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CORP168 Legal Advice for MARS

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

05 Aug 2026 at 11:53

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust procured legal advice for employees taking part in its Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme (MARS), a voluntary severance arrangement under which employees leave in return for a severance payment. The service is intended to ensure that each employee obtains independent legal advice, paid for by the Trust, before agreeing to leave. This is a legal services requirement, classified under CPV 79100000. Delivery is associated with the Trust’s location in Taunton and the South West of England. The buyer is Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. The requirement used a single-provider arrangement, with an agreed pricing structure intended to limit duplicated work and reduce administrative effort while preserving the required independence of advice.

The procurement has been completed and awarded. Somerset NHS Foundation Trust used a selective procedure to make a call-off from a framework agreement, with bids due by 24 June 2026 at 12:00. Freeths LLP was awarded the contract on 4 August 2026 for £33,000. The contract runs from 3 July 2026 to 2 July 2027. The award was for a single provider and covers the legal advice service for MARS participants. The evaluation approach is reflected in the framework call-off and agreed pricing structure, which were intended to secure the required level of independent advice while limiting duplication and saving time and money. The opportunity was identified as suitable for SMEs.

This award demonstrates a defined requirement for legal practices able to advise employees independently in connection with NHS voluntary severance arrangements. A credible future competitor would need practical expertise in employment-related advice, the capacity to advise multiple MARS participants, and processes that protect independence when the Trust is paying for the advice. The successful delivery model also requires consistent use of an agreed pricing structure, avoiding duplicated work and supporting efficient administration without reducing advice quality. Firms that can operate through a framework call-off and provide a reliable single-provider service would be well placed. The requirement is expressly suitable for SMEs, so a specialist employment law practice with sufficient capacity and robust client-handling procedures could compete when this buyer next requires the service.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

CORP168 Legal Advice for MARS

Notice Description

A Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme (MARS) is a form of voluntary severance, designed to enable employees to leave their employment voluntarily in return for a severance payment. Critical to the MARS is for the employee to seek independent legal advice which is paid for by the Trust. The Trust has awarded a call-off contract with a single provider using an agreed pricing structure which limits duplication and saves time and money whilst still achieving the required level of independence.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-e1a8026e-ba8e-4991-ad0c-332290f65a8b
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/d9c4f5b1-f48d-4ad0-a25a-c91a1138ef58
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
£33,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£33,000 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
4 Aug 20262 months ago
Contract Period
3 Jul 2026 - 2 Jul 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
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
TAUNTON
Postcode
TA1 4DY
Postcode Area
Taunton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK6 North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK62 Somerset
Delivery Location
TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
Somerset
Electoral Ward
Bishop's Hull & Taunton West
Westminster Constituency
Taunton and Wellington

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Freeths LLP

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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