Official UK procurement notice
715959477 - LEGAL SERVICES FOR PAC 2026
Authority: Ministry of Defence (Central government)·Consortium: 5 public authorities
What is being bought14 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionLEGAL SERVICES FOR PAC 2026 GOVERMENT LEGAL SERVICES FRAMEWORK RM6360
CPV: Legal advisory and information services · Legal advisory and representation services · Legal advisory services · Legal documentation and certification services · Legal representation services · Legal services · Services specific to international organisations and bodies
How this framework works
From the published notice- Bids received
- 41 bids received · 2 suppliers appointed
Lots and requirements (14)Procurement structure
14 lots · 7 with a published value · evaluation weights differ by lotLot #1Core Legal ServicesAwardedLot estimate not published
LEGAL SERVICES. Additional information: LEGAL SERVICES FOR PAC 2026 - MANDATORY GOVERMENT LEGAL SERVICES
Lot #2Major Projects and Complex AdviceCancelledLot estimate not published
Lot 2 covers Major Projects and Complex Advice, requiring suppliers to manage high-risk, innovative initiatives with multiple priorities across a wide range of mandatory legal specialisms, including Litigation. Suppliers must navigate evolving project lifecycles,
proactively addressing risks and advising on new or existing policies where established solutions may not yet exist. Additional information: 10 Suppliers were awarded a place for this Lot.
Lot #3Finance and High Risk / InnovationCancelledLot estimate not published
Lot 3 covers the highest-risk and most complex legal matters across a wide range of mandatory legal specialisms, including groundbreaking projects, major regulatory challenges, large-scale infrastructure programs, and high-value litigation. It also
encompasses intricate finance and capital markets work, such as international capital markets, asset finance, restructuring, and insolvency. Additional information: 7 Suppliers were awarded a place for this Lot.
Lot #4Rail Legal ServicesCancelledLot estimate not published
Lot 5 provides specialist legal services for the rail industry, requiring in-depth knowledge of its regulatory framework. It recognises the unique nature of rail law and its critical role in supporting national transport objectives. Additional information: 8 Suppliers were awarded a place for this Lot.
Lot #5Trade and Investment NegotiationsCancelledLot estimate not published
Lot 4a covers legal advice on negotiating and implementing trade and investment agreements, ensuring compliance with international law, including WTO regulations, free trade agreements, international treaties, and EU law. Work includes drafting UK treaty text, supporting negotiations, analysing UK obligations, and providing treaty-related legal guidance on trade and investment. Additional information: 6 Suppliers were awarded a place for this Lot.
Lot #6International Trade DisputesCancelledLot estimate not published
Lot 4b provides legal advice and support for international trade disputes, representing the UK government in both offensive and defensive cases. It covers all stages of dispute resolution, WTO procedural rules, litigation strategy, and substantive legal issues, drawing on extensive experience in WTO and free trade agreement litigation. It also includes guidance on trade remedies and related investigations. Additional information: 6 Suppliers were awarded a place for this Lot.
Lot #7International Investment DisputesCancelledLot estimate not published
Lot 4c provides legal advice and support for treaty-based international investment disputes, representing the UK government in investor-State and inter-State proceedings. It covers all stages of dispute resolution, including written and oral advocacy, risk assessment for policy development, and managing disputes under the UK's investment treaties. This work spans
diverse economic sectors and technical areas, often involving high-sensitivity or public interest matters. Additional information: 8 Suppliers were awarded a place for this Lot.
Lot #8Core Legal ServicesRenewalPublished value£275,000,000
Lot 1 requires a full-service capability across a wide range of mandatory legal specialisms to meet the government's core legal service demands. It is designed to support buyers by providing general legal advice necessary for project delivery and addressing various legal issues. Additional information: The number of places on the Framework Agreement for this Lot is 10.
The value provided in section II.2.6) is only an estimate. Crown Commercial Service cannot guarantee any business through the framework agreement.
Lot #9Major Projects and Complex AdviceRenewalPublished value£200,000,000
Lot 2 covers Major Projects and Complex Advice , requiring suppliers to manage high-risk, innovative initiatives with multiple priorities across a wide range of mandatory legal specialisms, including Litigation. Suppliers must navigate evolving project lifecycles, proactively addressing risks and advising on new or existing policies where established solutions may not yet exist. Additional information: The number of places on the Framework Agreement for this Lot is 8.
The value provided in section II.2.6) is only an estimate. Crown Commercial Service cannot guarantee any business through the framework agreement.
Lot #10Finance and High Risk / InnovationRenewalPublished value£100,000,000
Lot 3 covers the highest-risk and most complex legal matters across a wide range of mandatory legal specialisms, including groundbreaking projects, major regulatory challenges, large-scale infrastructure programs, and high-value litigation. It also encompasses intricate finance and capital markets work, such as international capital markets, asset finance, restructuring, and insolvency. Additional information: The number of places on the Framework Agreement for this Lot is 6.
The value provided in section II.2.6) is only an estimate. Crown Commercial Service cannot guarantee any business through the framework agreement.
Lot #11Trade and Investment NegotiationsRenewalPublished value£30,000,000
Lot 4a covers legal advice on negotiating and implementing trade and investment agreements, ensuring compliance with international law, including WTO regulations, free trade agreements, international treaties, and EU law. Work includes drafting UK treaty text, supporting negotiations, analysing UK obligations, and providing treaty-related legal guidance on trade and investment. Additional information: The number of places on the Framework Agreement for this Lot is 6.
The value provided in section II.2.6) is only an estimate. Crown Commercial Service cannot guarantee any business through the framework agreement.
Lot #12International Trade DisputesRenewalPublished value£50,000,000
Lot 4b provides legal advice and support for international trade disputes, representing the UK government in both offensive and defensive cases. It covers all stages of dispute resolution, WTO procedural rules, litigation strategy, and substantive legal issues, drawing on extensive experience in WTO and free trade agreement litigation. It also includes guidance on trade remedies and related investigations. Additional information: The number of places on the Framework Agreement for this Lot is 6.
The value provided in section II.2.6) is only an estimate. Crown Commercial Service cannot guarantee any business through the framework agreement.
Lot #13International Investment DisputesRenewalPublished value£90,000,000
Lot 4c provides legal advice and support for treaty-based international investment disputes, representing the UK government in investor-State and inter-State proceedings. It covers all stages of dispute resolution, including written and oral advocacy, risk assessment for policy development, and managing disputes under the UK’s investment treaties. This work spans diverse economic sectors and technical areas, often involving high-sensitivity or public interest matters. Additional information: The number of places on the Framework Agreement for this Lot is 9.
The value provided in section II.2.6) is only an estimate. Crown Commercial Service cannot guarantee any business through the framework agreement.
Lot #14Rail Legal ServicesRenewalPublished value£75,000,000
Lot 5 provides specialist legal services for the rail industry, requiring in-depth knowledge of its regulatory framework. It recognises the unique nature of rail law and its critical role in supporting national transport objectives. Additional information: The number of places on the Framework Agreement for this Lot is 8.
The value provided in section II.2.6) is only an estimate. Crown Commercial Service cannot guarantee any business through the framework agreement.
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).
Lots publish different evaluation splits; there is no single procedure weighting.
1 more lots publish their own split on the notice.
- Suitability
Candidates will be assessed in accordance with Section 5 of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (implementing the directive) on the basis of information provided in response to an invitation to tender (ITT) registering for access.
- Price carries 10–30 points depending on the lot; most lots put it at 20 points.
- “715959477 - LEGAL SERVICES FOR PAC 2026” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record · publisher note attached- Procedure method
- Restricted procedure
- 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
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- No (one-off requirement)
- First published
- 26 Feb 2024, 08:07 GMT
- Last source update
- 25 Sept 2026, 12:37 BST
- Award evaluation window
- 1 Apr 2025 – …
- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-090965- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-043cb5Find a Tender
Publisher note: The value provided in Section II.1.7 is only an estimate. We cannot guarantee to suppliers any business through this Commercial Agreement. As part of this contract award notice the following can be accessed at: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/d224702b-00c3-4e8a-839e-407d1fecb4de 1) Redacted Commercial Agreement 2) List of Successful Suppliers 3) Approved Customer list 4) Transparency Agenda On 02/04/2014, Government introduced its Government Security Classifications (GSC) scheme which replaced Government Protective Marking Scheme (GPMS). A key aspect is the reduction in the number of security classifications used. All bidders were required to make themselves aware of the changes as it may impact this requirement. This link provides information on the GSC at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-security-classifications Cyber Essentials is a mandatory requirement for Central Government contracts which involve handling personal information or provide certain ICT products/services. Government is taking steps to reduce the levels of cyber security risk in its supply chain through the Cyber Essentials scheme. The scheme defines a set of controls which, when implemented, will provide organisations with basic protection from the most prevalent forms of threat coming from the internet. To participate in this procurement, bidders were required to demonstrate they comply with the technical requirements prescribed by Cyber Essentials, for services under and in connection with this procurement.
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 8 Apr 2025, 15:00 BST
- Submission channel
- {"electronicSubmission","written"}
- Accepted languages
- en
- Bids opened
- 1 Apr 2025, 15:01 BST
Timeline
27 Jan 2025 → 25 Sept 2026 · 5 dates- Next notice expected27 Jan 2025
- Bids opened1 Apr 2025, 15:01 BST
- Admission / appointment period endsperiod end, not a bid countdown8 Apr 2025, 15:00 BST
- Bids must remain valid until335 days ago26 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
- Notice published33 days ago25 Sept 2026, 12:37 BST
Notice history
10 events · 5 releases on Find a Tender · since 28 Mar 2025- Published value updated to £820,000,00028 Mar 2025, 10:54 GMTwas £650,000,000
- Status changed to active28 Mar 2025, 10:54 GMT
- Procurement method changed28 Mar 2025, 10:54 GMT
- Deadline moved to 8 Apr 2025, 15:00 BST28 Mar 2025, 10:54 GMT+7 days · was 1 Apr 2025, 15:00 BST
- Deadline published: 1 Apr 2025, 15:00 BST28 Mar 2025, 10:54 GMT
- Buyer details updated28 Mar 2025, 10:54 GMT
- Status changed to complete11 Dec 2025, 11:11 GMT
- Buyer details updated11 Dec 2025, 11:11 GMT
- Procurement method changed25 Sept 2026, 12:37 BST
- Buyer details updated25 Sept 2026, 12:37 BST
Published amendments (1 · 1 deadline change)
| When | What | Before | After | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | DeadlineIV.2.2 | 1 Apr 2025 | 8 Apr 2025 | +7 d |
| — | Bid openingIV.2.7 | 1 Apr 2025 | 8 Apr 2025 | +7 d |
1 amendment published without a description.
Routine re-releases (5)
- 2025-03: 1 release · 28 Mar 2025
- 2024-02: 1 release · 26 Feb 2024
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast2 suppliers are admitted to this framework without individual award values or dates, see the supplier list below.
Contracts
715959477 LEGAL SERVICES FOR PAC 2026
- Signed
- 25 Sept 2026
- Value
- £25,000
- Status
- active
Contract 081840-2025-1
- Signed
- 30 Sept 2025
- Value
- £820,000,000
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Core Legal Services | 41bids · 41 electronic | — | — | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
3 public bodies on the noticeConsortium members and other public bodies
- The Minister for the Cabinet Office acting through Crown Commercial ServiceContracting authorityCentral purchasing bodyMinistry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisionsGeneral public services
- The Minister for the Cabinet Office acting through Crown Commercial Service (CCS)Contracting authorityCentral purchasing bodyMinistry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisionsPublic Procurement
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- Defence Infrastructure OrganisationReview body
Framework contractors & participating bidders
2 commercial parties on the notice- MILLS AND REEVEFramework contractor
- See Contracts Finder Notice for full supplier listFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Economic and financial selection criteria
- Technical selection criteria