Framework for the provision of Legal Services

Description

The Framework will provide access to a comprehensive range of Legal Services.
It is let by the University of Essex and is open for use by all contracting authorities across the public sector throughout the UK (and any future successors to these organisations). These include (but not limited to) central government departments and agencies, Non Departmental Public Bodies, NHS bodies, Local Authorities, Police Authorities, Emergency Services, Educational Establishments, Hospices, Registered Charities, National Parks, Registered Social Landlords and any other body permitted by the Contracting Authority. Full details of the classification of eligible end user establishments and geographical areas is available at
https://www.dukefieldprocurement.co.uk/fts-eligible-users .
The Framework will be let across seven (7) Lots. There will be a maximum of eight (8) suppliers awarded a place on each of the Lots.

The University of Essex's Internal Reference Number is UOE/DU/LEGAL/01. The framework is being delivered by the University of Essex and its partners Dukefield Procurement Ltd (who are a subsidiary of Dukefield Ltd). Dukefield Procurement Ltd are acting as agents of the University of Essex in the development and ongoing contract management of this framework. The contracting authority will be using an eTendering system to conduct the procurement exercise. To access the procurement documentation suppliers must register their company details on the Sourcing Cloud system at: https://suppliers.multiquote.com
The tender is available from the opportunities menu on the login page of the site. The Contracting Authority shall not be under any obligation to accept the lowest tender or indeed any tender. The University of Essex expressly reserves the rights:
(a) to terminate the procurement process and not to award any contract as a result of the procurement process at any time;
(b) to make whatever changes it may see fit to the content and structure of the procurement as detailed within the tender documentation;
(c) to award a contract covering only part of it's requirements if explicitly detailed within the tender documentation;
(d) to disqualify any organisation from the process that canvasses any employee of the Contracting Authority during the procurement process or standstill period if applicable;
(e) seek clarifications to tender responses on the basis that any clarification sought will not confer any undue competitive advantage in the favour of any supplier from whom such clarifications are being sought;
(f) where the contracting authority can evidence that there is a conflict of interest, either personal or in consideration of any organisation bidding for the contract, the contracting authority shall have the explicit right to immediately exclude that person or organisation from the tender process entirely;
(g) where the contracting authority has engaged in any pre-market soft testing prior to the commencement of the procurement process, the contracting authority reserves the right to name any organisation that has been involved in these discussions and release any and all specifications/ discussion documents to the market where appropriate to the subject matter of this procurement;
(h) the contracting authority will not be liable for any costs incurred by tenderers;
(i) the value of the framework provided in section II.1.5 is only an estimate and the contracting authority will not guarantee any business through this framework agreement;
and
(j) the contracting authority wishes to establish a framework agreement open for use by all Public Sector Bodies as stated in II.1.4. Tenderers should note, in reference to section IV.1.3, envisaged maximum number of participants to the framework:
Where, following the evaluation of bids, more than one tenderer is tied with the same final evaluation score and are ranked in the last supplier award position, each of these tenderers shall be deemed to occupy the last framework agreement contract award position for the purpose of calculating the maximum number of suppliers under the framework. The contracting authority will award a framework agreement to additional tenderers on the framework beyond the stated maximum number, where their final evaluation score(s) is within 0.5% of the last placed position on the framework. For the avoidance of doubt, the last placed position in respect of this framework is 8th for all Lots. Therefore, tenderers within 0.5%, along with the tenderer in last placed position, shall be deemed to occupy the last framework agreement contract award position for the framework.

This Lot is designed to meet the Legal Services needs of organisations across the public sector throughout the entire United Kingdom. The Lot covers a comprehensive range of Legal Services but available across several workstreams including Human Resources Services, Academy Conversion and Post Conversion Services, Property Services, Commercial Services and Dispute and Litigation Services. Full details of the service provision are contained within the Invitation to Tender documentation. There will be a maximum of 8 suppliers awarded a place on this framework Lot.

This Lot is designed to meet the needs of organisations across the public sector for legal advice of a Human Resources, Pensions and People perspective. The Lot covers a comprehensive range of Human, Resources, Pensions and People related Legal Services. Full details of the service provision are contained within the Invitation to Tender documentation. There will be a maximum of 8 suppliers awarded a place on this framework
Lot.

This Lot is designed to meet the needs of organisations across the public sector for Academy Conversion and Post Conversion services. The Lot covers a comprehensive range of Academy Conversion and Post Conversion Legal Services Full details of the service provision are contained within the Invitation to Tender documentation. There will be a maximum of 8 suppliers awarded a place on this framework Lot.

This Lot is designed to meet the needs of organisations across the entire public sector for property legal services. The Lot covers a comprehensive range of Property Legal Services. Full details of the service provision are contained within the Invitation to Tender documentation. There will be a maximum of 8 suppliers awarded a place on this framework Lot.

This Lot is designed to meet the commercial legal services needs of organisations across the entire public. The Lot covers a comprehensive range of commercial - contracts, procurement, governance and related matters legal services. Full details of the service provision are contained within the Invitation to Tender documentation. There will be a maximum of 8 suppliers awarded a place on this framework Lot.

This Lot is designed to meet the dispute resolution and litigation needs of organisations across the entire public sector. The Lot covers a comprehensive range of dispute resolution and litigation legal services. Full details of the service provision are contained within the Invitation to Tender documentation. There will be a maximum of 8 suppliers awarded a place on this framework Lot.

This Lot is designed to meet the education legal services needs of organisations across the entire public sector. The Lot covers the comprehensive suite of Legal Services detailed within the Lot 1 National One Stop Shop Lot from an Education perspective plus access to Education specific services, particularly with reference to Higher Education and the University sector. Full details of the service provision are contained within the Invitation to Tender documentation. There will be a maximum of 8 suppliers awarded a place on this framework Lot.

Additional information

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