Award

Energy Retail Markets Legal Advice and Services

DEPARTMENT FOR ENERGY SECURITY & NET ZERO

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

AwardUpdate

18 Nov 2025 at 13:22

Award

17 Feb 2025 at 15:36

Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Energy Security & Net Zero is the contracting authority for a procurement process titled "Energy Retail Markets Legal Advice and Services," classified under the legal services industry category (CPV 79100000). This procurement seeks legal advice related to electricity and gas supplier financial challenges and potential government responses. The procurement covers an active contract commencing from 10 January 2025 and anticipated to conclude by 10 January 2027, with operations centred in the UK. The award process culminated with the selection of Sharpe Pritchard LLP and Mills & Reeve LLP as suppliers. This procurement stage reflects future needs as additional services may be required through planned contract modifications. The procurement followed a limited method, specifically a call-off under the CCS framework, without the initial publication of a competition call, owing to the urgency and specificity of the required legal support.

This tender presents significant opportunities for firms in the legal sector, particularly those with expertise in market stability and insolvency-related services within the energy industry. Large-scale legal service providers are well-suited to benefit from the substantial contract value, which totals £1,750,000. With active contracts awarded and a focus on swift, responsive legal support, firms capable of providing specialised advice on complex regulatory environments will find this opportunity appealing. This procurement signals potential for expanded engagements, especially for those who can navigate and address rapidly changing industry dynamics and legal challenges in the energy sector.

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Notice Title

Energy Retail Markets Legal Advice and Services

Notice Description

Provision of legal services.

Lot Information

Energy Retail Markets Legal Advice and Services

Provision of legal advice in relation to electricity and gas supplier financial difficulties, insolvencies and subsequent government response which may include, but not be limited to: the Supplier of Last Resort (SoLR) process, requirements for a Special Administration Regime (SAR) and wider considerations related to supplier failure and market stability

Procurement Information

Call-off under CCS framework no opportunity notice required

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04e2df
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074760-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£1,750,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Nov 20253 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
10 Jan 20251 years ago
Contract Period
10 Jan 2025 - 10 Jan 2027 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT FOR ENERGY SECURITY & NET ZERO
Additional Buyers

DESNZ & DSIT GROUP COMMERCIAL

Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
mercedes.ekanem@energysecurity.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1A 2EG
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
Not specified

Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
2
Supplier Names

MILLS & REEVE

SHARPE PRITCHARD

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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