Contract for supporting the Secretary of State in the accreditation and oversight of ADR providers in the UK.

BEIS is looking for a partner to support the Secretary of State (SoS) in his role as Competent Authority for ADR in non-regulated sectors. The role of SoS is to approve and oversee bodies offering ADR used in disputes between businesses and consumers. The service provider will administer and support performance of these functions.

ADR applies to the settlement of consumer disputes outside of court. This can include negotiation, conciliation, mediation, and arbitration. These can often be quicker and cheaper than the courts, leading to more satisfactory solutions for both parties. The Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Competent Authorities and Information) Regulations 2015 set standards ADR providers must meet in order to be approved. They also appoint a competent authority to approve such applications and monitor their performance. Regulators act as competent authority in regulated sectors. Elsewhere, SoS acts as generic competent authority. Additional information: In order to provide prospective suppliers with the opportunity to gain more detail on the project and identify potential partners, BEIS are holding a Supplier Day via MS Teams on Tuesday 26th October 2021 from 15.00-16.00. Interested organisations please contact Jason Cole (jason.cole@beis.gov.uk) to reserve your place.