:

• Online questionnaires can be found here:
  • ACS Companies
  • Non-ACS Companies
  • Buyers of security
• The recommendations and outcomes from the first review are available here.
• The review will not consider ACS fee levels as these were subject to a separate review earlier in 2007 and the outcomes have already been announced.