Crown Commercial Service, as the Authority, has established a framework agreement for the provision of Public Sector Legal Services for use primarily by the Wider Public Sector, but available to all approved UK public sector bodies and their associated bodies including, Devolved Administrations — Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Wider Public Sector including Health and Education bodies, Local and Regional Government organisations, Emergency Services and Third Sector organisations.
This procurement was conducted under the Light Touch Regime (‘LTR’) and is therefore subject to limited regulation. It was conducted in accordance with regulations 74 to 76 of PCR 2015, and relates to the legal services which are listed in Schedule 3 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR) 2015 as a specific service.
The Framework comprises of the following Lots:
Lot 1a - Full Service Provision - England and Wales
Lot 1b - Full Service Provision - Scotland
Lot 1c - Full Service Provision - Northern Ireland
Lot 2a - General Service Provision - England and Wales
Lot 2b – General Service Provision – Scotland
Lot 2c – General Service Provision – Northern Ireland
Lot 3 - Full Service - Transport/Rail
The scope of services cover the Legal Practices/Areas listed in Section II.2.4
The Framework has been established for 48 months
Lots 1a, 1b and 1c (Full Service Provision).
Suppliers will deliver all of the mandatory requirements as detailed in Framework Schedule 1 (Specification) of this Framework Contract including the sixteen (16) Mandatory Legal Specialisms that specifically relate to lot 1:
Administrative and Public Law
Non-Complex Finance and Investment
Contracts
Competition Law
Corporate Law Data
Protection and Information Law
Employment
Information Technology
Infrastructure
Intellectual Property
Litigation and Dispute Resolution
Partnerships
Pensions
Public Procurement
Property, Real Estate and Construction
Energy, Natural Resources and Climate Change
The jurisdictional area applicable:
Lot 1a - England and Wales
Lot 1b - Scotland
Lot 1c - Northern Ireland
There are also 24 Optional Legal Specialisms Suppliers may provide, if qualified to do so, as detailed in Framework Schedule 1(Specification)
A Framework Contract has been awarded to 23 bidders for Lot 1a, 11 bidders for Lot 1b and 9 bidders for Lot 1c. For Lot 1a the maximum number of bidders increased as 1 bidders final score was within 1% of the last position.
Lots 2a, 2b and 2c (General Service Provision). Suppliers will deliver all of the mandatory services as detailed in Framework Schedule 1 (Specification) of this Framework Contract including a minimum of one (1) of the fifteen (15) Elective Legal Specialisms as follows:
Property and Construction
Social Housing
Child Law
Court of Protection
Education
Debt Recovery
Planning and Environment
Licensing
Pensions
Litigation / Dispute Resolution
Intellectual Property
Employment
Healthcare
Primary Care
Mental Health law
The jurisdictional area applicable are:
Lot 2a - England and Wales
Lot 2b - Scotland
Lot 2c - Northern Ireland
A framework contract has been awarded to 45 bidders for Lot 2a, 15 bidders for Lot 2b and 13 bidders for Lot 2c.
Lot 3 (Transport and Rail Legal Services) Suppliers will deliver all the mandatory requirements as detailed in Framework Schedule 1 (Specification) of this Framework Contract including the single Mandatory Legal Specialism as follows:
Transport (Rail) –
All aspects of transport and rail law, including but not limited to: Rail transport law;
Rolling stock;
Planning and authorisation (Rail)
Projects and infrastructure (Rail)
The Suppliers shall provide National Coverage to Buyers in all jurisdictional areas within the United Kingdom, including England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
A framework contract has been awarded to 10 bidders for Lot 3.