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Inquiry Response Support 2026

Department for Education

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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12 Aug 2026 at 14:19

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Education procured legal advice and related legal services to support its response to inquiries. The work covers timely legal support for Department witnesses responding to Rule 9 requests, helping the Department meet inquiry deadlines, and providing additional legal resource as part of its response arrangements. The service is delivered for the Department’s inquiry response activities across the United Kingdom. This is a public-sector legal services requirement, relevant to law firms and legal service providers with experience advising government bodies during formal inquiries, supporting witnesses, and handling deadline-driven advisory work. The requirement is focused on practical inquiry response support rather than general legal services, with the appointed provider acting as part of the Department’s resourcing solution.

The procurement is complete and the contract has been awarded to DWF LAW LLP. It was conducted by direct award below the applicable threshold, without competition. The contract was signed on 10 August 2026 and runs from 10 August 2026 to 31 December 2026. Its value is £79,650 excluding VAT and £95,580 including VAT. One supplier was selected for the single lot. The contract is active, while the tender itself is recorded as complete. The award covers legal services and legal advisory services for the Department for Education’s inquiry response support requirement. The recorded outcome shows a focused, short-term appointment made through a non-competitive below-threshold route rather than an openly competed tender.

This procurement indicates demand from the Department for Education for specialist legal capacity during formal inquiries, particularly where witnesses must respond to Rule 9 requests and work is governed by inquiry deadlines. A credible future competitor would need solicitors able to provide clear, timely advice to public-sector clients, support witnesses effectively, and mobilise quickly for a defined response programme. Experience of inquiry procedures, evidence preparation, witness briefing and managing multiple urgent deadlines would be commercially relevant. The successful supplier’s role also shows the value of a flexible resourcing model: the buyer sought external legal support to supplement its own capability. Firms targeting similar work should be able to demonstrate dependable delivery, appropriate senior oversight and capacity for concentrated assignments.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Inquiry Response Support 2026

Notice Description

To provide Legal Advice and Services to support DfE's response to inquiries. To provide timely legal support to DfE witnesses responding to Rule 9 requests. To support the Department in meeting Inquiry deadlines. This contract is for Legal Advice and Services to act as part of the resourcing solution to deliver these objectives.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e2b3
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076822-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
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

79111000 - Legal advisory services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£79,650 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
10 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
10 Aug 2026 - 31 Dec 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Department for Education
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 3BT
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

DWF LAW LLP

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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