Technical Support for the Operation of the Petroleum Safety Framework

Tender description

The Commission for Energy Regulation (the ‘CER’) is the independent body responsible for overseeing the liberalisation of Ireland's energy sector. The CER’s role was extended into safety regulation with the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2006 (the 2006 Act). In 2010 the CER’s safety role was increased further with the enactment of the Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Act 2010 (the 2010 Act), which amended the 1999 Act to include the safety regulation of petroleum undertakings engaging in certain petroleum activities. The 2010 Act gives the CER responsibility for the safety regulation of petroleum exploration and extraction activities in Ireland, including specifically a requirement for the CER to “establish and implement a risk-based petroleum safety framework” . The Framework is the entire system that the CER uses to regulate the safety of petroleum activities, and in particular designated petroleum activities, carried out by petroleum undertakings. The CER requires additional technical support in a wide range of oil and gas safety areas in order to discharge its regulatory functions under the Petroleum Safety Framework effectively and efficiently. As such the CER wishes to appoint consultants to form part of the Petroleum Safety Team for a period of two years (with the option for renewal of the contract for up to two further years), who can deliver all the necessary technical support required to operate the Petroleum Safety Framework on a call down basis. A detailed specification of requirements is set out in Section 2 of the attached Request for Tender document.