Public procurement notice: Contract Notice
Published: 2016-06-10
Buyer: Utility Regulator
Country: UK
Region: NORTHERN IRELAND
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Open procedure
CPV classification: 09310000 | 45315100 | 65300000: Electricity distribution and related services | 65310000: Electricity distribution | 71300000
Estimated value: 200000 GBP
Submission deadline: 2016-07-26
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: NI Authority for Utility Regulation — Technical assessments of NIE Networks' business plan and associated technical support — ID.
The Utility Regulator's primary statutory duty (Energy Order Article 12) is to protect the interests of consumers of electricity supplied by authorised suppliers while ensuring the financial viability of licence holders. The purpose of this tender exercise is to appoint a suitably qualified contractor(s) for the provision of specialist engineering advice and regulatory consultancy. Tenderers are required to appoint a Project manager and Senior Consultant(s) to deliver the work required throughout the contract. These services are required to help the Utility Regulator discharge its duties in relation to the regulated electricity industry in Northern Ireland. The contractor(s) will provide strategic and operational engineering advice for every aspect of the electricity network, including: — the development, implementation and monitoring of the RP6 price control; — the development of specific major projects including network extensions such as the proposed North South interconnector; — the resolution of disputes including advice on the formal determination of complaints and appeals; and, — the development of policy, management and operational procedures and application of industry best practice. Specialist engineering support and advice will include advice on technical issues, advice on the cost of works, advice on asset maintenance, advice on procurement and advice on works planning including planning processes and the overall appraisal of projects. The Utility Regulator's statutory duties extend solely to those of an economic regulator. It has no statutory duties or responsibilities with regard to the physical construction or operation of electricity networks. Responsibility for building and operating physical assets resides with the companies licensed by the Utility Regulator. While the Utility Regulator sets the financial allowances that the licence holder receives for carrying out its activities it does not direct the licence holder as to how these should be carried out. Any engineering advice received will therefore be purely for the purpose of economic regulation and not physical operation or construction. The Utility Regulator intends to appoint 2 suitably qualified contractors, with significant expertise and experience in providing advice on electricity industry regulation and the associated regulatory price control processes. Following tender evaluation the 1
It is anticipated that this Contract will commence on the date of contract award for a duration of 1 year. The Client may at any time before the completion of the Contract Period invite the Contractor to agree to extend for any period up to and including 24 months commencing from the termination date of the original Contract Period.
The Utility Regulator intends to appoint 2 suitably qualified contractors, with significant expertise and experience in providing advice on electricity industry regulation and the associated regulatory price control processes. Following tender evaluation the 1
Award of the contract is communicated to tenderers. That notification will provide full information on the award decision. The standstill period, which will be for a minimum of 10 calendar days, provides time for unsuccessful tenderers to challenge the award decision before the contract is entered into The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI 2015 No 102) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). Any such action must generally be brought within 3 months. If a declaration of ineffectiveness is sought, any such action must be brought within 30 days where the Authority has communicated the award of the contract and a summary of reasons to tenderers or otherwise within 6 months of the contract being entered into. Where a contract has not been entered into the Court may order the setting aside of the award decision or order the Authority to amend any document and may award damages. If the contract has been entered into the Court may, depending on the circumstances, award damages, make a declaration of ineffectiveness, order the Authority to pay a fine and/or order that the duration of the contract be shortened. The purpose of the standstill period referred to above is to allow the parties to apply to the Courts to set aside the award decision before the contract is entered into.

Eligibility requirements: As per the Tender documents. As per the Tender documents. As per the Tender documents.
As per the Tender documents.