Planning

Legal Services (SBS10531)

NHS SHARED BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

05 Jan 2026 at 14:28

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NHS Shared Business Services Limited is in the planning stage of a procurement process for a new framework agreement for Legal Services, under the title "Legal Services (SBS10531)". The initiative falls under the services category and is organised by NHS SBS, a public undertaking in Hemel Hempstead, UKH23. The procurement aims to establish a framework agreement to support NHS and wider public sector organisations. NHS SBS is conducting a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) exercise, concluding on 6th February 2026, to refine the framework, which is due to replace an expiring agreement by 31st July 2027. The framework proposes several lots including governance, healthcare, employment, procurement, technology, corporate finance, and more, covering regions across the UK, Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man.

The forthcoming Legal Services procurement presents lucrative opportunities for legal firms, especially those specialising in various sectors such as public law, healthcare, technology, and more. The PME exercise encourages businesses to contribute insights and proposals, making this an excellent opportunity for companies to influence framework structures and align with NHS priorities. With a gross value of £240 million, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged to participate, given the suitability requirements. Firms dedicated to sustainability and social value will find a significant emphasis on these criteria during tender assessment, paving the way for partnerships that can drive business growth in legal services.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Legal Services (SBS10531)

Notice Description

NHS Shared Business Services Limited (NHS SBS) intends to put in place a Framework Agreement for the provision of Legal Services to be used by Approved Organisations for the following proposed Lots, which are under consideration during this preliminary market engagement: # Lot 1: Governance, structure, transformation & public law #Lot 2: Healthcare & mental health #Lot 3: Employment #Lot 4: Procurement, commercial & contract #Lot 5: Property & construction #Lot 6: Technology & e-commerce, including IP & media law #Lot 7: Corporate finance, audit & insurance #Lot 8: Criminal #Lot 9: Legal recovery & collection #Lot 10: Counsel #Lot 11: Multi-disciplinary support

Planning Information

NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) is developing a fit-for-the-future framework to support the delivery of Legal Services across the NHS and wider public sector. To help define the scope and structure of the new framework, NHS SBS is conducting a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) exercise with suppliers. The aim is to gather market insight, assess supplier capability, and test the relevance of proposed lots before finalising the Lot and commercial structure, Specification and launching a formal procurement process. The existing Legal Services framework is due to expire on 31/07/2027. This PME represents an important opportunity to shape the future of Legal Services procurement and ensure the framework aligns with the market capabilities, national priorities, local needs, and emerging innovation. The proposed lot structure under consideration includes the following: ▪ Lot 1: Governance, structure, transformation & public law ▪Lot 2: Healthcare & mental health ▪Lot 3: Employment ▪Lot 4: Procurement, commercial & contract ▪Lot 5: Property & construction ▪Lot 6: Technology & e-commerce, including IP & media law ▪Lot 7: Corporate finance, audit & insurance ▪Lot 8: Criminal ▪Lot 9: Legal recovery & collection ▪Lot 10: Counsel ▪Lot 11: Multi-disciplinary support PRELIMINARY MARKET ENGAGEMENT QUESTIONNAIRE NHS SBS would like to obtain the markets views, suggestions, and proposals during this preliminary market engagement. All submissions will be treated confidentially. Please note, companies are not required to respond to all questions within the PMEQ. Companies wishing to participate in the preliminary market engagement should complete the Preliminary Market Engagement Questionnaire (PMEQ) by 12pm on Friday 6th February 2026 via the following link: https://portal.us.bn.cloud.ariba.com/dashboard/public/appext/comsapsbncdiscoveryui#/RfxEvent/preview/1110001656?anId=ANONYMOUS POSSIBLE SUBSEQUENT ENGAGEMENT NHS SBS may host open virtual forums (such as webinars) to engage further with the market following analysis of PMEQ responses. Within the PMEQ, companies need to confirm whether they would like to participate in such further engagement, and if so, provide contact details for their nominated attendee. We are committed to working with suppliers who are dedicated to Sustainability and Social Value and there will be a significant weighting on this within the procurement documents. NHS Shared Business Services Limited (NHS SBS) act in an Agency capacity for and on behalf of its customers (Approved Organisations) - existing and new. These comprise of NHS and social care organisations (whether acting individually, or on behalf of, or together as members of any consortia) along with any other public or private sector bodies which NHS SBS authorises to use the resulting Framework. Our Approved Organisation list can be found on: https://www.sbs.nhs.uk/services/framework-agreements-categories/ The eSourcing system NHS SBS will use is SAP Ariba. Please note that to register, you must have a valid DUNS number (as provided by Dun and Bradstreet) for the organisation which you are registering, who will be entering into a Framework if invited.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05ff70
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000354-2026
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
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
£200,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Jan 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
6 Feb 20263 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
10 Nov 2027 - 9 Nov 2031 4-5 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
NHS SHARED BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
nsbs.categorymanagementsourcing@nhs.net
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD
Postcode
HP2 7AH
Post Town
Hemel Hempstead
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH27 South West Hertfordshire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Dacorum
Electoral Ward
Adeyfield East
Westminster Constituency
Hemel Hempstead

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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