North West Legal Consortium fires gun on procurement of next solicitors framework
The North West Legal Consortium (NWLC) has begun the procurement of its next multi-million pound, four-year legal services framework.
The consortium, which currently has 49 members drawn from the public sector in the North West of England, has divided the framework into the following lots:
- Civil Litigation, Prosecutions and Regulatory.
- Property, Planning and Environment.
- Corporate Governance, Ethical Standards and Information Law.
- Projects, Procurement and Commercial.
- Social Care and Education.
- Partner Status (Optional).
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is procuring the framework on behalf of Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council.
Sefton said it “wishes to procure a framework contract to provide external legal services from solicitors to support the in-house provision of its member organisations.
“The estimated total value of purchases for the entire duration of the framework agreement is expected to be worth up to £15 million. This figure is an estimate only and may be exceeded. However, no guarantee is given as to any level of business to be awarded through the framework.”
Sefton added: "There is the possibility of membership extending during the course of the framework to other organisations including local authorities, combined authorities, police and fire authorities, housing organisations central and local government arm’s length bodies, agencies and controlled companies, non-departmental bodies, education providers and NHS bodies, primarily but not exclusively from across the North West of England and North Wales."
The closing date is 2 December 2019. The contract is expected to start on 1 April 2020 and run until 1 April 2024.
In April 2016 the North West Legal Consortium named 18 law firms to its re-let solicitors panels, which were then estimated to be worth £10m.
Geldards and Hill Dickinson joined DAC Beachcroft and Weightmans as part of a small group of practices with 'partner' status.