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CPU 8280 Legal partner for PFIs - Tram

Nottingham City Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

11 Aug 2026 at 14:37

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Nottingham City Council procured legal advisory and representation services for its tram public-private partnership contract. The appointed legal partner will advise on ongoing operational matters through to the contract’s cessation, including day-to-day operational advice within existing budgets and additional work associated with the end of the PFI contract. The requirement covers the East Midlands, with Nottingham City Council as the buying organisation. This is a specialist legal services opportunity focused on public transport contracting, PFI arrangements, operational contract management and contract-end activity, rather than general legal support. Businesses relevant to this requirement would typically be law firms or specialist legal practices with experience advising public authorities and transport-sector clients on long-term infrastructure contracts.

The procurement has been completed and awarded. It used an above-threshold open procedure, with the award made on 31 May 2026. DLA Piper UK LLP was selected by Nottingham City Council for an awarded value of £500,000. The contract runs from 1 June 2026 to 5 September 2028. The stated procurement value and the awarded value are both £500,000. The tender deadline was 31 May 2026 at 12:00. The evaluation concerned the delivery of legal advisory and representation services for the tram PFI contract, including operational advice and end-of-contract work. The opportunity was identified as unsuitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises.

For a supplier that did not win this procurement, the award demonstrates sustained demand from Nottingham City Council for specialist legal support around tram operations and the lifecycle of a PFI contract. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need demonstrable experience advising public-sector clients on transport infrastructure, complex long-term contractual arrangements, operational obligations, budgets and contract cessation or transition work. Relevant capability would include a team able to provide continuing day-to-day advice as well as focused support for end-of-contract issues, with sufficient depth to manage a substantial public-sector mandate. The stated suitability assessment indicates that the buyer viewed the requirement as requiring the scale and resources of an established specialist legal practice rather than an SME or VCSE.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

CPU 8280 Legal partner for PFIs - Tram

Notice Description

To agree to the direct appointment of a supplier to advise on the ongoing operational aspects of the Tram contract through to its cessation. This will include existing budgets for day to day operational advice and an additional allocation for end of PFI contract work.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-525ddc53-cb56-4b45-8a53-7fba384b3853
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/0d686961-2d19-40fd-9358-1cdc1813706f
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure (above threshold)
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79110000 - Legal advisory and representation services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£500,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£500,000 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
31 May 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
31 May 20262 months ago
Contract Period
1 Jun 2026 - 5 Sep 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Nottingham City Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
NOTTINGHAM
Postcode
NG2 3NG
Postcode Area
Nottingham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF1 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF14 Nottingham
Delivery Location
TLF East Midlands (England)
Local Authority
Nottingham
Electoral Ward
Castle
Westminster Constituency
Nottingham East

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

DLA Piper UK LLP

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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