Tender

Procurement of Criminal Legal Aid Services from 1 October 2025

THE LEGAL AID AGENCY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

17 Sep 2024 at 11:14

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Legal Aid Agency is seeking applications for the provision of Criminal Legal Aid Services under the 2025 Standard Crime Contract, commencing from 1 October 2025. This opportunity spans multiple regions across the United Kingdom, including North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West, and Wales. Prospective suppliers should note that the procurement is currently in the Tender stage, with an initial application deadline set for 23:59 on 22 October 2024. The procurement process employs an open procedure, specifically designed to support SMEs and VCSEs, within the legal services sector, and involves different stages to allow for phased contract commencements and integration into Duty Rotas between October 2025 and September 2034.

This tender offers a substantial opportunity for businesses specialising in criminal legal aid to secure long-term contracts valued at £1.8 billion. The extensive regional coverage and the staggered integration stages provide ample scope for businesses to build robust service delivery models and expand their footprint in the public legal aid sector. Ideally suited to established legal practices as well as smaller, community-focused legal service providers, this procurement aims to ensure widespread access to quality legal aid services across England and Wales. Businesses are encouraged to review the Application Guide and engage in the clarification period to optimise their tender submissions.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Procurement of Criminal Legal Aid Services from 1 October 2025

Notice Description

The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) is inviting Applicants to submit a Tender for a 2025 Standard Crime Contract ("Crime Contract") to deliver publicly funded criminal legal aid services from 1 October 2025. Applicants wishing to deliver criminal legal aid services under a Crime Contract must submit a response to the SQ for 2025 Standard Crime Contracts - Stage 1 and the 2025 Standard Crime Contract ITT - Stage 1. This application period opens on 17 September 2024. The LAA intends that the application period will remain open until on, or around, 30 September 2034, subject to the right of early termination. The first stage of the process is for those who wish their contract to commence on 1 October 2025 and to be able to join Duty Rotas from this date also. The second stage of the process will open on 23 October 2024 and close on 30 April 2025 and is for those who wish there contract to commence on 1 October 2025 and to be able to join duty rotas that commence in January 2026. The third stage will open on 1 May 2025 and will close on, or around, 30 September 2034. The deadline for submitting a Tender in the first stage is 23:59 on 22 October 2024. You must read the Application Guide (AG) document for this procurement process before submitting your Tender. The AG can be found in the 'Attachments' section of ITT 1032 - '2025 Standard Crime Contract - Stage 1 Selection Questionnaire for ' or can be downloaded from GOV.UK: Crime Contract 2025 Tender - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) We will accept questions about this AG up until 23:59 on 1 October 2024 (referred to below as 'End date for supplier clarification messages'). Questions must be submitted through the relevant eTendering message board. Further information on how to submit a question can be found in the AG.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-af36540f-18d1-4097-8283-51bf16c63927
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/1d00c75e-ea00-4c1c-b73f-62bada9d43b0
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure (below threshold)
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
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
£1,800,000,000 £1B-£10B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Sep 20241 years ago
Submission Deadline
22 Oct 2024Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Sep 2025 - 30 Sep 2035 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE LEGAL AID AGENCY
Contact Name
Legal Aid Agency
Contact Email
civiltenders@justice.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1H 9AJ
Post Town
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
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England), TLL Wales
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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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