Official UK procurement notice
National LGPS Framework for Legal Services
Authority: Norfolk County Council (Local council)·On behalf of: LGPS CENTRAL LIMITED
What is being bought7 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionNorfolk County Council on its own behalf and on behalf of the Pension Funds listed below wish to let a Multi-Provider Framework Agreement for the provision of specialist support for pension legal services primarily in the support of The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
The Framework Agreement is being let by Norfolk County Council as the contracting authority, and can be used by:
- Norfolk County Council and its agents
- Any successor body to the Council including any company formed by the Council to carry out its LGPS functions
- Any organisation the Council outsources its LGPS requirements to
- Any public body with which the Council enters into pooling arrangements for the provision of its LGPS services.
The Council is working closely with the following contracting authorities, who have expressed an intention to procure services under the Framework:
- City of Edinburgh Council (as Administering Authority of Lothian Pension Fund)
- City of Wolverhampton Council (as Administering Authority of the West Midlands Pension Fund)
- LGPS Central Ltd
- Local Pensions Partnership Investments Ltd (LPPI)
- Northern Ireland Local Government Officers' Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC)
- Staffordshire County Council (as Administering Authority for Staffordshire Pension Fund)
In addition to those listed above, the framework may also be used by:
- any LGPS administering authorities as defined in the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/2356) (as amended) including the Firefighters' Pension Scheme and Police Pension Schemes and any of their participating employing authorities, or in relation to the LGPS in Scotland, any administering authority and any of their scheme employers as defined in the Local Government Pension Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (SSI 2018/141) (as amended),
NILGOSC in Northern Ireland and employing authorities as defined in the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (SRNI 2014/188) (as amended),
Border to Coast Pensions Partnership Limited www.bordertocoast.org.uk ↗
Northern LGPS Limited northernlgps.org ↗
Wales Pension Partnership Investment Management Limited wppinvestments.com ↗
the Board of the Pension Protection Fund www.pensionprotectionfund.org.uk ↗,
Local Government Association (LGA) www.local.gov.uk ↗
any other administering authority or scheme manager of a public-sector pension scheme or any public-sector body that requires pensions related services, and
asset pool companies (as defined in the Pension Schemes Act 2026) and any legacy pooling arrangements (referred to in this document as an "LGPS Pool")and
any LGPS Fund(s) or groups of funds, or any bodies, organisations or companies established by them for the purpose of operating on a collective basis.
This Framework will be split into Lots.
Please note the estimated values are across all lots.
CPV: Legal services · Pension 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
- Framework period
- 8 yrs from 18 Jan 2027
- Scheme runs until
- 17 Jan 2035
- Buyer regions
- UK
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
- 1.50% of call-off value
Who may buy through it
- Any LGPS administering authorities as defined in the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/2356) (as amended) including the Firefighters' Pension Scheme and Police Pension Schemes and any of their participating employing authorities, or in relation to the LGPS in Scotland, any administering authority and any of their scheme employers as defined in the Local Government Pension Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (SSI 2018/141) (as amended),
- NILGOSC in Northern Ireland and employing authorities as defined in the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (SRNI 2014/188) (as amended),
- The Board of the Pension Protection Fund.
- Any other administering authority or scheme manager of a public-sector pension scheme or any public-sector body that requires pensions related services, and
- Any LGPS Fund(s) or groups of funds, or any bodies, organisations or companies established by them for the purpose of operating on a collective basis.
Published description of the framework
Users of the framework will appoint service providers by re-opening competition and running a further competition exercise amongst those providers identified within the relevant Lot of the framework as being capable of suppling the required services (all lots), or through direct award i.e. single tender to one provider (all lots).
Under this Framework Agreement users will be allowed to directly award to one supplier on the Framework Agreement without competing the requirement. Price may be a component when selecting the supplier to be awarded the contract.
Lots and requirements (7)Procurement structure
7 lots · all with a published value · same conditions of participation on every lot · same evaluation weights on every lotEvery one of these 7 lots carries the same published figure, £40,000,000: 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 #1Full Service (England and Wales)ceiling above
The scope of Lot 1 covers advice on all aspects of the laws and regulations of England and Wales relevant to LGPS funds, Administering Authorities, scheme employers (in respect of their participation in the LGPS) and asset pool companies (as defined in the Pension Schemes Act 2026) and any legacy pooling arrangements.
Please note the estimated values are across all lots.
- Economic & financial standing
As per the Invitation to Tender.
- Technical & professional ability
As per the Invitation to Tender.
Lot #2Full Service (Scotland)ceiling above
The scope of Lot 2 covers advice on all aspects of the laws and regulations of Scotland relevant to LGPS funds, administering authorities, scheme employers (in respect of their participation in the LGPS) and LGPS Pools/collaborative arrangements
Framework users are likely to use Lot 2 where they need Scots-law specific advice which requires a combination of advice across different areas of expertise (i.e. a 'full-scope' Scottish service).
Please note the estimated values are across all lots.
- Economic & financial standing
As per the Invitation to Tender.
- Technical & professional ability
As per the Invitation to Tender.
Lot #3Full Service (Northern Ireland)ceiling above
The scope of Lot 3 covers advice on all aspects of the laws and regulations of Northern Ireland relevant to the LGPS in Northern Ireland (hereafter 'NI'), the Northern Ireland Local Government Officers Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC), employing authorities (in respect of their participation in the LGPS) and LGPS Pools/collaborative arrangements.
Framework users are likely to use Lot 3 where they need specific advice on matters of NI law which requires a combination of advice across different areas of expertise (i.e. a 'full-scope' NI service).
Please note the estimated values are across all lots.
- Economic & financial standing
As per the Invitation to Tender.
- Technical & professional ability
As per the Invitation to Tender.
Lot #4Investment and Regulatory Compliance (UK Wide)ceiling above
The scope of Lot 4 is focused on legal advice relating to different aspects of pension fund investment and investment management or/administration (including as part of an LGPS Pool).
Please note the estimated values are across all lots.
- Economic & financial standing
As per the Invitation to Tender.
- Technical & professional ability
As per the Invitation to Tender.
Lot #5Benefit Administration, Employer Bodies and Governance (England and Wales)ceiling above
The scope of Lot 5 covers legal advice on all aspects of the laws and regulations of England and Wales relating to pensions administration, management, governance and the admission, participation and exit of scheme employers.
Please note the estimated values are across all lots.
- Economic & financial standing
As per the Invitation to Tender.
- Technical & professional ability
As per the Invitation to Tender.
Lot #6Benefit Administration, Employer Bodies and Governance (Scotland)ceiling above
The scope of Lot 6 covers legal advice on all aspects of the laws and regulations of Scotland relating to pension administration, management, governance and the admission, participation and exit of scheme employers.
Please note the estimated values are across all lots.
- Economic & financial standing
As per the Invitation to Tender.
- Technical & professional ability
As per the Invitation to Tender.
Lot #7Benefit Administration, Employer Bodies and Governance (Northern Ireland)ceiling above
The scope of Lot 7 covers legal advice on all aspects of the laws and regulations of Northern Ireland relating to pensions administration, management, governance and the admission, participation and exit of employing authorities.
Please note the estimated values are across all lots.
- Economic & financial standing
As per the Invitation to Tender.
- Technical & professional ability
As per the Invitation to Tender.
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 award criteria (2)
- Quality: 1. Organisation Structure and Service Delivery 4% 2. Key Person Risk 5% 3. Commitment to the LGPS and Maintaining up to date Knowledge 4% 4. Knowledge and support and added value 4% 5. Environmental, Social and Governance 4% 6. Artificial Intelligence 4% 7. Investment - Regulatory Change 6% 8. Investment - Investment Structures 6% 9. Investment - Fund Documentation Review 6% 10. Investment - Fiduciary Duties 6% 11. Investment - Governance 6% 12. Benefits Related - Regulatory Challenges 5% 13. Benefits Related - Employer Issues 6% 14. Benefits Related - Conflicts of Interest4% 15. Benefits Related - Discretionary Policies4% 16. Benefits Related - Internal Dispute Resolution Procedures6%
- Price
- Economic & financial standing
As per the Invitation to Tender.
- Technical & professional ability
As per the Invitation to Tender.
- Price carries 20 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 2 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “National LGPS Framework for 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
- Closed
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Open framework scheme
- Who may use this agreement
- - Any LGPS administering authorities as defined in the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/2356) (as amended) including the Firefighters' Pension Scheme and Police Pension Schemes and any of their participating employing authorities, or in relation to the LGPS in Scotland, any administering authority and any of their scheme employers as defined in the Local Government Pension Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (SSI 2018/141) (as amended), - NILGOSC in Northern Ireland and employing authorities as defined in the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (SRNI 2014/188) (as amended), - The Board of the Pension Protection Fund. - Any other administering authority or scheme manager of a public-sector pension scheme or any public-sector body that requires pensions related services, and - Any LGPS Fund(s) or groups of funds, or any bodies, organisations or companies established by them for the purpose of operating on a collective basis. · open scheme: new suppliers can join during the term
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 22 May 2026, 09:17 BST
- Last source update
- 10 Sept 2026, 09:45 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 3 Dec 2026
- Authority reference
NCCT43383- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-085665- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a048Find a Tender
- Risks
On 4 December 2025, the Secretary of State for Local Government made a written statement [UIN HCWS1128] stating that the government intends to establish a Mayoral Strategic Authority for Norfolk and Suffolk as soon as possible, and that it is minded to hold inaugural mayoral elections in May 2028.
Although Norfolk's councils were expected to take part in a move to Unitary status in the near future, the proposal to merge smaller authorities and the County Council have, for the timebeing, been withdrawn.
Should the establishment of a Mayoral Strategic Authority covering Norfolk go ahead, the Framework Agreement may be transferred, assigned or novated to any successor authority(ies) or joint authority(ies) or Mayoral Strategic Authority that will take over and perform the functions of this Framework Agreement from Norfolk County Council.
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 16 Oct 2026, 14:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 2 Oct 2026, 14:00 BST
- 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
This procurement will be managed electronically via the Councils e-procurement system. To participate in this procurement, applicants must first be registered on the system at in-tendhost.co.uk/norfolkcc ↗. Full instructions for registration and use of the system can be found at in-tendhost.co.uk/norfolkcc/aspx/Buyer… ↗. Once registered you will be able to see the procurement project under the tenders section and express an interest to view the documentation and access any clarifications. If you encounter any difficulties whilst using the system you can contact the In-tend support team by phoning +44 8442728810 or e-mailing [email protected].
Timeline
22 May 2026 → 18 Jan 2027 · 8 dates- Planning notice published157 days ago22 May 2026, 09:17 BST
- Market engagement147 days ago1 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
For more information and to register your interest in the market engagement, please visit In-Tend in-tendhost.co.uk/norfolkcc/aspx/Home ↗
- Next notice expected48 days ago8 Sept 2026, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published46 days ago10 Sept 2026, 09:45 BST
- Clarification questions by24 days ago2 Oct 2026, 14:00 BST
- Admission / appointment period ends10 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown16 Oct 2026, 14:00 BST
- Today26 Oct 2026
- Award decision expected byin 39 days3 Dec 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract startsin 84 days18 Jan 2027
Notice history
3 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 22 May 2026- Planned procurement notice published22 May 2026, 09:17 BSTUK3
- Preliminary market engagement notice published22 May 2026, 09:36 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published10 Sept 2026, 09:45 BSTUK4
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
5 public bodies on the noticeOther public bodies
- LGPS CENTRAL LIMITEDBeneficiary authority
- City of Wolverhampton Council (as Administering Authority of the West Midlands Pension Fund)Procuring entitySpecification writing and assessing tenders
- LGPS CENTRAL LIMITED WolverhamptonProcuring entitySpecification writing and assessing tenders
- Staffordshire County Council (as Administering Authority for Staffordshire Pension Fund)Procuring entitySpecification writing and assessing tenders
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Planned procurement notice Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender