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Independent Water Commission Report and Pensions Advice

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

05 Aug 2026 at 11:29

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

DEFRA commissioned legal services covering an independent report for the Water Commission and advice on pensions. The work is classified as legal services and is a service procurement rather than a works or goods contract. Delivery is associated with DEFRA’s Seacole Building in London and the wider London area. The requirement combines independent policy or commission-report work with specialist pensions advice, so it is relevant to legal practices with experience advising public bodies on water-sector matters, pensions and related public policy. The named buying organisation is DEFRA. The requirement was structured as a single service, with the legal provider responsible for delivering the combined commission-report and pensions-advice scope.

The procurement has been awarded and the award is active. DEFRA used a selective call-off from a framework agreement rather than an open competition. DLA Piper UK LLP was selected on 13 July 2026 for £45,000 including the stated GBP currency. The contract period runs from 30 November 2026 to 30 November 2026, making this a one-day recorded service period. The underlying tender had a total estimated value of £45,000. The procurement is complete, and the award is for the full combined requirement: the independent Water Commission report and pensions advice. The opportunity was assessed as unsuitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises.

For firms that did not secure this award, the procurement indicates that DEFRA uses a framework call-off to obtain focused legal advice on major water-policy work and pensions. A credible future competitor would need to be able to deliver an independent commission report alongside specialist pensions advice, while understanding the requirements of a central government client. Framework participation or access would be important because this purchase was made through a call-off rather than an open tender. The selected supplier was DLA Piper UK LLP, indicating that the buyer accepted a large, established legal-services provider for this combined requirement. Firms with demonstrable public-sector legal experience, relevant water or environmental policy knowledge, pensions capability and sufficient capacity to handle a tightly defined assignment would be best placed to compete when the requirement returns.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Independent Water Commission Report and Pensions Advice

Notice Description

Independent Water Commission Report and Pensions Advice - Legal Services

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-707f5f9d-cb92-40de-a84b-ae5cd7d155ab
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8e0f8a01-35fe-4c81-b816-dbd588e6158d
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

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
£45,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£45,000 Under £100K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Aug 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
13 Jul 20262 months ago
Contract Period
30 Nov 2026 - 30 Nov 2026 24 hours
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 ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS
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
SW1P 3JR
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
TLI London
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

DLA Piper UK LLP

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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