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Legal services for patents

University Of The West Of England

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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21 Sep 2026 at 12:17

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of the West of England is buying specialist legal services for patents. The requirement covers patent legal advice and representation, including patent and copyright consultancy, with the appointed patent attorney supporting live patent applications. This is a professional services contract rather than a supply of goods or construction work. The university is based at its Frenchay Campus in Bristol, and the service relates to its patent activity. The appointed provider is Withers & Rogers LLP, a small or medium-sized enterprise specialising in intellectual property law. Businesses with patent attorney capability, experience advising on live applications and the capacity to represent a university or research organisation are the closest comparators for this requirement.

The procurement has been completed and awarded, with Withers & Rogers LLP selected for the single lot. The contract was signed on 10 August 2026 and runs from 11 to 12 August 2026. Its value is £25,000 excluding VAT and £30,000 including VAT. The University of the West of England used a direct award below the applicable threshold, without competition. The tender covered legal services for patents and was evaluated through that direct-award route rather than an open competition. The award is active and the contract is active. This outcome shows the buyer used a single specialist provider for its live patent application work.

For a supplier that did not win this requirement, the opportunity provides a clear view of the university’s demand for specialist intellectual property support. A credible competitor would need qualified patent attorneys and strong capability in patent prosecution, including advising on and representing live patent applications. Experience covering patent and copyright consultancy, together with broader legal advice and representation, would be relevant. Providers should be able to support a university’s research and innovation portfolio, understand the practical requirements of public-sector clients and handle work as a specialist SME. The successful supplier’s role indicates that focused intellectual property expertise, rather than general legal services alone, is central to meeting this buyer’s requirement.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Legal services for patents

Notice Description

Legal services for patents. W&R at the appointed patent attorney for live patent applications.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077651
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089095-2026
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
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79110000 - Legal advisory and representation services

79120000 - Patent and copyright consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£25,000 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
11 Aug 2026 - 12 Aug 2026 30 days
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
University Of The West Of England
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS16 1QY
Postcode Area
Bristol
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
South Gloucestershire
Electoral Ward
Stoke Park & Cheswick
Westminster Constituency
Filton and Bradley Stoke

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Withers & Rogers 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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