Crown Commercial Service to set up £50m, pan government rail legal services panel

The agreement will be used by the Department for Transport (DfT), and related organisations, which have a significant programme of rail franchises, major works and projects that require specialist rail legal services. Parliamentary agents may also be required.

The CCS said it would work in partnership with DfT and the Government Legal Department to establish this panel. It added that the potential benefits of such a panel would include:

• providing a more focused framework to give the market greater availability of work;
• ready access to highly experienced rail legal advisers;
• choice and competition, driving value for money;
• minimising the time and administrative burden to contract work.

The lotting structure of the framework will be determined as a result of the market engagement, the CCS said.