A Registry for Verified Emissions Reductions
The Gold Standard Foundation seeks to select a registry provider to create and manage a Registry for
Verified Emissions Reductions (VERs) in the voluntary carbon market.
The purpose of the Registry will be to provide a user-friendly, low-cost and transparent electronic database
wherein all people using the system (whether they have accounts or are just simply viewing data) can have
full visibility of their voluntary carbon credits and their status (i.e. on hold, in use, or retired). In other words,
any credit stored in the Registry must be traceable for origin, status and owner. The Registry operator will be
responsible for all maintenance and updates to the database, as well as the security requirements necessary to
keep the Registry operational, confidential and independent.
This Registry Request for Proposal (RFP) (Phase 1) seeks to attract the most competent party for developing
detailed specifications for a well-functioning registry. The selected provider will work closely with Gold
Standard staff and other key stakeholders to prepare a detailed specifications document, which will then be
the basis for Phase 2 of the workplan: building, testing and operating the Registry. The chosen party for
Phase 1 of the workplan will have exclusive rights to Phase 2. The creation of a Registry with two distinct
phases of work will allow for greater control over the specifications of the registry system, leading to a final
registry of the highest quality. The "winner takes all" approach allows the Gold Standard Technical Advisory
Committee (GS TAC), the Gold Standard Secretariat, and relevant stakeholders to work hand-in-hand with
the chosen provider to modify the best set of specifications for the eventual Registry.
