Official UK procurement notice
LEGAL SERVICES PA23 · UK public procurement notice
Authority: LUPC Ltd (Public body)·Consortium: 2 public authorities
What is being bought3 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionLondon Universities Purchasing Consortium (LUPC) is establishing a multi-provider framework agreement for the provision of legal services in England and Wales. The framework will be available to the members of LUPC, HEPCW, NEUPC, NWUPC, and SUPC. It will need to support a diverse membership of universities and colleges of higher and further education, as well as other not-for-profit organisations in the education, arts, science, charity, and wider public sectors. The Services provided will need to support members with in-house legal teams, and members with no internal legal support. Projects will vary widely from small transactional call-offs, project driven requirements, and long-term ongoing legal support. The design of the Framework Agreement is to provide members with a range of law firms with different cultures, specialisms, and resources, while providing opportunities for SME law firms, and flexibility of call off options to meet our members ever changing needs.
- No preliminary market engagement: PIN was released under PCR2015 for the purpose of PME; however, the tender was not available to be published before PA23 regulations came into effect. This PIN is not being used since PA23, nor is being used to reduce time limits.
CPV: Legal services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Open framework · open framework scheme (admission reopens)
- Call-offs
- call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
- Places
- up to 24 suppliers · 11 bids on the busiest of 3 lots (0.5 per place) · 16 appointed
- Framework period
- 3 yrs · up to 5 yrs from 19 Aug 2025
- Buyer regions
- GG, IM, JE, UKC, UKD, UKE, UKF, UKG, UKH, UKI, UKJ, UKK, UKL, UKN
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
1% of call-off value · A framework levy will apply under this agreement. The Supplier shall pay a levy equal to
the percentage disclosed in the "Percentage fee charged to suppliers" section of this
notice. This levy is calculated as a percentage of the Supplier's total invoiced Charges
(excluding VAT) each quarter for all Call-Off Contracts awarded under the framework excluding disbursements. The
levy supports the ongoing management and administration of the framework. Full details are set out in the Framework Agreement.
Who may buy through it
Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium North Eastern Universities Purchasing Consortium North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium Higher Education Purchasing Consortium, Wales
Published description of the framework
This framework agreement provides a comprehensive pricing menu to allow members to award without competition, and supporting methods to select law firms based on practice areas, jurisdiction, and cost banding. This also supports options for further competition.
- Legal Services · University of Lincoln · 17 Jun 2026
- Legal Services · University of Lincoln · 16 Jun 2026
Notices that name this framework as their framework in the official record. Many call-offs are never published, so this is a floor, not utilisation.
Lots and requirements (3)Procurement structure
3 lots · all with a published value · a supplier may bid for at most 1 and win at most 1 of them · same conditions of participation on every lot · same evaluation weights on every lotEvery one of these 3 lots carries the same published figure, £12,500,000: 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 #1Sub Lot 1A Legal Services PA23 Band AAwardedRenewalceiling above
Group A Full-Service Law Firms - Maximum 8 (eight) law firms appointed, Participants awarded will have a mean average of seniority level rates of less than £200 per hour as calculated in Schedule 6 Pricing Schedule Sub Lot 1A provides legal services where the average hourly rate is
- Economic & financial standing
Refer to ITT for full details of legal and financial capacity conditions.
- Technical & professional ability
Refer to ITT for full details of technical requirements including mandatory requirements.
Lot #2Sub Lot 1B Legal Services PA23 Band BAwardedRenewalceiling above
Lot 1B - Group B Full-Service Law Firms - Maximum 8 (eight) law firms appointed, Participants awarded will have a mean average of seniority level rates of between £200 and less than £250 per hour as calculated in Schedule 6 Pricing Schedule
- Economic & financial standing
Refer to ITT for full details of legal and financial capacity conditions.
- Technical & professional ability
Refer to ITT for full details of technical requirements including mandatory requirements.
Lot #3Sub Lot 1C Legal Services PA23 Band CAwardedRenewalceiling above
6.1.1.3 Lot 1C - Group C Full-Service Law Firms - Maximum 8 (eight) law firms appointed, Participants awarded will have a mean average of seniority level rates of £250 per hour or greater as calculated in Schedule 6 Pricing Schedule
- Economic & financial standing
Refer to ITT for full details of legal and financial capacity conditions.
- Technical & professional ability
Refer to ITT for full details of technical requirements including mandatory requirements.
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 (2)
- Technical (Quality): 70%
- Commercial (Price): 30%
Published award criteria (2)
- Technical (Quality): Technical questions will be used to assess the participant's ability to perform the services of the contract.
- Commercial (Price): A structured pricing model (Schedule 6) will be used to evaluate the participant's bid split into a number of key pricing areas.
- Economic & financial standing
Refer to ITT for full details of legal and financial capacity conditions.
- Technical & professional ability
Refer to ITT for full details of technical requirements including mandatory requirements.
- Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “LEGAL SERVICES PA23” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 24 suppliers, 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
- Open framework scheme
- Who may use this agreement
- Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium North Eastern Universities Purchasing Consortium North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium Higher Education Purchasing Consortium, Wales · open scheme: new suppliers can join during the term
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 4 Jun 2025, 17:17 BST
- Last source update
- 20 Jan 2026, 16:19 GMT
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 24 Jul 2025
- Authority reference
PFB5088 LU- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-030045- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05431dFind a Tender- Contract terms summary
The framework supports a standard payment term of 30 days from accurate invoice submission date.
- Risks
This framework does not guarantee any value nor volume of use.
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 30 Jun 2025, 23:59 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 17 Jun 2025, 17:30 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
call-off levy · 1% of call-off value · A framework levy will apply under this agreement. The Supplier shall pay a levy equal to
the percentage disclosed in the "Percentage fee charged to suppliers" section of this
notice. This levy is calculated as a percentage of the Supplier's total invoiced Charges
(excluding VAT) each quarter for all Call-Off Contracts awarded under the framework excluding disbursements. The
levy supports the ongoing management and administration of the framework. Full details are set out in the Framework Agreement.
Timeline
4 Jun 2025 → 20 Jan 2026 · 8 dates- Tender notice published4 Jun 2025, 17:17 BST
- Clarification questions by17 Jun 2025, 17:30 BST
- Admission / appointment period endsperiod end, not a bid countdown30 Jun 2025, 23:59 BST
- Award decision expected by24 Jul 2025, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts19 Aug 2025, 00:00 BST
- Assessment summaries sent5 Sept 2025, 00:00 BST
- Standstill ends398 days ago16 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST
- Latest notice published273 days ago20 Jan 2026, 16:19 GMT
Notice history
7 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 4 Jun 2025- Tender notice published4 Jun 2025, 17:17 BSTUK4
- Tender notice published5 Jun 2025, 08:33 BSTUK4
- Contract award notice published5 Sept 2025, 20:17 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete5 Sept 2025, 20:17 BST
- Contract signature expected27 Sept 2025, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published20 Jan 2026, 16:19 GMTUK7
- Buyer details updated20 Jan 2026, 16:19 GMT
Published amendments (1)
Correct to lot value (incorrect error on original publication).
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2025-06: 1 release · 4 Jun 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast£12,500,000 is the framework's published maximum, restated by the publisher on 3 award rows. It is one ceiling, not 3 separate sums, and no share per lot is published; those rows read “ceiling above”.
| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 · Sub Lot 1A Legal Services PA23 Band A1 award | |||
| Brodies LLP, HCR Legal LLP, WARD HADAWAY LLP, Weightmans LLP1 Oct 2025 – 30 Sept 2028 · up to 30 Sept 2030Extensions: Extensions are used where the framework agreement continues to deliver value to the members with access to it. | ceiling above | 5 Sept 2025 | Awarded |
| Lot 2 · Sub Lot 1B Legal Services PA23 Band B1 award | |||
| Bevan Brittan, Birketts LLP, Brodies LLP, Browne Jacobson LLP, Clarke Willmott LLP, Muckle LLPSME +2 more1 Oct 2025 – 30 Sept 2028 · up to 30 Sept 2030Extensions: Extensions are used where the framework agreement continues to deliver value to the members with access to it. | ceiling above | 5 Sept 2025 | Awarded |
| Lot 3 · Sub Lot 1C Legal Services PA23 Band C1 award | |||
| Addleshaw Goddard LLP, Brodies LLP, DAC BEACHCROFT LLP, Freeths LLP, MILLS AND REEVE, Shakespeare Martineau LLP +2 more1 Oct 2025 – 30 Sept 2028 · up to 30 Sept 2030Extensions: Extensions are used where the framework agreement continues to deliver value to the members with access to it. These will be available as two one-year options. | ceiling above | 5 Sept 2025 | Awarded |
Contracts
All 3 of these contracts carry the same published figure, £12,500,000, the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each contract's own value. They are not eleven separate sums.
Contract 1 · Brodies LLP, HCR Legal LLP, WARD HADAWAY LLP, Weightmans LLP
- Signed
- 1 Oct 2025
- Value
- ceiling above
- Period
- 1 Oct 2025 – 30 Sept 2028 · up to 30 Sept 2030 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- Subject to the terms of the framework agreement the extension can be a maximum of 2 (two) years as one extension or in 1 (one) year increments.
Contract 2 · Bevan Brittan, Birketts LLP, Brodies LLP, Browne Jacobson LLP, Clarke Willmott LLP, Muckle LLPSME +2 more
- Signed
- 1 Oct 2025
- Value
- ceiling above
- Period
- 1 Oct 2025 – 30 Sept 2028 · up to 30 Sept 2030 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- Subject to the terms of the framework agreement the extension can be a maximum of 2 (two) years as one extension or in 1 (one) year increments.
Contract 3 · Addleshaw Goddard LLP, Brodies LLP, DAC BEACHCROFT LLP, Freeths LLP, MILLS AND REEVE, Shakespeare Martineau LLP +2 more
- Signed
- 1 Oct 2025
- Value
- ceiling above
- Period
- 1 Oct 2025 – 30 Sept 2028 · up to 30 Sept 2030 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- Subject to the terms of the framework agreement the extension can be a maximum of 2 (two) years as one extension or in 1 (one) year increments.
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Sub Lot 1A Legal Services PA23 Band A | 4final-stage tenders | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2 · Sub Lot 1B Legal Services PA23 Band B | 10final-stage tenders | 2 | 0 | — |
| 3 · Sub Lot 1C Legal Services PA23 Band C | 11final-stage tenders | 1 | 0 | — |
Who bid
- wonBRODIES LLP · Scotland · all lots
- wonHCR LEGAL LLP · West Midlands · 1
- wonWARD HADAWAY LLP · North East England · 1
- wonWEIGHTMANS LLP · North West England · all lots
- wonBEVAN BRITTAN LLP · South West England · 2
- wonBIRKETTS LLP · East of England · 2
- wonBROWNE JACOBSON LLP · East Midlands · 2
- wonCLARKE WILLMOTT LLP · South East England · 2
- wonMUCKLE LLPSME · North East England · 2
- wonTROWERS & HAMLINS LLP · Greater London · 2
- wonADDLESHAW GODDARD LLP · Greater London · 3
- wonDAC BEACHCROFT LLP · Greater London · 3
- wonFREETHS LLP · East Midlands · 3
- wonMILLS & REEVE LLP · Greater London · 3
- wonSHAKESPEARE MARTINEAU LLP · West Midlands · 3
- wonVEALE WASBROUGH VIZARDS LLP · South West England · 3
- did not winWOMBLE BOND DICKINSON (UK) LLP · Greater London · 2
- did not winHARRISON DRURY & Co LimitedSME · North West England · 2
- did not winEVERSHEDS SUTHERLAND (INTERNATIONAL) LLP · Greater London · 3
- did not winSTONE KING LLPSME · South West England · 3
- did not winWEDLAKE BELL LLP · Greater London · 3
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
- LUPCContracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government
Framework contractors & participating bidders
21 commercial parties on the notice · 16 awarded- ADDLESHAW GODDARD LLPFramework contractor
- BEVAN BRITTAN LLPFramework contractor
- BIRKETTS LLPFramework contractor
- BRODIES LLPFramework contractor
- BROWNE JACOBSON LLPFramework contractor
- CLARKE WILLMOTT LLPFramework contractor
- DAC BEACHCROFT LLPFramework contractor
- EVERSHEDS SUTHERLAND (INTERNATIONAL) LLPBidder / tenderer
- FREETHS LLPFramework contractor
- HARRISON DRURY & Co LimitedBidder / tenderer
Show 11 more suppliers
- HCR LEGAL LLPFramework contractor
- MILLS & REEVE LLPFramework contractor
- MUCKLE LLPFramework contractor
- SHAKESPEARE MARTINEAU LLPFramework contractor
- STONE KING LLPBidder / tenderer
- TROWERS & HAMLINS LLPFramework contractor
- VEALE WASBROUGH VIZARDS LLPFramework contractor
- WARD HADAWAY LLPFramework contractor
- WEDLAKE BELL LLPBidder / tenderer
- WEIGHTMANS LLPFramework contractor
- WOMBLE BOND DICKINSON (UK) LLPBidder / tenderer
Official documents & specifications (11)
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 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
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender