Planning

Preliminary Market Engagement - Counsel Legal Services Framework

INDEPENDENT COMMISSION FOR RECOCILATION AND INFORMATION RECOVERY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

22 May 2025 at 09:41

Summary of the contracting process

The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery, located in Belfast, is initiating a planning stage for the Counsel Legal Services Framework. This procurement process is aimed at engaging with suppliers for a comprehensive range of legal services, including administrative law, civil litigation, and other related specialisms. The current stage is focused on pre-market engagement, with a deadline for responses set as 9th June 2025. The procurement is under the industry category of legal services and will take place in the Northern Ireland region, adhering to Northern Irish devolved regulations. The anticipated procurement process will advance to the tender stage following the completion of market engagement exercises.

This tender represents significant business growth opportunities, particularly for legal firms and consultancies that specialise in a variety of legal disciplines. SMEs are especially encouraged to participate in the upcoming framework, which is structured to include a renewable contract period from July 2025 to July 2029, with the potential to extend until 2030. The projected gross value of the contract is GBP 1,200,000, suggesting a substantial business opportunity for firms capable of delivering high-quality legal services. Engaging in this tender could help businesses expand their presence in the public sector market and establish long-term partnerships with a central government body.

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Notice Title

Preliminary Market Engagement - Counsel Legal Services Framework

Notice Description

ICRIR is seeking to engage the market in advance of a forthcoming tender opportunity for the provision of legal services. The proposed commercial vehicle(s) will include a comprehensive list of legal specialisms, including but not limited to the following which may change as a result of further market engagement: -Administrative law/Public law -Civil litigation -Commercial -Contracts Law -Criminal law and investigations advice -Data Protection/Freedom of Information -Dispute Resolution and Litigation -Employment Law -Human Rights law -Inquests, Public Inquiries or any equivalent inquisitorial and investigative structure -Public International law -Public Procurement Law -Torts and Personal Injury law The purpose of this early market engagement is to gather insights from potential suppliers to help inform the scope, structure, and approach of the procurement to ensure it meets the needs of the organisation and delivers best value.

Planning Information

This is not a call for competition. This notice is intended to alert potential suppliers of the opportunity to take part in the pre-market engagement exercise only. Interested parties are invited to respond to the short questionnaire linked to this notice. The questionnaire must be responded to via the E-Tenders NI e-sourcing portal. Responses will assist ICRIR in the development of its new Legal Services Framework, expected to be tendered in the coming weeks.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-051cef
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024575-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
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
£1,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 May 20259 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
9 Jun 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
13 Jul 2025 - 13 Jul 2029 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
INDEPENDENT COMMISSION FOR RECOCILATION AND INFORMATION RECOVERY
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@icrir.independent-inquiry.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT2 7BA
Post Town
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
TLN Northern Ireland

Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Central
Westminster Constituency
Belfast South and Mid Down

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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