Notice Information
Notice Title
Procurement of Criminal Defence Direct Services from 4 May 2026
Notice Description
The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) has launched the procurement process for the 2026 Criminal Defence Direct (CDD) Contracts. These contracts will provide 24/7 telephone-based legal advice to individuals detained at police stations across England and Wales for non-indictable offences. Two contracts will be awarded, with services commencing on 4 May 2026, following an implementation period and a 28-day dual operation phase.
Lot Information
Criminal Defence Direct (CDD) Service Procurement Exercise - Contract 1
Criminal Defence Direct (CDD) Service Procurement Exercise - Contract 1 The Legal Aid Agency (LAA), on behalf of the Lord Chancellor, will run a procurement exercise to award contracts for two providers to deliver the CDD Service from on or around 1 March 2026. Key Details: * Service: 24/7 non means tested telephone-based legal advice for individuals detained at police stations for non-indictable offences. * Contract Award: Two providers will each manage 50% of the caseload (with possible variations). * Duration: 1 March 2026 - 31 May 2031. Procurement Process Updates: From 24 February 2025, all suppliers must use the Cabinet Office Central Digital Platform to share their organisation's information with Contracting Authorities by providing a share code during the procurement process. If suppliers are still unable to create a share code after getting assistance from the Cabinet Office, please email contact: Crime.Contracts@justice.gov.uk. Key Service Changes: The LAA, as part of this procurement, will introduce the following key changes to the CDD Service that align with the move to enhanced flexibility and reducing barriers to support providers in successfully delivering the CDD contract and ensure consistency across similar services. For the new CDD Contract the LAA are: * allowing Applicants to choose the arrangements most suitable for their delivery models and are not specifying the office requirements; * removing supervisor-to-advisor ratios; * removing the requirement for supervisors to be on-site 35 hours/week; and * introducing a new KPI to track client engagement and timeliness of advice
Criminal Defence Direct (CDD) Service Procurement Exercise - Contract 2Criminal Defence Direct (CDD) Service Procurement Exercise - Contract 2 The Legal Aid Agency (LAA), on behalf of the Lord Chancellor, will run a procurement exercise to award contracts for two providers to deliver the CDD Service from on or around 1 March 2026. Key Details: * Service: 24/7 non means tested telephone-based legal advice for individuals detained at police stations for non-indictable offences. * Contract Award: Two providers will each manage 50% of the caseload (with possible variations). * Duration: 1 March 2026 - 31 May 2031. Procurement Process Updates: From 24 February 2025, all suppliers must use the Cabinet Office Central Digital Platform to share their organisation's information with Contracting Authorities by providing a share code during the procurement process. If suppliers are still unable to create a share code after getting assistance from the Cabinet Office, please email contact: Crime.Contracts@justice.gov.uk. Key Service Changes: The LAA, as part of this procurement, will introduce the following key changes to the CDD Service that align with the move to enhanced flexibility and reducing barriers to support providers in successfully delivering the CDD contract and ensure consistency across similar services. For the new CDD Contract the LAA are: * allowing Applicants to choose the arrangements most suitable for their delivery models and are not specifying the office requirements; * removing supervisor-to-advisor ratios; * removing the requirement for supervisors to be on-site 35 hours/week; and * introducing a new KPI to track client engagement and timeliness of advice
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-052132
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000737-2026
- Current Stage
- Award
- All Stages
- Planning, Tender, Award
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- UK6 - Contract Award Notice
- Procurement Type
- Standard
- Procurement Category
- Services
- Procurement Method
- Open
- Procurement Method Details
- Open procedure
- Tender Suitability
- SME, VCSE
- Awardee Scale
- SME
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
- £2,360,000 £1M-£10M
- Lots Value
- £2,360,000 £1M-£10M
- Awards Value
- £2,360,000 £1M-£10M
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 6 Jan 20261 months ago
- Submission Deadline
- 28 Aug 2025Expired
- Future Notice Date
- 16 Jul 2025Expired
- Award Date
- 6 Jan 20261 months ago
- Contract Period
- 3 May 2026 - 31 May 2031 Over 5 years
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Complete
- Lots Status
- Complete
- Awards Status
- Pending
- Contracts Status
- Not Specified
Buyer & Supplier
Contracting Authority (Buyer)
- Main Buyer
- LEGAL AID AGENCY
- Contact Name
- crime.contracts@justice.gov.uk
- 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
- Not specified
-
- Local Authority
- Westminster
- Electoral Ward
- St James's
- Westminster Constituency
- Cities of London and Westminster
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000737-2026
6th January 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/040454-2025
16th July 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025889-2025
23rd May 2025 - Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
View full OCDS Record for this contracting process
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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