North West housing group to procure £4-5m legal services panel

A co-operative of registered providers and other companies delivering services to the social housing sector is to procure a legal services framework worth an estimated £4-5m over 48 months.

The Sovini Group has divided the framework into the following lots:

1. Corporate (estimated value £1.8m).
2. Employment (£120,000).
3. Housing management (£700,000).
4. Property, Land and Development (£900,000).
5. Commercial (£500,000).

Sovini said it intends to award annual retainers for some lots of the framework. For all lots of the framework the service provider ranked first in each lot following evaluation of tenders will be required to provide a 20-minute helpline (free of charge) accessible by phone or email providing Sovini officers access to informal advice.

Founded in 2011, the group now incorporates 12 members, providing property management and development solutions. Its members include One Vision Housing, which was set up in 2006 via a stock transfer from Sefton Council.