Tender

Procurement of Legal Investigation and Advocacy Service in Fitness to Practise

SOCIAL WORK ENGLAND

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Tender

27 Feb 2026 at 08:47

PlanningUpdate

05 Dec 2025 at 10:38

Planning

01 Dec 2025 at 16:25

Planning

31 Oct 2025 at 15:43

Summary of the contracting process

Social Work England is undertaking an open procurement process for legal services related to its Fitness to Practise hearings, with the requirement for two suppliers. The primary aim is to reduce the current backlog of 400 cases and manage around 150 ongoing cases annually over a three to five-year period, with potential renewal extensions of up to 24 months. Located in Sheffield, the procurement process is in the tender stage, with a deadline set for 9th April 2026 and aims to award by 30th June 2026. The contract, valued at £40.9 million gross, involves delivering services across multiple regions in the United Kingdom, including UKC, UKD, UKE, UKF, UKG, UKH, UKI, UKJ, and UKK.

This tender represents an excellent opportunity for law firms specialising in legal advisory, investigation, and advocacy services to establish a long-term partnership with a central government authority, thereby expanding their portfolio within the public sector. With an emphasis on eliminating case backlogs and efficient case management, businesses with a proven track record and compliance with regulatory standards, such as registration with the Solicitors Regulation Authority and strong financial standing, are well-suited to compete. The competitive flexible procedure allows for a broad range of participants, fostering growth opportunities particularly for SMEs capable of meeting performance targets and adapting to the needs of remote and in-person hearings.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Procurement of Legal Investigation and Advocacy Service in Fitness to Practise

Notice Description

The Authority is looking for two 2 Suppliers to deliver the following as part of the Service: a. conduct further investigation and prepare cases for Fitness to Practise hearings or meetings; b. undertake pre-hearing case management procedures in accordance with agreed performance targets and in collaboration with other parties to the hearing; and c. ensure the presentation of cases before adjudicators at hearings (those hearings are predominantly carried out remotely using video conferencing software but can, on occasion, be in-person at our offices in Sheffield). Over a period of 3 - 5 years, the Authority aims to work with the Suppliers to eliminate the current backlog of circa 400 cases awaiting a final hearing. By the end of this period, the intention is to have worked successfully in partnership with the Suppliers to both eliminate the backlog and to be managing a 'steady state' of circa 150 cases being processed per annum.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: Up to two extensions are available for 12 months each. The maximum extension period is for 24 months if both extensions are taken.

Planning Information

This engagement set out to understand the current availability and skill set available by Fitness to Practise specialists. Social Work England presented to suppliers in July, from there 121 meetings occurred to gain feedback from interested suppliers.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d84e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017653-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
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
£34,083,333 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£34,083,333 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Feb 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
9 Apr 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
5 Jan 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
21 Jul 2026 - 21 Jul 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
2031-03-21

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SOCIAL WORK ENGLAND
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SHEFFIELD
Postcode
S3 8JY
Post Town
Sheffield
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE3 South Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE32 Sheffield
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLE3 South Yorkshire, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)

Local Authority
Sheffield
Electoral Ward
City
Westminster Constituency
Sheffield Central

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.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-05d84e-2026-02-27T08:47:24Z",
    "date": "2026-02-27T08:47:24Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05d84e",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PZYZ-1666-HXBQ",
            "name": "Social Work England",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PZYZ-1666-HXBQ"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "1 North Bank, Blonk Street",
                "locality": "Sheffield",
                "postalCode": "S3 8JY",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKE32"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "tenders@socialworkengland.org.uk",
                "name": "Wayne Kehoe",
                "telephone": "+441142127775"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - central government"
                    }
                ],
                "url": "https://www.socialworkengland.org.uk/"
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PZYZ-1666-HXBQ",
        "name": "Social Work England"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "This engagement set out to understand the current availability and skill set available by Fitness to Practise specialists. Social Work England presented to suppliers in July, from there 121 meetings occurred to gain feedback from interested suppliers.",
                "dateMet": "2025-08-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                "status": "met"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "070197-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070197-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-10-31T15:43:19Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "078630-2025",
                "documentType": "plannedProcurementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK3",
                "description": "Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078630-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-12-01T16:25:04Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "080027-2025",
                "documentType": "plannedProcurementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK3",
                "description": "Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080027-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-12-05T10:38:54Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "SWE10547",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Procurement of Legal Investigation and Advocacy Service in Fitness to Practise",
        "description": "The Authority is looking for two 2 Suppliers to deliver the following as part of the Service: a. conduct further investigation and prepare cases for Fitness to Practise hearings or meetings; b. undertake pre-hearing case management procedures in accordance with agreed performance targets and in collaboration with other parties to the hearing; and c. ensure the presentation of cases before adjudicators at hearings (those hearings are predominantly carried out remotely using video conferencing software but can, on occasion, be in-person at our offices in Sheffield). Over a period of 3 - 5 years, the Authority aims to work with the Suppliers to eliminate the current backlog of circa 400 cases awaiting a final hearing. By the end of this period, the intention is to have worked successfully in partnership with the Suppliers to both eliminate the backlog and to be managing a 'steady state' of circa 150 cases being processed per annum.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "79100000",
                        "description": "Legal services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKE3",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKE3",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKC",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKD",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKE",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKF",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKG",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKH",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKI",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKJ",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKC",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKD",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKE",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKF",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKG",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKH",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKI",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKJ",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 40900000,
            "amount": 34083333.33,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-07-22T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2029-07-21T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2031-07-21T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "status": "active",
                "value": {
                    "amountGross": 40900000,
                    "amount": 34083333.33,
                    "currency": "GBP"
                },
                "renewal": {
                    "description": "Up to two extensions are available for 12 months each. The maximum extension period is for 24 months if both extensions are taken."
                },
                "awardCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Quality",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 70,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "price",
                            "name": "Price",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 25,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Interview",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 5,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "selectionCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "economic",
                            "description": "Legal Capacity: The Authority requires Bidders to: * comply with all statutory and regulatory obligations relevant to the provision of legal services in the UK; * be registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority; * not have any undischarged decisions by the SRA against the organisation or any key personnel. Financial Capacity: The Authority requires Bidders to: * have a minimum annual turnover of PS8 million in each of the last two completed financial years * have positive net assets in the most recent completed financial year * not be, or have been in the past 6 years, subject to insolvency proceedings * confirm and that there has been no material adverse change in its financial position since the date of the last published accounts"
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "technical",
                            "description": "Detail the systems that you have in place, or that you will have in place by the award of the contract, to ensure compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation and to ensure the protection of the rights of data subjects. Please provide details of the technical facilities and measures (including systems and processes and cyber security certifications) you have in place or will have in place by contract award."
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true
                }
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2026-01-05T23:59:59Z"
        },
        "status": "active",
        "procurementMethod": "open",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Competitive flexible procedure",
        "submissionMethodDetails": "Please submit your responses on the following: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/socialworkengland/aspx/Home",
        "submissionTerms": {
            "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed",
            "languages": [
                "en"
            ]
        },
        "tenderPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-04-09T12:30:00+01:00"
        },
        "enquiryPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-03-26T12:30:00Z"
        },
        "awardPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-06-30T23:59:59+01:00"
        },
        "amendments": [
            {
                "id": "080027-2025",
                "description": "The scope of this requirement has been expanded to provide additional context."
            }
        ],
        "procedure": {
            "features": "This Procurement is for light touch services and will be carried out using the Competitive Flexible Procedure. It will consist of a two-stage tender, with no restrictions on who can participate. a. Stage One: Invitation to Tender & Conditions of Participation b. Stage Two: Interview Stage"
        },
        "specialRegime": [
            "lightTouch"
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            },
            {
                "id": "017653-2026",
                "documentType": "tenderNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK4",
                "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017653-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-02-27T08:47:24Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ],
        "hasRecurrence": true,
        "recurrence": {
            "dates": [
                {
                    "startDate": "2031-03-21T23:59:59Z"
                }
            ]
        }
    },
    "language": "en"
}