NISTA assurance review toolkit
Assurance products and guidance to support the delivery of central government’s most complex and high risk projects
The National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) arranges and manages independent assurance reviews of major government projects.
These reviews are mainly for the central government’s most complex and high risk projects in the Government Major Projects Portfolio.
Assurance is an essential part of successful project delivery. The reviews:
- are often required for formal HM Treasury approvals (Treasury Approval Points (TAP’s) and Major Project Review Group (MPRG)) or business case approval points
- provide support and constructive challenge to senior responsible owners
You should use these documents if you’re doing an NISTA review. You can also use these documents if you’re doing a non-NISTA review, for example, any other government review or a medium risk review.
If you’re interested in becoming one of our independent assurance reviewers, refer to the guidance on how to become an assurance reviewer.
For general guidance on project delivery, refer to the guidance on project and programme management.
For any queries about assurance, email gateway.helpdesk@nista.gov.uk.
How to use this collection
This collection contains guidance covering three areas:
- General guidance
- How to undertake an Assurance Review
- Guidance and templates for specific types of Assurance Review.
Note
This guidance replaces or updates existing guidance previously provided by the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, which is now part of NISTA. This means in practice:
- Most guidance remains unchanged, and will still in some cases refer to the IPA in the text of the pdf version. This guidance remains current, but will be updated and rebranded in due course
- Some guidance has been updated in the html version with minor updates and additions to strengthen risk, sustainability and evaluation.
- Some guidance is brand new and this will be indicated on the relevant document page.
If you are in any doubt about which guidance is up to date, please contact gateway.helpdesk@nista.gov.uk
General guidance
You may need these documents for all types of reviews. They will also help you understand what type of review or assurance may be suitable for your project.
How to undertake an Assurance Review
Documents designed to assist Review Team members, Programme and Project Managers/Directors and Senior Responsible Owners (SRO). This section contains supporting guidance outlining the approach leading up to and during an Assurance Review. This section also contains supporting documentation intended to assist in administering the lead up and duration of an Assurance Review.
Guidance and templates for specific types of Assurance Review
Use the correct review type for the stage your project is at.
Each time you use a template, you’ll also need the guide to the classification of recommendations.