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Legal Advisers for Rail Matters

Merseytravel

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

14 Aug 2026 at 16:24

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Merseytravel, together with Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, is seeking a single law firm or alternative business structure practice to provide principal external legal advice on rail matters. The service will support directors, the Place Directorate, transport and transport infrastructure programme teams, customer delivery staff, the internal legal team and finance colleagues. The scope covers existing rail operations, transition arrangements, future operations and future operations supporting public control. This is a specialist legal services requirement, classified under CPV 79100000. Work will support activities in the Liverpool City Region and is relevant to legal practices with a rail, transport, infrastructure and public-sector advisory capability.

The procurement has reached tender: Merseytravel invited offers through an open procedure. It is a single-lot, above-threshold services contract under the light-touch regime. The deadline for submissions was 8 September 2026 at 3:00 pm, with electronic submission allowed in English through the Chest portal. The contract was set to run from 12 October 2026 to 11 October 2029, with options to extend by 12 months and then a further 12 months, potentially until 11 October 2031, subject to review of operational need. The estimated value is £6.5 million excluding VAT, or £7.8 million including VAT. Evaluation weights quality at 60%, social value at 10% and price at 30%.

This opportunity suits a legal practice with demonstrable expertise in rail and public transport matters, including operational arrangements, transition projects, future operating models and public control of services. Suppliers should be able to act as a principal external adviser to a complex public authority, coordinating advice for senior directors and transport, infrastructure, customer delivery, legal and finance teams. The requirement is for one appointed practice, so bidders should have sufficient breadth and capacity to provide continuing advice across the full rail brief rather than a narrow one-off service. Strong written and advisory quality, credible social-value delivery and experience working with public-sector clients will be important to compete.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Legal Advisers for Rail Matters

Notice Description

Merseytravel and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) wish to appoint a single law firm (or alternative business structure practice) to act as their principal external legal advisers in relation to rail matters. The appointed legal advisers will advise a variety of staff within LCRCA / Merseytravel including: Directors Place Directorate (Transport, Transport Infrastructure Programmes, Customer Delivery) Legal Team Finance Team Key focus areas include: Existing Operations Transition Arrangements Future Operations Future Operations Supporting Public Control Initial term: Three years. Optional Contract Extensions: 12 months, with the option to extend for a further 12 months.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: Initial term: Three years. Optional Contract Extensions: 12 months, with the option to extend for a further 12 months. Extensions may be enacted subject to an ongoing review of operational need for the services.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e501
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077836-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
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
£6,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£6,500,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
8 Sep 20262 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
12 Oct 2026 - 11 Oct 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

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

Buyer Location

Locality
LIVERPOOL
Postcode
L3 1BP
Postcode Area
Liverpool
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD7 Merseyside
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD72 Liverpool
Delivery Location
TLD7 Merseyside
Local Authority
Liverpool
Electoral Ward
Waterfront South
Westminster Constituency
Liverpool Riverside

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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