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Provision of Solicitors for UK Covid-19 Inquiry

Government Commercial Agency

This public procurement record has 6 releases in its history.

AwardUpdate

26 Aug 2026 at 07:50

Award Notice
AwardUpdate

12 May 2026 at 09:53

Award Notice
AwardUpdate

02 Apr 2024 at 12:08

Award Notice
AwardUpdate

28 Mar 2024 at 11:04

Award Notice
AwardUpdate

05 Jan 2024 at 10:02

Award Notice
Award

05 Jan 2024 at 09:25

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry procured legal services from the Government Commercial Agency for the Inquiry Chair. The requirement was for a Solicitor to the Inquiry and a supporting legal team to provide continuous legal advice on the operation of the Inquiry. The work supports the Inquiry’s legal and operational decision-making, including its approach to closedown and significantly reduced deliverables. Delivery is across the United Kingdom. The procurement is categorised as legal services. The selected supplier, Burges Salmon LLP, is a large legal practice based in Bristol. The buying organisation is the Government Commercial Agency, acting for the Cabinet Office. This is a specialist advisory requirement rather than general legal support or the supply of goods, construction or facilities services.

The procurement is complete and was awarded to Burges Salmon LLP by direct award. The award date was 29 September 2023, following a tender deadline of 29 September 2023 at 10:00. The awarded value and total contract value are £37,635,940. The contract period runs from 18 December 2023 to 30 September 2027. The existing contract was extended on a time-only basis within the total contract value, to support reduced deliverables as the Inquiry approaches closedown. The award is active. The opportunity was evaluated through a direct-award route rather than an open competition, and the procurement was not identified as suitable for SMEs or voluntary, community and social enterprises.

This award indicates sustained demand from the Cabinet Office for a specialist legal team supporting a major public inquiry, with responsibility for continuous advice on how the inquiry operates. A credible future competitor would need solicitors able to advise an inquiry chair directly, work as an integrated supporting legal team, and maintain continuity across a complex, long-running public-sector programme. Relevant capability includes handling legal and procedural issues arising during inquiry operations, adapting advice as the programme moves towards closure, and managing a reduced delivery profile without losing senior oversight. The selected supplier was classified as large, and the procurement was not considered suitable for SMEs or voluntary, community and social enterprises, indicating a scale and organisational profile suited to established legal practices.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Solicitors for UK Covid-19 Inquiry

Notice Description

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry requires a Solicitor to the Inquiry and supporting legal team to provide continuous legal advice to the Inquiry Chair on the operation of the Inquiry. As referenced in the Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice (published 14/05/26 with a 10-day standstill period), the contract was extended via a time-only extension within the existing total contract value. The extension ensures the delivery of significantly reduced deliverables as the Inquiry approaches closedown.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-911ad9ea-3527-4cca-b995-f82d1d39d1e3
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/3fef2a49-21bf-4f3a-89e8-281184bb3495
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Other - Direct Award
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

79100000 - Legal services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£37,635,940 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£37,635,940 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
26 Aug 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
29 Sep 2023Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
29 Sep 20232 years ago
Contract Period
18 Dec 2023 - 30 Sep 2027 3-4 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
Government Commercial Agency
Additional Buyers

Crown Commercial Service

Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LIVERPOOL
Postcode
L3 9PP
Postcode Area
Liverpool
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD7 Merseyside
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD72 Liverpool
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Liverpool
Electoral Ward
City Centre North
Westminster Constituency
Liverpool Riverside

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Burges Salmon LLP

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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