This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

10 Jul 2026 at 12:00

Summary of the contracting process

Scottish Water, located in Glasgow, is currently in the tender stage for establishing a Framework Agreement for the provision of legal services, as per their procurement notice issued on 10th July 2026. This opportunity falls under the industry category of legal services and is targeted towards the delivery within Scotland (UKM region). The procurement involves a significant investment of £15,200,000 and aims to support Scottish Water's operational, regulatory, and commercial functions through a broad range of legal services. The tender process, employing a selective procurement method with a negotiated procedure with prior call for competition, will close on 11th August 2026, after which the second stage invitations are set to be issued on 9th September 2026.

This framework offers strategic growth opportunities for legal firms specialising in areas such as commercial, land and property, litigation, and governance services. The contract is structured into four lots, allowing firms with expertise in any of these sectors to potentially benefit from a stable and long-term partnership with a prominent public utility. The framework, initially set for four years but extendable up to eight years depending on performance, is suited for businesses capable of delivering high-quality legal advisory, transactional support, and representation in a tightly regulated environment influenced by Scots Law. Legal service providers with capabilities in areas like construction, procurement, energy, and intellectual property might find this tender particularly advantageous for expanding their client base and securing substantial work commitments.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Provision of Legal Services

Notice Description

Scottish Water is seeking to establish a Framework Agreement for the provision of a comprehensive range of legal services to support its statutory, operational, regulatory and commercial functions.<br/>The Framework will provide access to specialist legal expertise across four service lots and will support Scottish Water in delivering major capital investment programmes, operational activities, regulatory obligations, governance responsibilities and strategic corporate objectives. The appointed framework suppliers will be required to provide high-quality legal advice, transactional support, dispute resolution services and representation where required, within a complex and highly regulated public sector environment operating substantially under Scots Law.<br/><br/>The Framework is divided into the following Lots:<br/>Lot 1 - Land and Property Legal Services<br/>Lot 2 - Commercial Legal Services<br/>Lot 3 - Litigation and Employment Legal Services<br/>Lot 4 - Governance, Corporate and Regulatory Legal Services<br/><br/>Framework Duration<br/>The Framework Agreement will be established for an initial period of four (4) years, with the option for Scottish Water, at its sole discretion, to extend the Framework for up to two (2) additional periods of two (2) years, giving a maximum potential term of eight (8) years.<br/><br/>Estimated values are exclusive of payments made to third parties.

Lot Information

Commercial Legal Services

Scottish Water is seeking to establish a Framework Agreement for the provision of a comprehensive range of legal services to support its statutory, operational, regulatory and commercial functions.
The Framework will provide access to specialist legal expertise across four service lots and will support Scottish Water in delivering major capital investment programmes, operational activities, regulatory obligations, governance responsibilities and strategic corporate objectives. The appointed framework suppliers will be required to provide high-quality legal advice, transactional support, dispute resolution services and representation where required, within a complex and highly regulated public sector environment operating substantially under Scots Law.
The Framework is divided into Lots with Lot 2 being Commercial Legal Services and covering the Provision of legal advice and support relating to commercial, contractual and project delivery matters, including:
* General Commercial Legal Services
* Procurement Legal Services
* Construction Legal Services
* PFI Legal Services
* Energy and Renewables Legal Services
* Technology Legal Services
* Intellectual Property Legal Services

Estimated values are exclusive of payments made to third parties. Additional information: Procurement documents available here: https://atamis-scottishwater.my.salesforce-sites.com/ProSpend__CS_PublicLandingPage?SearchType=Projects

Renewal: The initial Framework Agreement will be for 48 months. Thereafter, SW reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement at their sole discretion, for a further four (4) years worth of extension options, subject to satisfactory performance, value for money and continued requirements.

Governance, Corporate and Regulatory Legal Services

Scottish Water is seeking to establish a Framework Agreement for the provision of a comprehensive range of legal services to support its statutory, operational, regulatory and commercial functions.
The Framework will provide access to specialist legal expertise across four service lots and will support Scottish Water in delivering major capital investment programmes, operational activities, regulatory obligations, governance responsibilities and strategic corporate objectives. The appointed framework suppliers will be required to provide high-quality legal advice, transactional support, dispute resolution services and representation where required, within a complex and highly regulated public sector environment operating substantially under Scots Law.
The Framework is divided into Lots with Lot 4 being Governance, Corporate and Regulatory Legal Services covering the Provision of legal advice and support relating to governance, corporate and regulatory matters, including:
* Governance, Corporate and Company Secretarial
* Regulatory

Estimated values are exclusive of payments made to third parties. Additional information: Procurement documents available here: https://atamis-scottishwater.my.salesforce-sites.com/ProSpend__CS_PublicLandingPage?SearchType=Projects

Renewal: The initial Framework Agreement will be for 48 months. Thereafter, SW reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement at their sole discretion, for a further four (4) years worth of extension options, subject to satisfactory performance, value for money and continued requirements.

Land and Property Legal Services

Scottish Water is seeking to establish a Framework Agreement for the provision of a comprehensive range of legal services to support its statutory, operational, regulatory and commercial functions.
The Framework will provide access to specialist legal expertise across four service lots and will support Scottish Water in delivering major capital investment programmes, operational activities, regulatory obligations, governance responsibilities and strategic corporate objectives. The appointed framework suppliers will be required to provide high-quality legal advice, transactional support, dispute resolution services and representation where required, within a complex and highly regulated public sector environment operating substantially under Scots Law.
The Framework is divided into Lots with Lot 1 being Land and Property Legal Services covering the Provision of legal advice and support across the full lifecycle of Scottish Water's land and property portfolio, including but not limited to:
- Purchase of land and property by agreement;
- Acquisition of permanent and temporary rights, including: deeds of servitude; licences for access and construction; and occupational and temporary leases;
- Advice on title conditions, burdens, servitudes and third-party rights affecting acquisitions;
- Advice on use of section 107 of the Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003 and submitting and Lands Tribunal or similar applications;
- Advice on statutory powers, rights and duties exercisable by Scottish Water under water industry specific legislation and wider applicable public authority legislation in relation to the acquisition of land rights for Scottish Water;
- Advice on Land and Buildings Transaction Tax or similar affecting acquisitions;
- Advice on land transfers and land acquisition, including associated deeds of servitude from developers and landowners, and on the statutory rights, powers and duties exercisable by Scottish Water under water industry legislation to enable the vesting of water and sewerage assets.

Estimated values are exclusive of payments made to third parties. Additional information: Procurement documents available here: https://atamis-scottishwater.my.salesforce-sites.com/ProSpend__CS_PublicLandingPage?SearchType=Projects

Renewal: The initial Framework Agreement will be for 48 months. Thereafter, SW reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement at their sole discretion, for a further four (4) years worth of extension options, subject to satisfactory performance, value for money and continued requirements.

Litigation and Employment Legal Services

Scottish Water is seeking to establish a Framework Agreement for the provision of a comprehensive range of legal services to support its statutory, operational, regulatory and commercial functions.
The Framework will provide access to specialist legal expertise across four service lots and will support Scottish Water in delivering major capital investment programmes, operational activities, regulatory obligations, governance responsibilities and strategic corporate objectives. The appointed framework suppliers will be required to provide high-quality legal advice, transactional support, dispute resolution services and representation where required, within a complex and highly regulated public sector environment operating substantially under Scots Law.
The Framework is divided into Lots with Lot 3 being Litigation and Employment Legal Services covering the Provision of legal advice, litigation management and representation services in relation to contentious matters, including:
* Insured litigation
* Employment advice, industrial relations and pensions and employment related litigation
* Health & Safety advice and related litigation
* Non-insured general litigation
* Environmental compliance and litigation

Estimated values are exclusive of payments made to third parties. Additional information: Procurement documents available here: https://atamis-scottishwater.my.salesforce-sites.com/ProSpend__CS_PublicLandingPage?SearchType=Projects

Renewal: The initial Framework Agreement will be for 48 months. Thereafter, SW reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement at their sole discretion, for a further four (4) years worth of extension options, subject to satisfactory performance, value for money and continued requirements.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06c87c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065141-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Negotiated procedure with prior call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
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
£15,200,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£15,200,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Jul 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
11 Aug 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SCOTTISH WATER
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
GLASGOW
Postcode
G33 6FB
Post Town
Glasgow
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM3 West Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM34 North Lanarkshire
Delivery Location
TLM Scotland

Local Authority
North Lanarkshire
Electoral Ward
Stepps, Chryston and Muirhead
Westminster Constituency
Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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