General Consumer Council NI Provision of Legal Services

Tender description

The Consumer Council Northern Ireland (CC) is a non departmental public body sponsored by the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment (DETI). It was established by statute in 1985 to promote and safeguard the interests of consumers. CC carries out research and investigations and aims to give consumers a voice and to make it count. CC has specific statutory responsibilities in relation to transport, energy and water policy issues and second stage consumer complaints. CC also has a responsibility to educate consumers on their rights and responsibilities and equip them with the skills they need to make good decisions about their money and manage it wisely. This role includes issues of financial capability, financial inclusion and financial markets. CC has 46 staff who, whilst not civil servants, are employed under terms and conditions determined by the collective agreements applicable to staff within the Northern Ireland Civil Service. CC, in negotiation with the recognised trade union, NIPSA, has developed its own policies and procedures in line with these collective agreements. CC works from one office base in Belfast. The office premises are leased. 3. CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS CC proposes to appoint a maximum of two firms of solicitors to act on its behalf in relation to its remit as mentioned above. The firms appointed will accordingly be required to provide legal services in relation to; a) Site and property matters including purchases, sales, leasing and compulsory acquisition and the preparation of documentation where appropriate relating to these matters; b) The recovery of monies and other litigious matters, Copyright, Health & Safety etc; c) The implementation of the General Consumer Council (NI) Order 1984 and any legislation put in place around the CC’s responsibilities for energy and water as set out in the Gas (NI) Order 1996, the Energy (NI) Order 2003 and the Water and Sewerage (NI) Order 2006; d) Data protection,