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Legal Services Framework

NATIONAL ENERGY SYSTEM OPERATOR LIMITED

This public procurement record has 5 releases in its history.

Award

25 Feb 2026 at 16:20

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

15 Jan 2026 at 19:04

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

01 Oct 2025 at 10:43

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

16 Jul 2025 at 18:38

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

23 May 2025 at 12:38

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The National Energy System Operator Limited (NESO), located in Wokingham, UK, has completed the award stage of its procurement process for a Legal Services Framework. This framework will support NESO across a broad range of legal services to manage its energy regulation and general service requirements effectively. The procurement process employed a competitive flexible procedure, leading to the awarding of contracts on 25th February 2026 with an initial term of three years, extendable by up to two additional years. The framework comprises two Lots: Lot 1 focused on Energy Regulation & Frameworks, and Lot 2 on General Legal Services, with contracts signed on 30th January 2026 for both Lots to run until 30th January 2029. The procurement method was open, and the process enabled direct awards and mini-competitions to efficiently allocate services within the framework.

This tender provides significant growth opportunities for large-scale businesses specialising in legal services, particularly those with expertise in energy law and broader commercial legal services. With a framework valued at £30.5 million, inclusive of VAT, this procurement involves major suppliers such as Addleshaw Goddard LLP, DLA Piper UK LLP, Dentons UK and Middle East LLP, TLT LLP, and others already awarded contracts. Organisations equipped with capabilities in areas such as corporate transactions, energy regulations, intellectual property, and environmental law are well positioned to utilise this framework to expand their legal partnerships and influence within the public service domain, tapping into NESO's strategic initiatives geared towards promoting net-zero goals and efficient energy systems.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Legal Services Framework

Notice Description

National Energy System Operator (NESO) is awarding a framework agreement under competitive flexible procedure across a full range of legal services to support NESO's requirements and activities. Suppliers will partner with the internal NESO Legal team to provide high quality advice and support NESO to meet its objectives. The framework agreement is split into 2 Lots and amounts to PS30.5m (including VAT): LOT 1 - Energy Regulation & Frameworks Advising on all aspects of the United Kingdom (UK) and, where relevant, European Union (EU) regulatory regimes and frameworks for gas and electricity, including sector-specific European legislation and rules (where relevant) and Great Britain (GB) primary and secondary legislation that impacts on or are relevant to the business activities of NESO (licensed and unlicensed). This includes: 1. Advising on the specific rules applicable to NESO, as well as on the regimes applicable to other sector participants including transmission networks, distribution networks, interconnectors, generators, storage and suppliers as are or may be relevant to NESO's activities. 2. Advising on matters relating to the interaction of the UK and EU regulatory regimes with the gas and electricity arrangements, including relationships with European institutions such as ENTSO-E and ENTSOG. 3. Advising on any innovation matters that arise as the gas and electricity markets and regulatory regimes develop. 4. Advising on all matters relating to the compliance with the UK and EU regulatory regimes for electricity and gas and how they impact on all the activities of NESO in Great Britain, including the impact on contractual arrangements NESO has with third parties. 5. Advising on the specific legal framework applicable to NESO as the designated independent system operator and planner under the Energy Act 2023 including: 5.1 Advising on the application of NESO's general statutory duties to its activities, including its duty to have regard to the Strategy and Policy Statement. 5.2 Advising NESO on the use of its power to request information. 5.3 Advising on NESO's independence requirements and requirements relating to conflict of interest. 6. Advising on the sector specific commercial arrangements relevant to NESO's energy activities, as set out in further detail below. More specific areas within Lot 1 are detailed below - no subcontracting is allowed cross Lot 1 disciplines: 1 Electricity/ gas codes 2 Electricity connections 3 Balancing services (electricity) 4 Electricity interconnectors 5 Electricity Market Reform 6 Network competition 7 Gas markets 8 Developing/adapting to new energy legal frameworks 9 Licence change, investigations and other regulatory issues 10 Public Investigation and inquiry processes 11 Planning and major infrastructure projects 12 Information management (energy) 13 Public Law (energy) 14 Competition law and dawn raids (energy) 15 Litigation (energy) The requirements for advice and support set out in this Lot 1 relate to both non-contentious and contentious matters unless expressly stated otherwise. LOT 2 - GENERAL SERVICES This lot includes advising NESO on all corporate and commercial aspects of its operations to support its organisational functions, taking into account NESO's status as a public corporation. More specific areas within Lot 1 are detailed below -subcontracting permitted only for specific Lot 2 disciplines (Trademark & Patent Services, Pensions, and Insurance): 1 General commercial and transactions 2 Public procurement 3 Technology expertise (including Cyber Security, AI, ICT & IoT) 4 Innovation 5 Commercial property/ construction 6 Corporate 7 Finance 8 Intellectual Property (including trademark and patent services) 9 Health, safety and environmental 10 Employment 11 Pensions 12 Insurance (including insurance claims) 13 Information Management (non-energy) 14 Public Law (non-energy) 15 Competition law & dawn raids (non-energy) 16 Litigation (non-energy) The requirements for advice and support set out in this Lot 2 relate to both non-contentious and contentious matters unless expressly stated otherwise. Individual workpackages will be awarded to suppliers based on the call-off mechanism detailed in the framework agreement.

Lot Information

ENERGY REGULATION & FRAMEWORKS

LOT 1 - ENERGY REGULATION & FRAMEWORKS 1 Electricity/ gas codes 2 Electricity connections 3 Balancing services (electricity) 4 Electricity interconnectors 5 Electricity Market Reform 6 Network competition 7 Gas markets 8 Developing/adapting to new energy legal frameworks 9 Licence change, investigations and other regulatory issues 10 Public Investigation and inquiry processes 11 Planning and major infrastructure projects 12 Information management (energy) 13 Public Law (energy) 14 Competition law and dawn raids (energy) 15 Litigation (energy)

Options: This is a framework contract and the Contracting Authority is able to place orders for Legal Services under it.

Renewal: Two extension of 12 months each to make a total contract period of five years.

General Legal Services

LOT 2 - GENERAL SERVICES 1 General commercial and transactions 2 Public procurement 3 Technology expertise (including Cyber Security, AI, ICT & IoT) 4 Innovation 5 Commercial property/ construction 6 Corporate 7 Finance 8 Intellectual Property (including trademark and patent services) 9 Health, safety and environmental 10 Employment 11 Pensions 12 Insurance (including insurance claims) 13 Information Management (non-energy) 14 Public Law (non-energy) 15 Competition law & dawn raids (non-energy) 16 Litigation (non-energy)

Options: This is a framework contract and the Contracting Authority is able to place orders for Legal Services under it.

Renewal: Two extension of 12 months each to make a total contract period of five years.

Planning Information

Objectives of the Engagement 1. Capture the expression of interest from legal service providers who may wish to participate in the upcoming procurement 2. Obtain structured feedback on key aspects of the proposed procurement, including: .Scope and lotting strategy .Delivery models and ways of working .Commercial models and procurement approach Submitting your response would enable us to capture your expression of interest and help ensure the resulting framework is commercial viable, accessible and fit for purpose. Response Instructions All responses (including expression of interest) must be submitted via MS form link - https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=U2qK-fMlEkKQHMd4f800lT7n2iBqBGpAqeIBXOyN1xBUNjlXNUNIRDJTUzJVT01PV0dHMUdJUFQ4Mi4u by 30th July 2025, 12:00PM (BST). Completion of this form: . Registers your expression of interest . Provides an opportunity to offer feedback Engagement Method All supplier are requested to respond exclusively through the MS form. For any queries or clarifications, please reach out to NESO Procurement team via nesoprocurement@neso.energy. Please note that we will not be providing any additional information on individual basis to ensure fairness and transparency. Disclaimer This is not a call for competition. Participation does not affect future tendering opportunities.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-052237
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017069-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
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
£25,400,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£25,400,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
£25,400,000 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
£25,400,000 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
25 Feb 20266 months ago
Submission Deadline
6 Nov 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
1 Sep 2025Expired
Award Date
15 Jan 20267 months ago
Contract Period
30 Jan 2026 - 30 Jan 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NATIONAL ENERGY SYSTEM OPERATOR LIMITED
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
WOKINGHAM
Postcode
RG41 5BN
Postcode Area
Reading
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ16 Berkshire West
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Wokingham
Electoral Ward
Winnersh
Westminster Constituency
Wokingham

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
6
Supplier Names

ADDLESHAW GODDARD LLP

DENTONS UK AND MIDDLE EAST LLP

DLA PIPER UK LLP

GOWLING WLG (UK) LLP

SHAKESPEARE MARTINEAU LLP

TLT LLP

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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