MOBILIST: Legal Services & Specialist Advise

CPV: Foreign economic-aid-related services

Procedure method

Negotiated without publication of a contract notice

Legal basis

CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)

Procurement category

Services

Notice status

Awarded

Procurement threshold

Unspecified in notice

Regulatory regime

Standard

Commercial structure

Stand-alone contract (no framework)

Competition type

Competitive procedure

GPA / WTO covered

Unspecified in notice

Recurring procurement

Unspecified in notice

First published

2 Mar 2026, 15:57 GMT

Last source update

2 Mar 2026, 15:57 GMT

FTS notice number

2026/S 000-018599

Classification (CPV)

Foreign economic-aid-related services

Delivery area

UK

Official registry OCID

ocds-h6vhtk-066008 Find a Tender

Why no open competition

The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator due to absence of competition for technical reasons

Published justification

The Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) intends to award £60,000 (ex VAT) financial uplift to MOBILIST: Legal Services & Specialist Advise contract with Dentons UK and Middle East LLP. This amendment is for the finalisation of ongoing commissioned work only.

The award of this contract modification without prior publication is deemed lawful under Regulation 72(1)(b) PCR 2015. This provision permits contracting authorities to modify an existing contract without triggering a new procurement procedure where additional services have become necessary, the change could not have been foreseen by a diligent contracting authority, and changing supplier cannot be carried out for economic or technical reasons without causing significant inconvenience or substantial duplication of costs.

In this case, the additional legal services required for the MOBILIST programme meet all the conditions set out in Article 72(1)(b).The additional services were not foreseeable at the time of contract award.

The original framework call‑off was based on a projected legal demand aligned to a modest and predictable investment pipeline. Following award, the MOBILIST pipeline expanded significantly beyond original expectations. This material increase in volume and complexity could not reasonably have been foreseen during the original procurement.

Changing supplier would cause substantial duplication of costs and significant operational risk. The incumbent supplier has developed detailed programme‑specific knowledge, is actively engaged in multiple ongoing transactions, and is currently completing due‑diligence and advisory work already commissioned. Changing supplier mid‑process would require extensive onboarding, re‑performance of work, and reconstruction of legal and transactional history, resulting in significant duplication of cost and time. It would also expose the authority to operational, financial, and legal risks and a lapse in essential foreign‑jurisdiction legal coverage.

The modification does not alter the overall nature of the contract. The uplift relates solely to financial continuity for work already commissioned. It does not alter the scope, duration, deliverables, technical characteristics, KPIs, or personnel. No new activities beyond the original purpose, specialist legal advisory support for MOBILIST investment activities are being introduced.

The value of the modification remains within the permitted threshold. The uplift of £60,000 (ex VAT) represents less than 50% of the original contract value, in line with the quantitative limits permitted under Article 72(1)(b) and PCR Regulation 6 (valuation methodology). The modification is therefore compliant with proportionality and threshold requirements.

A new procurement procedure is already planned for future requirements. The modification is strictly time‑limited and serves only as a temporary bridge until a compliant procurement is completed. It therefore does not circumvent competition but preserves continuity until a new competitive or compliant route is executed.

Publisher note: The Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) intends to award £60,000 (ex VAT) financial uplift to MOBILIST: Legal Services & Specialist Advise contract with Dentons UK and Middle East LLP. This amendment is for the finalisation of ongoing commissioned work only. The award of this contract modification without prior publication is deemed lawful under Regulation 72(1)(b) PCR 2015. This provision permits contracting authorities to modify an existing contract without triggering a new procurement procedure where additional services have become necessary, the change could not have been foreseen by a diligent contracting authority, and changing supplier cannot be carried out for economic or technical reasons without causing significant inconvenience or substantial duplication of costs. In this case, the additional legal services required for the MOBILIST programme meet all the conditions set out in Article 72(1)(b).The additional services were not foreseeable at the time of contract award. The original framework call‑off was based on a projected legal demand aligned to a modest and predictable investment pipeline. Following award, the MOBILIST pipeline expanded significantly beyond original expectations. This material increase in volume and complexity could not reasonably have been foreseen during the original procurement. Changing supplier would cause substantial duplication of costs and significant operational risk. The incumbent supplier has developed detailed programme‑specific knowledge, is actively engaged in multiple ongoing transactions, and is currently completing due‑diligence and advisory work already commissioned. Changing supplier mid‑process would require extensive onboarding, re‑performance of work, and reconstruction of legal and transactional history, resulting in significant duplication of cost and time. It would also expose the authority to operational, financial, and legal risks and a lapse in essential foreign‑jurisdiction legal coverage. The modification does not alter the overall nature of the contract. The uplift relates solely to financial continuity for work already commissioned. It does not alter the scope, duration, deliverables, technical characteristics, KPIs, or personnel. No new activities beyond the original purpose, specialist legal advisory support for MOBILIST investment activities are being introduced. The value of the modification remains within the permitted threshold. The uplift of £60,000 (ex VAT) represents less than 50% of the original contract value, in line with the quantitative limits permitted under Article 72(1)(b) and PCR Regulation 6 (valuation methodology). The modification is therefore compliant with proportionality and threshold requirements. A new procurement procedure is already planned for future requirements. The modification is strictly time‑limited and serves only as a temporary bridge until a compliant procurement is completed. It therefore does not circumvent competition but preserves continuity until a new competitive or compliant route is executed.

• Dentons UK & Middle East LLPAwarded supplierOC322045 One Fleet Place, LONDON, UK, EC4M 7WS

No document links were published on the notice.