Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Project Hornbill - Legal Services

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

27 Aug 2026 at 13:37

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

DEFRA procured legal services for Project Hornbill. The requirement falls within the legal services category and was intended for work in London, at Seacole Building, London SW1P 3JR. The buying organisation was DEFRA, the UK government department responsible for the environment, food, rural affairs and related policy areas. The procurement concerned professional legal advice and support rather than legal goods or construction works. It was structured as a service requirement for DEFRA’s operational needs in London, with the project title indicating that the work related specifically to Project Hornbill.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded. DEFRA used a selective procedure as a call-off from a framework agreement. The tender submission deadline was 14 August 2026 at 12:00. The contract was awarded to Ashurst LLP on 27 August 2026 for GBP 300,000. The contract period runs from 17 August 2026 to 7 November 2026. The published suitability assessment records the opportunity as unsuitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and for voluntary, community or social enterprises. The award is active, and the awarded contract value matches the procurement’s stated estimated value. No separate lots or additional award recipients are identified.

This award provides a clear indication of DEFRA’s demand for specialist legal services supporting a defined government project in London. Competitors assessing similar future requirements would need the capability to deliver professional legal advice for a central government department, understand public-sector operating and contracting environments, and respond through the relevant framework route. The selected supplier was an established law firm, indicating that a credible provider would need sufficient legal expertise, organisational capacity and resources to support DEFRA’s operational requirements. Firms without the appropriate framework access, public-sector experience or ability to provide specialist legal services at this level would be less well placed to compete when comparable work returns to market.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Project Hornbill - Legal Services

Notice Description

Project Hornbill - Legal Services

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-f442d625-534e-4c8a-b0ac-d8e3ac70be02
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/b6128145-27b6-41e9-bfe6-119c6143bb7e
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
£300,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£300,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
27 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
17 Aug 2026 - 7 Nov 2026 1-6 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 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

Ashurst LLP

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...