Engaging Guardian VB
Engaging Guardian VB for GHG Verification or Validation is a straightforward process. It begins with a brief enquiry or a completed Application for Verification Services (GVB-FRM-001) and proceeds through scope confirmation, fee proposal, and a formal Verification Agreement — before any verification work commences. The entire pre-engagement process typically takes five to ten working days, subject to client responsiveness and scope complexity.
Guardian VB's fees are determined on a case-by-case basis, reflecting the specific scope, complexity, number of facilities, Scope 3 categories included, level of assurance required, and estimated verification effort. There are no fixed price lists. Every engagement is scoped individually to ensure that the verification effort is appropriate to the size and complexity of the GHG assertion being verified. A detailed fee proposal is provided at no charge following receipt of the completed application form.
The Application for Verification Services form (GVB-FRM-001) is available for download on this page or upon request by email. Submission of the form does not constitute a binding commitment by either party — it initiates the scoping and feasibility review process, at the conclusion of which a Verification Agreement will be prepared for signature.
Application Process — Step by Step
| Step | Step | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1 |
Submit Enquiry or Application | Contact Guardian VB by email at vb@guardiancertification.com or download and complete the Application for Verification Services (GVB-FRM-001). Include a brief description of your organisation, reporting boundary, reporting period, and preferred level of assurance. |
| Step 2 |
Feasibility & COI Review | Guardian VB reviews the application for scope feasibility, confirms technical capability, and screens all proposed team members for conflicts of interest. You will be notified of acceptance or, if a conflict exists, of the engagement being declined — with a documented reason. |
| Step 3 |
Scope Proposal & Fee Quotation | Guardian VB prepares and issues a Scope Proposal confirming the verification scope, applicable standard and programme, level of assurance, indicative timeline, and fee proposal. The fee is based on estimated effort, complexity, number of facilities, and assurance level. |
| Step 4 |
Review & Agreement | The client reviews the Scope Proposal and, if accepted, a formal Verification Agreement is prepared and issued for signature. The Agreement documents the scope, criteria, assurance level, fees, timelines, and obligations of both parties. No verification work commences until the Agreement is signed. |
| Step 5 |
Verification Commences | Upon receipt of the signed Verification Agreement, Guardian VB assigns the verification team, issues the Document Request List, and formally initiates Phase 3 (Planning) of the six-phase verification process. |
Basis of Fee Determination
The following factors are assessed when preparing a fee proposal. Clients are encouraged to provide as much information as possible in the application form to enable an accurate and expedient quotation:
| Fee Factor | Detail |
|---|---|
| Level of Assurance | Reasonable Assurance engagements require more extensive procedures than Limited Assurance and are priced accordingly. |
| Number of Facilities / Sites | Each facility within scope requires site-level data review. Multi-site inventories involve proportionally greater verification effort. |
| Scope of Emissions | Scope 1 and 2 only versus full Scope 3 inclusion. Number of Scope 3 categories in scope affects data review complexity significantly. |
| Inventory Complexity | Process emissions, industrial facilities, and organisations with large volumes of activity data or diverse emission sources require more extensive testing. |
| Verification Type | First-time verification versus repeat engagement. Prior-year working papers and established data systems reduce planning effort for repeat clients. |
| Site Visit Requirement | On-site visits involve travel time and logistics. Remote (virtual) site visits are available where the verification plan supports this approach. |
| Programme Requirements | Certain regulatory or voluntary programme requirements (e.g., SEBI BRSR, SBTi, CDP) may specify additional verification procedures that affect effort and fees. |
Application Form — GVB-FRM-001
The Application for Verification Services (GVB-FRM-001) is Guardian VB's standard intake form. It captures the information required to initiate a feasibility review and prepare a fee proposal. The form is available for download below or by request via email. Submission of a completed form is the recommended starting point for all new engagements.
- Download: GVB-FRM-001 — Application for Verification Services [insert download link]
- By request: Email vb@guardiancertification.com with subject line: GHG Verification Enquiry
- Response time: Guardian VB will acknowledge receipt within two working days and provide a Scope Proposal within five working days of receiving a completed application, subject to information sufficiency.
Request a Quotation
To initiate an engagement or request a fee proposal, contact the Guardian VB team:
Email: vb@guardiancertification.com
Subject line: GHG Verification Enquiry — [Your Organisation Name]
Download Application Form: GVB-FRM-001 — Application for Verification Services [attach download link]