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Tender for the Provision of Legal Services

Ards and North Down Borough Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

30 Sep 2026 at 08:52

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Ards and North Down Borough Council is seeking external legal services across eight specialist areas: planning; land and property; employment; enforcement; local government governance; information governance; procurement; and civil liability litigation. The requirement is divided into separate lots, allowing firms to focus on the areas that match their practice. The council is based in Bangor, Northern Ireland; the service is for the council, but no more specific delivery location is stated. This is a professional-services requirement for legal advice and support across local government functions, rather than a purchase of goods or construction work. Firms with a relevant legal practice may find one or more of the specialist areas a closer fit than a broad multi-disciplinary offer.

The council invited tenders through an open procedure. The enquiry and tender submission deadlines were both 28 October 2026 at 12:00. The planned contract period starts on 1 February 2027 and runs initially to 31 January 2028, with up to four further 12-month extensions reviewed annually; the maximum stated extent is to 31 January 2032. The estimated value is £1,785,000 excluding VAT (£2,142,000 including VAT). Evaluation is the same for each lot: methodology, approach and plan carries 20%, team experience 30%, contract management and contingency 20%, and cost 30%. Selection requirements include insurance and professional qualifications. The stated end of the award period is 20 January 2027.

The opportunity suits legal practices able to advise a local authority in one or more of the eight fields, from planning and property matters to employment, enforcement, governance, information governance, procurement and civil litigation. Each lot is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized businesses, so firms need not cover every specialism to compete. Selection calls for appropriate professional qualifications and insurance. To score well, suppliers will need to demonstrate relevant team experience, a clear delivery methodology and plan, and robust contract management and contingency arrangements, alongside competitive pricing. The weighting gives quality factors a combined 70% of the evaluation, with team experience the largest individual element; a low-cost offer alone is therefore unlikely to address the stated evaluation basis. This is a multi-year service opportunity with annual review of extension options.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Tender for the Provision of Legal Services

Notice Description

Tenders are sought by Ards and North Down Borough Council for the Provision of Legal Services.

Lot Information

Planning

This Lot is for the provision of Legal Services for Planning. Please see Document A - Invitation to Tender for full details.

Renewal: The Contract start date is anticipated to be 1 February 2027. The Contract will initially be awarded for a period of one year with an option to extend for a further 4 x 12-month periods, to be reviewed annually.

Land and Property

This Lot is for the provision of Legal Services for Land and Property. Please see Document A - Invitation to Tender for full details.

Renewal: The Contract start date is anticipated to be 1 February 2027. The Contract will initially be awarded for a period of one year with an option to extend for a further 4 x 12-month periods, to be reviewed annually.

Employment

This Lot is for the provision of Legal Services for Employment. Please see Document A - Invitation to Tender for full details.

Renewal: The Contract start date is anticipated to be 1 February 2027. The Contract will initially be awarded for a period of one year with an option to extend for a further 4 x 12-month periods, to be reviewed annually.

Enforcement

This Lot is for the provision of Legal Services for Enforcement. Please see Document A - Invitation to Tender for full details.

Renewal: The Contract start date is anticipated to be 1 February 2027. The Contract will initially be awarded for a period of one year with an option to extend for a further 4 x 12-month periods, to be reviewed annually.

Local Government Governance

This Lot is for the provision of Legal Services for Local Government Governance. Please see Document A - Invitation to Tender for full details.

Renewal: The Contract start date is anticipated to be 1 February 2027. The Contract will initially be awarded for a period of one year with an option to extend for a further 4 x 12-month periods, to be reviewed annually.

Information Governance

This Lot is for the provision of Legal Services for Information Governance. Please see Document A - Invitation to Tender for full details.

Renewal: The Contract start date is anticipated to be 1 February 2027. The Contract will initially be awarded for a period of one year with an option to extend for a further 4 x 12-month periods, to be reviewed annually.

Procurement

This Lot is for the provision of Legal Services for Procurement. Please see Document A - Invitation to Tender for full details.

Renewal: The Contract start date is anticipated to be 1 February 2027. The Contract will initially be awarded for a period of one year with an option to extend for a further 4 x 12-month periods, to be reviewed annually.

Civil Liability (Litigation)

This Lot is for the provision of Legal Services for Civil Liability (Litigation). Please see Document A - Invitation to Tender for full details.

Renewal: The Contract start date is anticipated to be 1 February 2027. The Contract will initially be awarded for a period of one year with an option to extend for a further 4 x 12-month periods, to be reviewed annually.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077d07
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/092124-2026
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
SME
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
£1,785,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,785,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Sep 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
28 Oct 20263 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Feb 2027 - 31 Jan 2028 6-12 months
Recurrence
2031-09-01

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Ards and North Down Borough 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
BANGOR
Postcode
BT20 4BT
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)
TLN09 Ards and North Down
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Ards and North Down
Electoral Ward
Castle
Westminster Constituency
North Down

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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