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Somers Orchard Legal Support

Portsmouth City Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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09 Sep 2026 at 10:57

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Portsmouth City Council commissioned external legal support for the preparation and issue of the Somers Orchard Development tender. The requirement is for legal services supporting the council’s development procurement, including advice and documentation needed to prepare and run the tender. The work relates to Somers Orchard in Portsmouth and is for the council as a sub-central public authority. The procurement was structured as a single service requirement rather than separate specialist packages. It would suit a law firm or specialist public-sector legal practice with experience advising contracting authorities on development procurements, drafting tender documentation and managing the legal aspects of issuing a competitive tender. The successful provider is Ashfords LLP, a large legal services firm based in Exeter, demonstrating that delivery is not limited to a supplier located in Portsmouth.

This procurement has been awarded and the tender is complete. It used a below-threshold procedure, with the specific method recorded as unknown, and comprised one completed lot. Ashfords LLP was awarded the contract. The contract was signed on 26 August 2026, started on 1 September 2026 and runs to 1 May 2030. Its gross value is £75,000, inclusive of applicable taxes, and it is below the relevant threshold. The contract is active. The published outcome identifies legal services as the procurement category and relates the award to the Somers Orchard Development tender. The buyer is Portsmouth City Council. The award information does not set out a separate award date, weighted scoring model or other evaluation detail.

For competing suppliers, this procurement is evidence that Portsmouth City Council uses external legal advisers for development-related tender preparation and issue. A credible future supplier would need a strong public procurement practice, with solicitors able to advise a local authority on the legal structure of a development tender, prepare and review compliant procurement documents, manage tender publication and support the council through the procurement process. Relevant experience in development projects and work for contracting authorities would help demonstrate understanding of public-sector governance, risk allocation and procurement compliance. The requirement also indicates the value of a team able to provide sustained legal support rather than a one-off document review. Firms outside Portsmouth may be suitable, as the selected supplier is based in Exeter.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Somers Orchard Legal Support

Notice Description

External legal support for the preparation and issue of the Somers Orchard Development tender.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f561
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085280-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - unknown
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
£75,000 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 1 May 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Portsmouth City Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
PORTSMOUTH
Postcode
PO1 2AL
Postcode Area
Portsmouth
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ31 Portsmouth
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Portsmouth
Electoral Ward
Charles Dickens
Westminster Constituency
Portsmouth South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Ashfords LLP

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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