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Provision of Legal Advisers for the Public Ownership Programme

DFT OPERATOR LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

27 Aug 2026 at 17:37

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

DFT Operator Limited procured legal advisory services for the Public Ownership Programme. The work supports due diligence and mobilisation when Train Operating Companies are transferred into public ownership, including advice and guidance to the operator during those activities. This is a public-sector transport legal services requirement, delivered in the United Kingdom. The procurement covered advice and related legal services through the Government Commercial Agency’s Legal Panel for Government RM6360 framework. The selected provider, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP, is based in London. The requirement is therefore relevant to law firms with public-sector, transport, corporate, commercial, transactional or due-diligence capability, particularly those able to advise on complex organisational transfers and mobilisation into public ownership.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded following a limited procedure without prior publication of a competition notice. The stated route was a compliant direct award through the GCA Framework Legal Panel for Government RM6360. The award was made to Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP and is recorded as active. The contract value is £3,650,000. The award date was 27 August 2026, and the contract was signed on 27 August 2026. One bid was recorded. Evaluation was based on price. The procurement had one lot, but that lot is recorded as cancelled, while the related award and contract remain active. No contract duration is stated in the process information.

This award indicates substantial demand from DFT Operator Limited for specialist legal support connected with transferring Train Operating Companies into public ownership. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need a strong public-sector legal practice, experience in transport or regulated industries, and the ability to provide coordinated advice across due diligence and mobilisation. Relevant capability may include corporate transactions, commercial contracting, governance, employment and regulatory matters arising when an operating company changes ownership or status. The route also shows the importance of access to, and compliance with, the Government Commercial Agency’s Legal Panel for Government RM6360 framework. The selected supplier’s scale indicates that the buyer values capacity to manage a complex, high-value programme alongside experienced legal teams and delivery resources.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Legal Advisers for the Public Ownership Programme

Notice Description

Legal Adviser support to the Public Ownership Programme, providing advice and guidance on the due diligence and mobilisation activities undertaken by DFTO in transferring Train Operating Companies (TOCs) into public ownership.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Compliant direct award via GCA Framework Legal Panel for Government RM6360 for the provision of legal advice and services.

Procurement Information

Compliant direct award via GCA Framework Legal Panel for Government RM6360 for the provision of legal advice and services

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ee11
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081971-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for 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

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£3,650,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DFT OPERATOR LIMITED
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
SE1 8SW
Postcode Area
South East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI45 Lambeth
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Lambeth
Electoral Ward
Waterloo & South Bank
Westminster Constituency
Vauxhall and Camberwell Green

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Eversheds Sutherland (International) 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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