Government starts procurement of £320m legal panel for services to wider public sector

The Crown Commercial Service has kicked off the procurement of its proposed £320m panel for the provision of legal services to the ‘wider public sector’.

The CCS said the panel agreement would cover a comprehensive range of commercial legal specialisms, for use by UK public sector customers, including devolved administrations. Central government will be given access to limited legal services under the framework.

The three-year agreement has been divided into the following lots:

1. Regional Service Provision (estimated value: £70m).
2. Full Service Firms (£130m).
3. Property and Construction (£40m): this will involve full UK national coverage.
4. Transport Rail (£32m): this will involve full UK national coverage.
5. Costs Lawyer Services: (£48m): these will be provided to wider public sector customers and central government departments and their arms length bodies and agencies.

Bidders can bid for all lots. However the CCS said they will only be awarded a maximum of 4 lots from combinations of 1+3+4+5 or 2+3+4+5. Bidders will be required to indicate which of the two lots is their preferred choice if successful for both lots 1 and 2 as bidders will not be awarded a place on both lots 1 and 2.

A prior information notice on the panel agreement was issued by the CCS in March this year.