Planning

Barrister Services - 001271

YORKSHIRE PURCHASING ORGANISATION

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

20 Apr 2026 at 13:03

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

04 Jul 2025 at 07:22

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation (YPO) is initiating a tender process for a Framework Agreement to provide Barrister Services, under the Procurement Act 2023’s “exempted contracts” provision. This procurement targets the legal services industry across various regions in the United Kingdom, including UKC, UKD, UKE, UKF, UKG, UKH, UKI, UKJ, UKK, and UKL. The planning update stage has been completed, and YPO is currently in the process of preparing for the tendering phase. The Framework aims to cover a time span from 31 October 2025 until 30 October 2029, with a possible extension for up to four additional years. The estimated value range for this arrangement is between £100,000,000 and £200,000,000, and submissions are accepted until 30 October 2033 at 17:00.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses in the legal services domain, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs). As the Framework is open to new providers through its term, it offers flexibility for businesses to evaluate and enhance their eligibility over time. The extensive scope, encompassing services for public sector bodies such as local authorities, education establishments, police and fire services, NHS bodies, registered charities, and central government departments, provides a broad market for legal professionals looking to expand their clientele and influence. The YPO’s structured framework supports businesses with stabilising their public sector engagement portfolio, fostering long-term growth and service delivery opportunities.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Barrister Services - 001271

Notice Description

This is a call to competition for Providers to be appointed onto a Framework Agreement following a competitive tendering procedure for the provision of Barrister Services that fall within the definition of "exempted contracts" as set out in Schedule 2, paragraph 14 of the Procurement Act 2023. The Framework is designed to meet the needs of all public sector Contracting Authorities, including YPO's internal requirements and the requirements of WYLAW Members. YPO is establishing a Framework Agreement where the end customer will appoint the Provider, and the Provider will deliver the services directly to that end customer. As this is a new Framework for YPO the total spend is not known, however, considering YPO's current customer base, the value range for this Framework Agreement is estimated to be PS100,000,000 to PS200,000,000. The Framework Agreement will cover the period from 31 October 2025 to 30 October 2029 with an option to extend for such period or period(s) up to a maximum of four (4) years. As this is an exempted contract, YPO intends for this Framework to be open to new Providers throughout the term of the Framework. This enables Providers who may not be able to meet the criteria during the establishment period to review their processes, finances and capabilities and apply for acceptance onto the Framework at a later stage. This supports small and medium sized enterprises, or businesses with none or limited experience in Tendering for work with the public sector. The Framework will be open to the entire public sector and other public bodies (as defined in Section 2 of the Procurement Act 2023), such as local authorities, education establishments, police forces, fire and rescue service, NHS bodies, registered charities within the UK and central government departments and their agencies that wish to use it (served by YPO as a centralised procurement authority as defined by Section 1 of the Procurement Act 2023). This opportunity is now available on YPO's e-Tendering portal at the following link: http://ypo2.my.site.com/s/Welcome The closing date and time for all submissions is 30 October 2033 at 17:00 For further information, please register your interest at http://ypo2.my.site.com/s/Welcome to access the procurement documents or email legalservices@ypo.co.uk for more details on the opportunity.

Planning Information

For the avoidance of doubt, this notice is a call for competition, as engagement for this opportunity took place under PIN 2024/S 000-032372 under the old regime. As this is an exempt procurement it does not follow the standard PA23 procedure and therefore the Tender Notice does not have the functionality needed to publish a notice for an exempt contract. Under the PIN above, a Request for Information was issued along with follow up meetings with all Providers who requested such. Detailed information regarding the outcome from this engagement has been provided in the tender documentation for this opportunity. To access this opportunity, please go to http://ypo2.my.site.com/s/Welcome to access the procurement documents or email on legalservices@ypo.co.uk for more details on the opportunity.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0558b3
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035645-2026
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, VCSE
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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Apr 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
20 Apr 2026 - 30 Oct 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
YORKSHIRE PURCHASING ORGANISATION
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
WAKEFIELD
Postcode
WF2 0XE
Post Town
Wakefield
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE4 West Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE45 Wakefield
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England), TLL Wales
Local Authority
Wakefield
Electoral Ward
Wrenthorpe and Outwood West
Westminster Constituency
Wakefield and Rothwell

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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