Award

Interim Legal Position

HARTLEPOOL BOROUGH COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

15 Oct 2025 at 08:50

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Hartlepool Borough Council has awarded a contract titled "Interim Legal Position" to Vivid Government, a part of Vivid Resourcing. This procurement, under the industry category of legal services, is focused on addressing staffing shortages in the council's legal division. Situated in Hartlepool, UKC11 region, the contract runs from 1st November 2025 to 31st May 2026. This was a direct procurement method, specifically below threshold and without competition, signified by the use of an exemption process. The contract was signed on 14th October 2025 and holds a gross value of £43,200, emphasising the need for legal personnel with the right qualifications to manage critical cases in local courts.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses within the legal services sector, particularly those providing trained legal staff. It highlights the necessity for individuals or firms capable of managing legal caseloads efficiently and with appropriate rights of audience in Hartlepool. Companies specialising in legal staffing solutions would find this contract especially promising for business growth, as it underscores the market demand for flexible, skilled personnel able to operate under reduced team capacities. Service providers with established networks or candidates capable of securing immediate and long-term legal cover will be well-suited to similar procurement opportunities in the future.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Interim Legal Position

Notice Description

Background : This contract has been established using an Exemption Process and is therefore not subject to HBC Contract Procedure Rules. The legal division is staffed to discharge the authority's legal childcare function. The demands on this service are ever increasing and it is a critical service charged with ensuring that our statutory and legal duties are discharged in respect of children suffering and at risk of suffering significant harm. The structure of the team consists of 4 officers who each handle a case load and undertake advocacy in the local courts. Currently two officers are unavoidably unavailable currently for extended periods. The team's capacity is therefore significantly reduced (by 50%) currently and unable to meet the demands of the service. Enquiries have been made of specialist recruitment agencies, and a national search has been undertaken via the NEPO Framework. Despite several excellent candidates being available via this framework none have been able to commit to the necessary attendance in Hartlepool and at local courts. Several other agencies have been approached outside of this framework and only one has an available candidate who has been able to demonstrate the necessary skills, experience, legally required "rights of audience" and proximity to Hartlepool required for this role. The costs associated with the provision of such "interim cover" are determined by market forces and each of the candidates offered via the framework have quoted an hourly rate greater than that secured under this arrangement outside of the framework. In addition the candidate's skills and experience ensure they would be able to hold the required caseload and attend to court commitments with a minimum commitment of 25 hours per week.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05ccf2
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065442-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without 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
£36,000 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
13 Oct 20254 months ago
Contract Period
1 Nov 2025 - 31 May 2026 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
HARTLEPOOL BOROUGH COUNCIL
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
HARTLEPOOL
Postcode
TS24 8AY
Post Town
Cleveland
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC3 Tees Valley
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC31 Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Hartlepool
Electoral Ward
Victoria
Westminster Constituency
Hartlepool

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

VIVID GOVERNMENT (PART OF VIVID RESOURCING

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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