Official UK procurement notice
Framework for Major Project Legal Services
Authority: Associated British Ports
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionABP is establishing a panel of law firms who it may appoint to provide planning and consenting advice, as well as other legal advice and strategy, for complex, large-scale, multi-year projects in respect of its nationally significant infrastructure. The framework will run for 5 years.
The framework will be a national framework across ABP’s portfolio of property across the UK. The successful applicants will be required to evidence their ability to deliver the services as set out in the scope.
The framework value is estimated at £10,000,000 this is not committal spend or guarantee of services.
CPV: Legal advisory and information services · Legal advisory and representation services · Legal advisory services · Legal representation services · Legal services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Closed framework
- Call-offs
- call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
- Framework period
- 5 yrs from 2 Nov 2026
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
The Contracting Authority confirms that no framework access fees, management fees, or percentage charges will be levied on suppliers in connection with participation in or use of this framework.
Published description of the framework
The Contracting Authority intends to establish a Legal Services Framework as a closed framework under the Procurement Act 2023.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedWhat 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: 70%
- Commercial: 30%
Published award criteria (2)
- Technical
- Commercial
- Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “Framework for Major Project 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
- Light touch regime
- 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
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 17 Sept 2026, 13:15 BST
- Last source update
- 17 Sept 2026, 13:15 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 29 Oct 2026
- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-088198- Accelerated
- Light touch contract
- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-07745aFind a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 8 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 · The Contracting Authority confirms that no framework access fees, management fees, or percentage charges will be levied on suppliers in connection with participation in or use of this framework.
Timeline
17 Sept 2026 → 2 Nov 2026 · 4 dates- Tender notice published39 days ago17 Sept 2026, 13:15 BST
- Admission / appointment period ends18 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown8 Oct 2026, 14:00 BST
- Today27 Oct 2026
- Award decision expected byin 2 days29 Oct 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract startsin 5 days2 Nov 2026
Notice history
1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender- Tender notice published17 Sept 2026, 13:15 BSTUK4
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specifications Interested suppliers must register on the In‑Tend e‑sourcing portal to express an interest in this opportunity. Access to all procurement documentation will be provided via the portal, and all tender submissions must be completed and submitted electronically through the In‑Tend s…
Notices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender