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ID 6617419 Department of Finance Departmental Solicitors Office DSO Legal Case Management System

Department of Finance

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

22 Sep 2026 at 15:18

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department of Finance’s Departmental Solicitors Office in Northern Ireland is preparing to procure a legal case management system. The requirement is a service combining software and information systems with database and document management, legal information services, software programming and consultancy, systems and equipment maintenance, and related IT support. The system is intended to support the Office’s legal case management activities. Delivery is across Northern Ireland. The procurement is being managed centrally by CPD – Supplies & Services Division, the central procurement function for Northern Ireland central government. The scope spans legal-sector case management and the technology needed to operate, maintain and support the system, including document creation, scheduling, productivity and electronic information services.

This procurement is at the planning stage: the Department of Finance has stated an intention to procure but has not yet invited tenders. It is first conducting preliminary market engagement to test supplier interest, assess the viability of the concept, identify innovative solutions and risks, and inform its business case and procurement strategy. Suppliers can respond to the engagement questionnaire by 9 October 2026 at 23:59, with possible follow-up online meetings. The buyer expects the next notice on 2 November 2026. The planned contract period is 1 May 2027 to 30 April 2031, with renewal potentially extending the arrangement to 31 March 2034. The published estimated value is £1 gross, and the procurement is below threshold.

The engagement is relevant to suppliers providing legal case management platforms or configurable enterprise software for legal teams. Strong candidates are likely to combine secure case and matter management with databases, document management, scheduling, productivity tools and electronic information services. The scope also suits providers able to deliver software configuration, implementation advice, systems integration, requirements analysis, maintenance, helpdesk or wider IT support. Experience supporting solicitors or other professional legal services would help suppliers understand workflows, records and information-management needs. Businesses with innovative solutions should contribute, since the buyer is expressly seeking market insight and potential alternatives before finalising its business case and procurement strategy. It may also suit partnerships between legal technology specialists, software developers and managed-service providers.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

ID 6617419 Department of Finance Departmental Solicitors Office DSO Legal Case Management System

Notice Description

The Department of Finance, Department Solicitors Office (DSO) is currently preparing to initiate a procurement process to establish a contract with a Supplier to provide a Case Management System. The potential scale and scope of this service is such that it offers a significant opportunity to bidders. Prior to initiating the procurement DSO wishes to establish the level of market interest in participating in the procurement process.

Planning Information

The objectives of this market engagement exercise are to: • gain initial supplier awareness, engagement and opinion • provide confidence around viability of concept • gain insight to the market possibilities and potential innovative solutions • understand risks and issues not previously considered • inform the Outline Business Case; and • inform any necessary Procurement Strategy. If you wish to participate in the Contracting Authority’s Preliminary Market Engagement for this requirement, a questionnaire for completion is available via eTendersNI under ID 6617419. The questionnaire must be completed and submitted via eTendersNI by the engagement deadline date and time detailed above. In addition, depending on the volume of responses, the Department of Finance may wish to follow up the questionnaire with online meetings with respondents. Further detail is included within the PME Questionnaire and Associated documents. The PME questionnaire and associated documents are available with unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: URL https://etendersni.gov.uk/

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0777c3
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089743-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

50 - Repair and maintenance services

64 - Postal and telecommunications services

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

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

CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

48300000 - Document creation, drawing, imaging, scheduling and productivity software package

48311100 - Document management system

48600000 - Database and operating software package

48612000 - Database-management system

48800000 - Information systems and servers

48810000 - Information systems

50310000 - Maintenance and repair of office machinery

50312000 - Maintenance and repair of computer equipment

50312600 - Maintenance and repair of information technology equipment

50321000 - Repair services of personal computers

64216200 - Electronic information services

72200000 - Software programming and consultancy services

72210000 - Programming services of packaged software products

72223000 - Information technology requirements review services

72267100 - Maintenance of information technology software

79100000 - Legal services

79111000 - Legal advisory services

79140000 - Legal advisory and information services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Sep 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
2 Nov 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 May 2027 - 30 Apr 2031 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Department of Finance
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT3 9ED
Postcode Area
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
TLN Northern Ireland
Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Sydenham
Westminster Constituency
Belfast East

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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