---
title: "SQM Services from 1 October 2022"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-23bb406b-9e4f-4e90-b5fe-bcc5a8dbc171"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-23bb406b-9e4f-4e90-b5fe-bcc5a8dbc171"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-23bb406b-9e4f-4e90-b5fe-bcc5a8dbc171.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-23bb406b-9e4f-4e90-b5fe-bcc5a8dbc171.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "THE LEGAL AID AGENCY"
published: "2022-07-01"
---

# SQM Services from 1 October 2022

Buyer: THE LEGAL AID AGENCY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-23bb406b-9e4f-4e90-b5fe-bcc5a8dbc171

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## Summary

The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) is seeking to engage a provider for a concession contract titled "SQM Services from 1 October 2022." This procurement falls under the services category, specifically relating to accounting, auditing, and fiscal services. The contract will begin on 1 October 2022 and is set to run until 30 September 2025, with a total value of £2,500,000. The tender process was conducted using an open procedure methodology, with the tender period ending on 10 March 2022. This opportunity is available across various regions in the United Kingdom, including London and Wales.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in legal auditing and administration services, particularly those that can demonstrate strong quality assurance and client care standards. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and value-based community service enterprises (VCSEs) are encouraged to apply, as they align well with the LAA's requirements for the Specialist Quality Mark services. Providers capable of delivering value for money and enhancing the reputation of the SQM will find a conducive environment for growth by competing for this contract.

## Notice

The Legal Aid Agency ("LAA") invited Applicants to tender for a concession contract ("Contract") to administer the LAA's Specialist Quality Mark ("SQM"), from 1 October 2022. The SQM is the LAA's organisational quality standard designed to ensure that Legal Services Providers are well run and provide good client care. The SQM gives assurance regarding the quality of advice in several ways which, whilst not direct measures of quality are fundamental to reliable delivery of a quality service and therefore are fundamentally important to the delivery of legal aid services. Compliance with the SQM, or equivalent standard (e.g. Lexcel), is a requirement for Legal Services Providers that have, or are seeking to have, a contract with the LAA. The LAA intends to enter into contract with one (1) organisation to administer the LAA's SQM under a licence. On the LAA's behalf, the Licensee will provide the SQM Services, which include auditing and assessing Legal Services Providers that apply for SQM accreditation. This notice confirms the outcome of that procurement.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/100aca2a-b91a-488b-b74e-b7c5c0d5912f |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure (above threshold) |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Planning, Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 1 Jul 2022 |
| Submission deadline | 10 Mar 2022 |
| Future notice date | 7 Jul 2021 |
| Award date | 30 Jun 2022 |
| Contract period | 30 Sep 2022 - 30 Sep 2025 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £2,500,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £2,500,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | THE LEGAL AID AGENCY |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1H 9AJ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England), TLL Wales, TLN Northern Ireland |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | RECOGNISING EXCELLENCE |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 79200000 - Accounting, auditing and fiscal services

## Release History

- 1 Jul 2022 at 12:41 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/100aca2a-b91a-488b-b74e-b7c5c0d5912f
- 27 Jan 2022 at 10:34 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/43bb40b4-cfb7-4684-91c2-02e617cadddd
- 23 Jun 2021 at 15:54 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/23e42e81-2e50-4eae-a088-67fec768bc6b

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/100aca2a-b91a-488b-b74e-b7c5c0d5912f
  1st July 2022 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/43bb40b4-cfb7-4684-91c2-02e617cadddd
  27th January 2022 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/23e42e81-2e50-4eae-a088-67fec768bc6b
  23rd June 2021 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/specialist-quality-mark-services-from-april-2022
  Tender Information

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-23bb406b-9e4f-4e90-b5fe-bcc5a8dbc171. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-23bb406b-9e4f-4e90-b5fe-bcc5a8dbc171.json.