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UKSAC26_0061 NSpOC OBSERVE Legal Advice

Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

15 Sep 2026 at 10:31

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology, acting for the UK Space Agency, procured specialist legal services for the National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC) OBSERVE programme. The requirement covers legal advice and drafting for a complex national security-related procurement of a sovereign space domain awareness radar capability and associated infrastructure. Support includes developing tender documents, participating in dialogue, drafting the contract, managing procurement risks and providing ad hoc legal advice throughout the procurement process. This is a legal services contract, classified under CPV 79100000. The work supports activity in the United Kingdom and may involve delivery across Europe, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, British Overseas Territories and other international locations.

This procurement has been completed and awarded following a selective mini-competition under the RM6360 Legal Panel for Government framework, Lot 2, using a framework call-off. The tender submission deadline was 28 August 2026 at 23:59. The contract was awarded on 7 September 2026 to Addleshaw Goddard LLP for £18,000 including the stated currency of GBP. The contract period runs from 7 September 2026 to 31 March 2027. The award is active and the tender is complete. The requirement was identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises, although the selected supplier is a large organisation. The procurement was evaluated through the framework mini-competition process.

This award indicates demand for law firms able to advise on highly complex public procurement involving national security, sovereign space capabilities and major infrastructure. A credible future supplier would need strong public procurement expertise, including tender development, competitive dialogue, contract drafting and procurement risk management. Experience advising government or other public-sector bodies on sensitive, security-related technology procurements would be particularly relevant, alongside the ability to provide responsive ad hoc advice throughout a lengthy procurement process. The work also calls for capacity to support specialist space-domain-awareness requirements and associated infrastructure, rather than general commercial legal work alone. SMEs are identified as suitable, so a smaller specialist practice with the necessary technical and public-sector capability could be well placed when comparable requirements return.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

UKSAC26_0061 NSpOC OBSERVE Legal Advice

Notice Description

***** THIS IS AN AWARD NOTICE, NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION ***** This procurement has been run as a mini competition under RM6360 Legal Panel for Government Framework (Lot 2). The UK Space Agency has procured specialist legal services to support the National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC) OBSERVE programme. The appointed supplier will provide dedicated legal advice and drafting support for a complex national security-related procurement of a sovereign space domain awareness radar capability and associated infrastructure, including support for tender development, dialogue, contract drafting, procurement risk management and ad hoc legal advice throughout the procurement process.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-582452c3-3666-4b0e-8dd3-6c751302bbec
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/4f25f26f-447a-4d86-b63c-2a0e30ca5d32
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Call-off from a framework agreement
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

79100000 - Legal services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£18,000 Under £100K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Sep 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
7 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
7 Sep 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 months
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
Department for Science, Innovation & Technology
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1A 2EG
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Addleshaw Goddard LLP

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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