Official UK procurement notice
Legal Services · UK public procurement notice
Authority: Crescent Purchasing Consortium Limited (Public body)·Consortium: 2 public authorities
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe new Legal Services Framework is a re-tender of the previous legal services framework that was managed by a third party on behalf of CPC. This has now been brought in-house and will be contract managed by CPC for its duration. The old framework consisted of 7 lots which has now been reduced to one with 14 suppliers. This aims to provide members with a comprehensive range of legal services through a streamlined route to market. This simplified lot structure reduces procurement complexity and enables members to access specialist legal support quickly and efficiently, while ensuring high-quality, tailored legal advice to meet their specific needs.
The framework brings together a strong panel of experienced suppliers capable of delivering high-quality, cost-effective legal advice and representation. Services are available to schools, academies, colleges, universities and educational trusts, as well as local authorities and organisations across the wider public sector via Crescent Services.
The new framework offers a wide range of benefits such as:
- Single lot covering a wide range of legal services
- Efficient, streamlined procurement process
- Pre-vetted and evaluated suppliers that provide high-quality, cost-effective legal advice and representation
- Suppliers cover a wide range of support across education, governance, employment, property, commercial, litigation and more
- Set pricing at framework level; pricing schedules can be shared with members, so you know costs upfront with no hidden fees
- Call-off Conditions of Contract set at framework level; no need to review complex supplier terms and conditions
CPV: Legal advisory and information services · Legal advisory and representation services · Legal advisory services · Legal representation services · Legal services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Open framework
- Call-offs
- call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
- Bids received
- 14 bids received · 14 suppliers appointed
- Framework period
- 3 yrs · up to 4 yrs from 30 Mar 2026
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
1.50% of call-off value · A Framework Fee of 1.0% is required for all business placed under this Framework by CPC Educational Member Institutions and Local Authorities when procuring on behalf of Educational Establishments.
A Framework Fee of 1.5% is required for all business placed under this Framework by any Wider Public Sector (WPS) organisations via Crescent Services.
CPC is a registered charity and we re-invest surplus funds directly back into the education sector. For more information, please see: www.thecpc.ac.uk/funding ↗
Who may buy through it
Any contracting authorities in the United Kingdom can use this framework.
Published description of the framework
Pricing
The following roles all have set day rates for 12 months:
PARTNER
SENIOR ASSOCIATE
ASSOCIATE
SENIOR SOLICITOR
SOLICITOR
LEGAL EXECUTIVE
PARALEGAL
These prices are available to be shared with CPC and Crescent Services members, ensuring transparency, consistency and value for money. Suppliers are only able to increase costs once an annum, and only by evidencing increased outgoings in relation to statutory costs, for example, an increase in National Insurance.
Call-off Mechanisms
Under Threshold:
- Direct award to any supplier on the framework - if your institutions financial regulations allow
- Quotation exercise via the CPC Quote Tool
- Mini Competition via MultiQuote or an alternative e-tendering system
Above Threshold:
- Direct award to the top ranked supplier for that Lot (unless this supplier confirms they cannot fulfil the contract, then you can approach the second highest ranked supplier, and so on)
- Mini competition via MultiQuote or an alternative e-tendering system
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedWhat 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 award criteria (2)
- Quality
- Price
- Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “Legal Services” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract: call-offs may be direct or by further competition.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
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
- Any contracting authorities in the United Kingdom can use this framework.
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 22 Oct 2025, 14:27 BST
- Last source update
- 14 Apr 2026, 10:33 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 30 Mar 2026
- Authority reference
CPC/KO/03/2025- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-067517- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d1b1Find a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 5 Dec 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 11 Nov 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
call-off levy · 1.50% of call-off value · A Framework Fee of 1.0% is required for all business placed under this Framework by CPC Educational Member Institutions and Local Authorities when procuring on behalf of Educational Establishments.
A Framework Fee of 1.5% is required for all business placed under this Framework by any Wider Public Sector (WPS) organisations via Crescent Services.
CPC is a registered charity and we re-invest surplus funds directly back into the education sector. For more information, please see: www.thecpc.ac.uk/funding ↗
To access this opportunity, log in to suppliers.multiquote.com ↗ and view the opportunity. If you are not registered with MultiQuote, please visit suppliers.multiquote.com ↗, complete the registration form on the log in page and quote the title and reference of the notice in your registration.
Timeline
22 Oct 2025 → 14 Apr 2026 · 8 dates- Tender notice published365 days ago22 Oct 2025, 14:27 BST
- Clarification questions by345 days ago11 Nov 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Admission / appointment period ends321 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown5 Dec 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Assessment summaries sent241 days ago23 Feb 2026
- Standstill ends230 days ago5 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract starts206 days ago30 Mar 2026, 00:00 BST
- Award decision expected by205 days ago30 Mar 2026, 23:59 BST
- Latest notice published191 days ago14 Apr 2026, 10:33 BST
Notice history
8 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 22 Oct 2025- Tender notice published22 Oct 2025, 14:27 BSTUK4
- Tender notice published18 Nov 2025, 09:48 GMTUK4
- Deadline moved to 5 Dec 2025, 12:00 GMT18 Nov 2025, 09:48 GMT+7 days · was 28 Nov 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Contract award notice published24 Feb 2026, 21:04 GMTUK6
- Status changed to complete24 Feb 2026, 21:04 GMT
- Buyer details updated24 Feb 2026, 21:04 GMT
- Contract signature expected16 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMTscheduled
- Contract details notice published14 Apr 2026, 10:33 BSTUK7
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2025-10: 1 release · 22 Oct 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron & Partners LLP, Bates Wells & Braithwaite London LLP (T/A Bates Wells), CAPITAL LAW LIMITED, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP, Forbes Solicitors, Veale Wasbrough Vizards LLP +8 more30 Mar 2026 – 29 Mar 2029 · up to 29 Mar 2030Extensions: This framework will operate on a 3+1 basis. The extension will be utilised so long as everything is running smoothly and the suppliers are in agreement. | £10,000,000 | 23 Feb 2026 | Awarded |
Contracts
Legal Services Framework Conditions of Contract · Aaron & Partners LLP, Bates Wells & Braithwaite London LLP (T/A Bates Wells), CAPITAL LAW LIMITED, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP, Forbes Solicitors, Veale Wasbrough Vizards LLP +8 more
- Signed
- 30 Mar 2026
- Value
- £10,000,000
- Period
- 30 Mar 2026 – 29 Mar 2029 · up to 29 Mar 2030 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- One 12 month extension is available following the initial three years of the framework.
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14final-stage tenders | 2 | 0 | — |
Who bid
- wonAARON & PARTNERS LLP · North West England
- wonBATES WELLS & BRAITHWAITE LONDON LLP · Greater London
- wonCAPITAL LAW LIMITED · Wales (Cymru)
- did not winCLARKE WILLMOTT LLP · South East England
- wonEVERSHEDS SUTHERLAND (INTERNATIONAL) LLP · Greater London
- wonFORBES SOLICITORS LLP · North West England
- did not winGELDARDS LLP · Wales (Cymru)
- did not winSHAKESPEARE MARTINEAU LLP · West Midlands
- did not winSTONE KING LLP · South West England
- wonVEALE WASBROUGH VIZARDS LLP · South West England
- wonWARD HADAWAY LLP · North East England
- did not winWEIGHTMANS LLP · North West England
- did not winWILKIN CHAPMAN LLP · Yorkshire and the Humber
- wonWOMBLE BOND DICKINSON (UK) LLP · Greater London
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
2 public bodies on the noticeConsortium members and other public bodies
- Crescent Purchasing Consortium LimitedContracting authorityPublic undertaking
Framework contractors & participating bidders
14 commercial parties on the notice- AARON & PARTNERS LLPFramework contractor
- BATES WELLS & BRAITHWAITE LONDON LLPFramework contractor
- CAPITAL LAW LIMITEDFramework contractor
- CLARKE WILLMOTT LLPFramework contractor
- EVERSHEDS SUTHERLAND (INTERNATIONAL) LLPFramework contractor
- FORBES SOLICITORS LLPFramework contractor
- GELDARDS LLPFramework contractor
- SHAKESPEARE MARTINEAU LLPFramework contractor
- STONE KING LLPFramework contractor
- VEALE WASBROUGH VIZARDS LLPFramework contractor
Show 4 more suppliers
- WARD HADAWAY LLPFramework contractor
- WEIGHTMANS LLPFramework contractor
- WILKIN CHAPMAN LLPFramework contractor
- WOMBLE BOND DICKINSON (UK) LLPFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications (5)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender