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External Legal Services Framework

Scottish Social Services Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

10 Aug 2026 at 13:30

Award Notice
Tender

12 May 2026 at 09:49

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Scottish Social Services Council appointed external legal advisers through a multi-supplier ranked framework. The requirement covers legal advice and representation for fitness-to-practise panel investigations and hearings, together with related regulatory proceedings. Work includes advice on appeals and judicial review, equality implications, rehabilitation of offenders legislation, administrative and regulatory law, quality-control and assurance checks, information governance, governance and compliance, and statutory functions under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001. The framework also provides additional legal support when the council’s internal team lacks capacity or specialist expertise. Services are for the council’s regulatory and corporate governance functions, based in Dundee, with legal advice and representation delivered for its work across Scotland.

The procurement has completed and the framework contract is active. It used an open procedure, with electronic submissions, and was evaluated on quality at 80% and price at 20%. One lot was used, although the published lot status is cancelled; the active award and contract cover that requirement. Anderson Strathern LLP and Brodies LLP were appointed as ranked suppliers. Three bids were received, including one from an SME. The framework allows up to three participants. The contract was signed on 4 August 2026 and has a value of £500,000. The original tender deadline was 12 June 2026 at 5pm, with bid opening on 16 June 2026. The framework lasts 1,080 days and may be extended once for 12 months.

This requirement indicates demand for established legal practices able to advise a professional regulator across fitness-to-practise investigations, hearings and associated proceedings. Credible competitors would need demonstrable expertise in regulatory and administrative law, appeals and judicial review, equality issues, rehabilitation of offenders legislation, information governance, governance and compliance, and the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001. The work also requires capacity for legal representation, quality-control and assurance reviews, and rapid access to specialist advice when the council’s internal legal team is under pressure. Staff names and professional qualifications must be provided, and the selected model favours firms able to operate within a ranked multi-supplier framework while managing conflicts of interest between individual cases.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

External Legal Services Framework

Notice Description

A multi supplier ranked framework to provide legal advice and representation to the SSSC, primarily in relation to fitness to practise panel investigations and hearings but also in relation to other matters and proceedings associated with our regulatory function. These include a range of subjects such as prospects of success at appeals/judicial review, equality implications, rehabilitation of offenders legislation, and general administrative and regulatory legal topics. The external advisors also provide quality control and assurance checks for fitness to practise. The Legal and Corporate Governance department may also have a requirement for additional support where required due to time pressures or where expert advice is needed that cannot be provided by the internal legal team. This will include advice on information governance and governance/compliance matters as well as our statutory functions under the Regulation of Care (Sc) Act 2001. A minimum of 2 ranked suppliers will reduce the risk of any conflict of interest around individual cases.

Lot Information

Lot 1

A multi supplier ranked framework to provide legal advice and representation to the SSSC, primarily in relation to fitness to practise panel investigations and hearings but also in relation to other matters and proceedings associated with our regulatory function. These include a range of subjects such as prospects of success at appeals/judicial review, equality implications, rehabilitation of offenders legislation, and general administrative and regulatory legal topics. The external advisors also provide quality control and assurance checks for fitness to practise. The Legal and Corporate Governance department may also have a requirement for additional support where required due to time pressures or where expert advice is needed that cannot be provided by the internal legal team. This will include advice on information governance and governance/compliance matters as well as our statutory functions under the Regulation of Care (Sc) Act 2001. A minimum of 2 ranked suppliers will reduce the risk of any conflict of interest around individual cases. Additional information: The maximum value of the Framework is not anticipated to exceed 500,000 GBP exclusive of VAT for the full life of the framework inclusive of the optional extension period. Actual value of spend over the life of the framework will be dependent upon requirement and therefore is not guaranteed

Renewal: The SSSC may extend the framework agreement by one (1) x twelve (12) month period.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-069662
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075739-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open 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

79110000 - Legal advisory and representation services

79111000 - Legal advisory services

79112000 - Legal representation services

79130000 - Legal documentation and certification services

79140000 - Legal advisory and information services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£500,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£500,000 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Aug 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
12 Jun 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
May 2030

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Scottish Social Services 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
DUNDEE
Postcode
DD1 4NY
Postcode Area
Dundee
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM0 Eastern Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM03 Angus and Dundee City
Delivery Location
TLM Scotland
Local Authority
Dundee City
Electoral Ward
West End
Westminster Constituency
Dundee Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
2
Supplier Names

Anderson Strathern LLP

Brodies

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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