Official UK procurement notice
DA from NEPO for Appointment of DWF Lawyers
Authority: Stockton on Tees Borough Council (Local council)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionTo approve the direct award of a contract to DWF Law LLP under the NEPO Legal Services Framework for specialist external legal services in connection with the Council's proposed acquisition of Billingham Town Centre.
CPV: Legal services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1The appointment will comprise one overall appointment with two separately scoped but…Awarded
The appointment will comprise one overall appointment with two separately scoped but interdependent commissions.
Commission 1 - Public Law, Subsidy Control and Compliance Advice
The continuation and extension of specialist legal advice previously provided by DWF to the Council in relation to subsidy control, public law, governance and other compliance issues concerning the proposed acquisition of interests within Billingham Town Centre.
Commission 2 - Property Acquisition and Transactional Legal Services
Subject to the Council's decision-making processes and, in particular, any subsequent decision by Cabinet to approve the acquisition, DWF will provide the property and transactional legal services required to progress and complete the acquisition.
The work includes legal due diligence, title investigation, review of occupational leases, property enquiries and searches, lease reporting, negotiation and completion of the transaction documents, and transaction/project management.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Direct award (no call for competition)
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 22 Oct 2026, 09:07 BST
- Last source update
- 22 Oct 2026, 09:07 BST
- Authority reference
CORS.45.2627- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-099764- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-078d6dFind a Tender
- Why no open competition
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive
- Published justification
Option 1 - Undertake a Further Competition Under the NEPO Legal Services Framework
This option was considered but rejected because a new provider would need to familiarise itself with the same transaction history, previous advice and legal analysis already undertaken by DWF, resulting in duplication of work, additional cost and delay.
Option 2 - Retain DWF for Advisory Work but Procure a Separate Property Adviser
This option was considered but rejected because the two commissions are closely interdependent and would create duplication, additional interfaces and a risk of fragmented advice.
Option 3 - Defer Appointment of Transactional Lawyers Until After a Cabinet Decision
This option was considered but rejected because it would delay legal due diligence and transaction readiness work and reduce the Council's ability to proceed promptly should approval be granted.
Option 4 - Undertake the Work Through Internal Legal Services
This option was considered but rejected having regard to the scale, complexity and specialist nature of the proposed transaction and existing service demands.
Option 5 - Take No Further External Legal Advice
This option was rejected because the proposed acquisition is a significant and complex transaction requiring specialist legal advice.
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| DWF LAW LLP | £70,000 † | — | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 099764-2026-1 · DWF LAW LLP
- Signed
- 14 Sept 2026
- Value
- £70,000
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1bids | — | — | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- The High Court of JusticeReview body
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- DWF Law LLPAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.