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NI Authority for Utility Regulation — Technical assessments of NIE Networks' business plan and assoc

Descriptions

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 1st 2 Tenderers with the highest overall score will be appointed under this Framework. When a commission is identified the contractor ranked 1 will be approached by UR to provide the service and to immediately confirm by email within 4 hours that they are not aware of any conflict or perceived conflict of interest and that they have sufficient resources for the commission. If there is a conflict of interest or insufficient resources the contractor ranked 2 will be invited to undertake the commission on the same basis — The Utility Regulator expects to have access to ad hoc advice within 48 hours of request — Contractor(s) will be expected to be available, both at short notice and after normal business hours, to provide advice upon request. The UR does not give any guarantee as to the volume of work that will be commissioned under this Framework.