Official UK procurement notice
Legal Advice for Employment Tribunal
Authority: Velindre University NHS Trust Please note NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (hosted by Velindre University NHS Trust) will manage this procurement on behalf of the contracting authority. Due to having the same identifiers, we're unable to reflect this in the notice options. (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionProvision Of specialist legal advice and support in relation to
an ongoing Employment Tribunal claim for Velindre University
NHS Trust. The contract will provide ongoing employment
law advice, strategic case management support, assistance
with witness evidence and documentation, advice on legal
risks and procedural matters, and support in preparation for
Tribunal proceedings. A direct award to Bates Wells is
proposed to ensure continuity Of service, avoid delays and
duplication Of costs, and maintain access to specialist
knowledge already established through previous support on
this matter. Please note NHS Wales Shared Services
Partnership (hosted by Velindre University NHS Trust) will
manage this procurement on behalf Of the contracting
authority Due to having the same identifiers, we're unable to
reflect this in the notice options
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1Awarded
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Direct award
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- 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
- 8 Oct 2026, 12:35 BST
- Last source update
- 27 Oct 2026, 13:03 GMT
- Authority reference
VEL-DIR (26-27) 104- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-101538- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0783aaFind a Tender
- Why no open competition
- Single Suppliers Intellectual Property Exclusive Rights
- Published justification
Direct award approved under the Single Supplier Exemption process. The requirement is for specialist legal services falling within the exemptions set out in Schedule 2 of the Procurement Act 2023. Continuity of legal advice and specialist expertise are required, making a competitive process inappropriate
- Risks
There is a risk that the duration and complexity of the Employment Tribunal proceedings may change as the case progresses, resulting in a requirement for additional legal support. Further costs may be incurred if new evidence, witnesses, hearings or Tribunal directions arise. There is also a risk that appointing an alternative supplier could lead to delays, duplication of effort and increased costs, as a new provider would need to familiarise themselves with the case. Ongoing contract management and regular engagement with Bates Wells will be used to monitor performance and mitigate these risks.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- —
Timeline
19 Oct 2026 → 27 Oct 2026 · 2 dates- Standstill ends9 days ago19 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
- Notice published37h ago27 Oct 2026, 13:03 GMT
Notice history
4 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 8 Oct 2026- Transparency notice published8 Oct 2026, 12:35 BSTUK5
- Contract award notice published8 Oct 2026, 14:01 BSTUK6
- Contract signature expected23 Oct 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published27 Oct 2026, 13:03 GMTUK7
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bate Wells25 Oct 2026 – 24 Oct 2027 · up to 23 Oct 2028Extensions: The contract includes an option to extend for a further 12 months beyond the initial term. Any extension will be exercised in two six-month tranches, subject to satisfactory supplier performance, ongoing service requirements and approval by the Trust. | £500,000 | 29 Sept 2026 | Awarded |
Contracts
Legal Advice for Employment Tribunal · Bate Wells
- Signed
- 27 Oct 2026
- Value
- £500,000
- Period
- 27 Oct 2026 – 26 Nov 2027
- Status
- active
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Bate WellsAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (4)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender