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Legal Services South Downs National Park Authority

South Downs National Park Authority

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

03 Aug 2026 at 16:24

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

South Downs National Park Authority intends to procure external legal services to support its work as the public body responsible for the South Downs National Park. The requirement covers legal services across the Authority’s activities, under CPV 79100000. Delivery is expected across the South Downs area in the United Kingdom. The Authority is reviewing its existing external legal services arrangements before its current contracts expire, and is using market engagement to inform the future scope, service requirements and contract structure. The procurement is categorised as a service and is being developed by South Downs National Park Authority, based at the South Downs Centre in Midhurst. The requirement is arranged as one lot and is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

This procurement is at the planning stage: the Authority has stated an intention to run a formal procurement, but has not yet issued an invitation to tender. It is seeking market views through a questionnaire, with responses expected by 26 August 2026. The Authority expects the future contract to run from 27 June 2027 to 26 June 2030, with a possible extension to 26 June 2032. The current external legal services contracts end on 26 June 2027. The estimated value is £500,000 excluding VAT, or £600,000 including VAT, for the single lot. The Authority is reviewing responses to shape its procurement strategy, contract structure and future requirements before deciding the detailed procedure and evaluation arrangements.

This will suit law firms and other external legal services providers able to support a public authority working across a national park and its associated public-sector responsibilities. Small and medium-sized enterprises are specifically identified as suitable for the requirement, making it relevant to specialist practices as well as larger providers with broader public-sector teams. Suppliers should use the market-engagement stage to explain the legal disciplines, service model and delivery arrangements they could provide, and to demonstrate experience of working with public bodies or similarly regulated organisations. Firms with capacity to deliver continuing external advice from mid-2027, together with appropriate professional standards, governance, information security and public-sector awareness, are likely to be well placed when the formal procurement is developed.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Legal Services South Downs National Park Authority

Notice Description

The South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) is undertaking a review of its external legal services arrangements ahead of the expiry of its current legal services contracts. Our current Legal Services Contracts end on 26 June 2027. The Authority intends to undertake a formal procurement exercise for the provision of external legal services and is seeking to engage with the market to help inform its procurement strategy, contract structure and future service requirements.

Planning Information

Please complete and return the questionnaire via our E-Procurement portal In-Tend. https://in-tendhost.co.uk/southdowns/aspx/Home The deadline for responses is Wednesday 26th August 2026.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06da53
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/073357-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
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
£500,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Aug 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
27 Jun 2027 - 26 Jun 2030 3-4 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
South Downs National Park Authority
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
MIDHURST
Postcode
GU29 9DH
Postcode Area
Guildford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ27 West Sussex (South West)
Delivery Location
TLJ South East (England)
Local Authority
Chichester
Electoral Ward
Midhurst
Westminster Constituency
Arundel and South Downs

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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