Official UK procurement notice
Legal Panel 2026 · UK public procurement notice
Authority: Pension Protection Fund (Public body)
What is being bought4 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionWe are seeking proposals from external, third-party suppliers in relation to the establishment of a panel to provide legal services to the Board of the Pension Protection Fund.
Bidders will have the opportunity to bid on any of the four lots:
Lot 1 Services (Legal Advisory Services) - maximum 4 bidders will be appointed to this lot.
Lot 2 Services (Asset Management) - maximum 6 bidders will be appointed to this lot.
Lot 3 Services (Real Estate) - maximum 3 bidders will be appointed to this lot.
Lot 4 Services (Schemes in Assessment) - maximum 3 bidders will be appointed to this lot.
The new panel will be live from Monday 2nd February 2026 and successfully appointed Bidders must be capable of commencing services from this date.
The contract term will be for an initial term of 24-months with two optional extension periods of 12-months each to take the maximum possible term to 48 months (2+1+1).
This notice is linked to a UK2 - Early Market Engagement Notice, with the below reference numbers. There appears to be a validation bug where we're unable to link the UK2 notice with this UK4 - Tender Opportunity notice, which we are raising with BravoSolutions.
Notice number:
2025/S 000-011208
Procedure ID:
ocds-h6vhtk-04f8a3
Notice reference
2025-041381
CPV: Legal services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Closed framework
- Call-offs
- call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
- Places
- up to 16 suppliers · 22 bids on the busiest of 4 lots (1.4 per place) · 10 appointed
- Framework period
- 2 yrs · up to 4 yrs from 2 Feb 2026
Published description of the framework
Lot 1 and 2 - direct award based on fees submitted at tender stage. Or a further compeition can be conducted.
Lot 3 and 4 - direct award based on fees agreed in the pre-defined rate card. Or a further compeition can be conducted.
Lots and requirements (4)Procurement structure
4 lots · all with a published value · same evaluation weights on every lotEvery one of these 2 lots carries the same published figure, £3,000,000: it is the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each lot's own budget, and no share per lot is published. The cards below say ceiling above rather than repeat it.
Lot #1Legal Advisory Services to the BoardAwardedRenewalceiling above
The source published no individual description for this lot.
Lot #2Asset Management ServicesAwardedRenewalPublished value£8,000,000
The source published no individual description for this lot.
Lot #3Real EstateAwardedRenewalPublished value£2,000,000
The source published no individual description for this lot.
Lot #4Schemes in AssessmentAwardedRenewalceiling above
The source published no individual description for this lot.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published sub-criteria (1)
- Technical: 100%
Published award criteria (1)
- Technical: Technical Evaluation All four Lots are weighted at 100% quality. Commercial Evaluation Lot 1 (Legal Advisory Services to the Board) and Lot 2 (Asset Management Services): For both Lots, a Blank Rate Card will be provided for Bidders to complete as part of their submission Submitted rate card pricing from Bidders will then be assessed using the Price per Quality Point (PQP) method. This method is explained further in the ITT Documents. For Lot 3 (Real Estate) and Lot 4 (Schemes in Assessment) Bidders will be provided a pre-determined uniform rate cards. The rates set out in these uniform rate cards are not negotiable as part of the process. Bidders are deemed to have accepted these rates if they submit a bid to deliver services under Lot 3 and/or Lot 4.
- “Legal Panel 2026” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 16 suppliers, not a single contract: call-offs may be direct or by further competition.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Light touch regime
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 2 Sept 2025, 14:11 BST
- Last source update
- 14 Oct 2026, 11:13 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 2 Dec 2025
- Authority reference
CS0801- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-053182- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-059242Find a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 30 Sept 2025, 10:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 12 Sept 2025, 10:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
2 Sept 2025 → 14 Oct 2026 · 8 dates- Tender notice published2 Sept 2025, 14:11 BST
- Clarification questions by12 Sept 2025, 10:00 BST
- Admission / appointment period ends385 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown30 Sept 2025, 10:00 BST
- Award decision expected by322 days ago2 Dec 2025, 23:59 GMT
- Assessment summaries sent288 days ago6 Jan 2026
- Standstill ends278 days ago15 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract starts261 days ago2 Feb 2026
- Latest notice published6 days ago14 Oct 2026, 11:13 BST
Notice history
6 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 2 Sept 2025- Tender notice published2 Sept 2025, 14:11 BSTUK4
- Contract award notice published6 Jan 2026, 16:28 GMTUK6
- Status changed to complete6 Jan 2026, 16:28 GMT
- Contract signature expected16 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMTscheduled
- Contract signature expected30 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMTscheduled
- Contract details notice published14 Oct 2026, 11:13 BSTUK7
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast£3,000,000 is the framework's published maximum, restated by the publisher on 2 award rows. It is one ceiling, not 2 separate sums, and no share per lot is published; those rows read “ceiling above”.
| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 · Legal Advisory Services to the Board1 award | |||
| Bird & Bird LLP, Burges Salmon LLP, MILLS AND REEVE, Osborne Clarke LLP1 Feb 2026 – 31 Jan 2028 · up to 31 Jan 2030Extensions: The contract term will be for an initial term of 24-months with two optional extension periods of 12-months each to take the maximum possible term to 48 months (2+1+1). | ceiling above | 6 Jan 2026 | Awarded |
| Lot 2 · Asset Management Services1 award | |||
| Addleshaw Goddard LLP, CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP, Eversheds Sutherland, Herbert Smith Freehills, Osborne Clarke LLP, Pinsent Mason LLP1 Feb 2026 – 31 Jan 2028 · up to 31 Jan 2030Extensions: The contract term will be for an initial term of 24-months with two optional extension periods of 12-months each to take the maximum possible term to 48 months (2+1+1). | £8,000,000 | 6 Jan 2026 | Awarded |
| Lot 3 · Real Estate1 award | |||
| Burges Salmon LLP, MILLS AND REEVE, Osborne Clarke LLP1 Feb 2026 – 31 Jan 2028 · up to 31 Jan 2030Extensions: The contract term will be for an initial term of 24-months with two optional extension periods of 12-months each to take the maximum possible term to 48 months (2+1+1). | £2,000,000 | 6 Jan 2026 | Awarded |
| Lot 4 · Schemes in Assessment1 award | |||
| CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP, Gowling WLG (UK) LLP, Osborne Clarke LLP1 Feb 2026 – 31 Jan 2028 · up to 31 Jan 2030Extensions: The contract term will be for an initial term of 24-months with two optional extension periods of 12-months each to take the maximum possible term to 48 months (2+1+1). | ceiling above | 6 Jan 2026 | Awarded |
Contracts
All 2 of these contracts carry the same published figure, £3,000,000, the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each contract's own value. They are not eleven separate sums.
Lot 1. Legal Advisory Services to the Board · Bird & Bird LLP, Burges Salmon LLP, MILLS AND REEVE, Osborne Clarke LLP
- Signed
- 26 Jan 2026
- Value
- ceiling above
- Period
- 1 Feb 2026 – 31 Jan 2028 · up to 31 Jan 2030 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- The contract term will be for an initial term of 24-months with two optional extension periods of 12-months each to take the maximum possible term to 48 months (2+1+1).
Lot 2. Asset Management Services · Addleshaw Goddard LLP, CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP, Eversheds Sutherland, Herbert Smith Freehills, Osborne Clarke LLP, Pinsent Mason LLP
- Signed
- 26 Jan 2026
- Value
- £8,000,000
- Period
- 1 Feb 2026 – 31 Jan 2028 · up to 31 Jan 2030 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- The contract term will be for an initial term of 24-months with two optional extension periods of 12-months each to take the maximum possible term to 48 months (2+1+1).
Lot 3. Real Estate · Burges Salmon LLP, MILLS AND REEVE, Osborne Clarke LLP
- Signed
- 26 Jan 2026
- Value
- £2,000,000
- Period
- 1 Feb 2026 – 31 Jan 2028 · up to 31 Jan 2030 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- The contract term will be for an initial term of 24-months with two optional extension periods of 12-months each to take the maximum possible term to 48 months (2+1+1).
Lot 4. Schemes in Assessment · CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP, Gowling WLG (UK) LLP, Osborne Clarke LLP
- Signed
- 26 Jan 2026
- Value
- ceiling above
- Period
- 1 Feb 2026 – 31 Jan 2028 · up to 31 Jan 2030 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- The contract term will be for an initial term of 24-months with two optional extension periods of 12-months each to take the maximum possible term to 48 months (2+1+1).
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Legal Advisory Services to the Board | 22final-stage tenders | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2 · Asset Management Services | 19final-stage tenders | 0 | 0 | — |
| 3 · Real Estate | 15final-stage tenders | 3 | 0 | — |
| 4 · Schemes in Assessment | 11final-stage tenders | 1 | 0 | — |
Who bid
- did not winA&O Shearman · Greater London · 2, 1
- did not winArc Pensions Law LLPSME · Greater London · 4
- did not winBevan Brittan · South West England · 1, 4, 3
- did not winDavitt Jones BouldSME · Greater London · 3
- did not winFieldfisher LLP · Greater London · all lots
- did not winGateley Plc · West Midlands · 4
- did not winHCR Legal LLP · East Midlands · 1, 4, 3
- did not winHogan Lovells International LLP · Greater London · 2, 1
- did not winKPMG LLP · Greater London · 1
- did not winLinklaters LLP · Greater London · 2, 1
- did not winNorton Rose Fulbright · Greater London · 2, 1, 3
- did not winRussell-Cooke LLPSME · Greater London · 1
- did not winSimmons & Simmons LLP · Greater London · 2
- did not winStephenson Harwood LLP · Greater London · 1, 4
- did not winThe Wilkes Partnership LLPSME · West Midlands · 3
- did not winWhite & Case LLP · Greater London · 2
- did not winWinckworth Sherwood LLPSME · Greater London · 3
- did not winWinston & Strawn · Greater London · 2
- did not winWomble Bond Dickinson · Greater London · 2, 1, 3
- did not winTravers Smith LLP · Greater London · 2, 1
- wonOsborne Clarke LLP · South West England · all lots
- wonBurges Salmon · South West England · all lots
- wonHerbert Smith Freehills · Greater London · 2, 1
- wonCMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang · North West England · all lots
- wonEversheds Sutherland · Yorkshire and the Humber · 2, 1, 3
- wonBird & Bird · Greater London · 1
- wonAddleshaw Goddard · Greater London · 2, 1, 3
- wonMills & Reeve LLP · North West England · 2, 1, 3
- wonPinsent Mason LLP · Scotland · 2, 1, 4
- wonGowling WLG (UK) LLP · West Midlands · all lots
Bidders as named on the Procurement Act 2023 award notice. “Won” means the bidder holds an award on this notice.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Framework contractors & participating bidders
30 commercial parties on the notice · 10 awarded- A&O ShearmanBidder / tenderer
- Addleshaw GoddardFramework contractor
- Arc Pensions Law LLPBidder / tenderer
- Bevan BrittanBidder / tenderer
- Bird & BirdFramework contractor
- Burges SalmonFramework contractor
- CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro OlswangFramework contractor
- Davitt Jones BouldBidder / tenderer
- Eversheds SutherlandFramework contractor
- Fieldfisher LLPBidder / tenderer
Show 20 more suppliers
- Gateley PlcBidder / tenderer
- Gowling WLG (UK) LLPFramework contractor
- HCR Legal LLPBidder / tenderer
- Herbert Smith FreehillsFramework contractor
- Hogan Lovells International LLPBidder / tenderer
- KPMG LLPBidder / tenderer
- Linklaters LLPBidder / tenderer
- Mills & Reeve LLPFramework contractor
- Norton Rose FulbrightBidder / tenderer
- Osborne Clarke LLPFramework contractor
- Pinsent Mason LLPFramework contractor
- Russell-Cooke LLPBidder / tenderer
- Simmons & Simmons LLPBidder / tenderer
- Stephenson Harwood LLPBidder / tenderer
- The Wilkes Partnership LLPBidder / tenderer
- Travers Smith LLPBidder / tenderer
- White & Case LLPBidder / tenderer
- Winckworth Sherwood LLPBidder / tenderer
- Winston & StrawnBidder / tenderer
- Womble Bond DickinsonBidder / tenderer
Official documents & specifications (9)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender