Provision of Legal Advisers for the Public Ownership Programme

Official notice

Authority: DFT Operator Limited 'DFTO' (Central government)

ServicesAward procedure without prior publication of a call for competition

Sectors: Business Services & Consultancy (79) Delivery: UK

Awarded value£3,650,000published contract · exc. VAT

Awarded 27 Aug 2026no call for competition

Awarded to Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Legal Adviser support to the Public Ownership Programme, providing advice and guidance on the due diligence and mobilisation activities undertaken by DFTO in transferring Train Operating Companies (TOCs) into public ownership.

CPV: Legal services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published

Lot #1Compliant direct award via GCA Framework Legal Panel for Government RM6360 for the…Awarded

Compliant direct award via GCA Framework Legal Panel for Government RM6360 for the provision of legal advice and services.

Delivery: UK

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record

Procedure method: Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Legal basis: CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
Procurement category: Services
Notice status: Awarded without competition
Procurement threshold: Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime: Standard
Commercial structure: Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type: Direct award (no call for competition)
GPA / WTO covered: Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement: Unspecified in notice
First published: 27 Aug 2026, 17:37 BST
Last source update: 27 Aug 2026, 17:37 BST
FTS notice number: 2026/S 000-081971
Classification (CPV): Legal services
Delivery area: UK
Official registry OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06ee11 Find a Tender

Why no open competition: The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive
Published justification: Compliant direct award via GCA Framework Legal Panel for Government RM6360 for the provision of legal advice and services

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast

Awards 1

Awarded value £3,650,0001 contract exc. VAT

Bids received 1

Contracts signed 1latest 27 Aug 2026

Awarded to	Value	Date	Status
Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP	£3,650,000 †	—	Awarded

Contracts

Contract 081971-2026-1 · Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP
Signed
27 Aug 2026
Value
£3,650,000
Status
active

Bid statistics published by the authority

Bids	SME	VCSE	Valid bid range
1bids	—	—	—

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

DFT OPERATOR LIMITED

Contracting authorityCentral GovernmentBody governed by public lawTransport GB-COH: 07141122 Waterloo General Office 2nd Floor, London, London, SE18SWContact name, email

Dispute resolution & review bodies

High CourtReview body London

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLPAwarded supplierGB-COH: OC304065 London, UK

Official documents & specifications

Official links; attachments are not copied

No document links were published on the notice.