US firm running eco grants scheme has won multiple UK government contracts.
Virginia-based ICF has been awarded more than 80 government contracts in the last five years.
The American corporation running the UK green homes grant has been awarded multiple government contracts in the last five years.
ICF, based in Fairfax, Virginia, is a global consulting business that promotes itself as “not your typical consultants”.
The company has a London base, which is a wholly owned subsidiary. Its senior directors include Andrew Jarvis, a former senior policy adviser for energy, environment and innovation in the Cabinet Office.
The more than 80 contracts awarded to ICF, according to government data, include a £144,000 contract from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to help draw up a new biodiversity strategy; a third share of a £60m contract from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) international climate team to “support accelerated emissions reductions in developing countries”; a £139,647 contract to evaluate the “warm home discount”; a £98,700 deal from Defra to examine the evidence on the health impacts of pesticides; a £1m contract to examine the benefits of 5G technology; and an £18,000 contract to create a surveillance strategy for the oak processionary moth.
ICF recently advertised for a senior role to help run the green home grants scheme. The post for a customer experience coordinator stated: “This role is not for the faint-hearted and requires first class organisation, ability to manage competing demands across numerous locations globally, attend and support the client (BEIS) and third-party meetings to provide structure, governance and relevant reporting in a timely manner.”
The successful applicant, the company said, needed to be a “resilient and robust character that can work under pressure and can be flexible at a moment’s notice”.
ICF was contacted in London and at its headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia, but did not respond.
26 January 2021
The Guardian
