---
title: "CPU 8280 Legal partner for PFIs - Tram"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-525ddc53-cb56-4b45-8a53-7fba384b3853"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-525ddc53-cb56-4b45-8a53-7fba384b3853"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-525ddc53-cb56-4b45-8a53-7fba384b3853.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-525ddc53-cb56-4b45-8a53-7fba384b3853.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Nottingham City Council"
published: "2026-08-11"
---

# CPU 8280 Legal partner for PFIs - Tram

Buyer: Nottingham City Council  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-525ddc53-cb56-4b45-8a53-7fba384b3853

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## Summary

Nottingham City Council procured legal advisory and representation services for its tram public-private partnership contract. The appointed legal partner will advise on ongoing operational matters through to the contract’s cessation, including day-to-day operational advice within existing budgets and additional work associated with the end of the PFI contract. The requirement covers the East Midlands, with Nottingham City Council as the buying organisation. This is a specialist legal services opportunity focused on public transport contracting, PFI arrangements, operational contract management and contract-end activity, rather than general legal support. Businesses relevant to this requirement would typically be law firms or specialist legal practices with experience advising public authorities and transport-sector clients on long-term infrastructure contracts.

The procurement has been completed and awarded. It used an above-threshold open procedure, with the award made on 31 May 2026. DLA Piper UK LLP was selected by Nottingham City Council for an awarded value of £500,000. The contract runs from 1 June 2026 to 5 September 2028. The stated procurement value and the awarded value are both £500,000. The tender deadline was 31 May 2026 at 12:00. The evaluation concerned the delivery of legal advisory and representation services for the tram PFI contract, including operational advice and end-of-contract work. The opportunity was identified as unsuitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises.

For a supplier that did not win this procurement, the award demonstrates sustained demand from Nottingham City Council for specialist legal support around tram operations and the lifecycle of a PFI contract. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need demonstrable experience advising public-sector clients on transport infrastructure, complex long-term contractual arrangements, operational obligations, budgets and contract cessation or transition work. Relevant capability would include a team able to provide continuing day-to-day advice as well as focused support for end-of-contract issues, with sufficient depth to manage a substantial public-sector mandate. The stated suitability assessment indicates that the buyer viewed the requirement as requiring the scale and resources of an established specialist legal practice rather than an SME or VCSE.

## Notice

To agree to the direct appointment of a supplier to advise on the ongoing operational aspects of the Tram contract through to its cessation. This will include existing budgets for day to day operational advice and an additional allocation for end of PFI contract work.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/0d686961-2d19-40fd-9358-1cdc1813706f |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure (above threshold) |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 11 Aug 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 31 May 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 31 May 2026 |
| Contract period | 1 Jun 2026 - 5 Sep 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £500,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £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 | Nottingham City Council |
| Locality | NOTTINGHAM |
| Postcode area | Nottingham |
| Postcode | NG2 3NG |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLF East Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLF1 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire |
| ITL 3 | TLF14 Nottingham |
| Local authority | Nottingham |
| Electoral ward | Castle |
| Westminster constituency | Nottingham East |
| Delivery location | TLF East Midlands (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | DLA Piper UK LLP |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 79110000 - Legal advisory and representation services

## Release History

- 11 Aug 2026 at 14:37 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/0d686961-2d19-40fd-9358-1cdc1813706f

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/0d686961-2d19-40fd-9358-1cdc1813706f
  11th August 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder

## 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-b5fd17-525ddc53-cb56-4b45-8a53-7fba384b3853. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-525ddc53-cb56-4b45-8a53-7fba384b3853.json.