--- title: "Specialist Legal Support for ECW Pre-Transfer Planning" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-ae3b6497-6249-4bb0-a7fb-413a237a0648" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-ae3b6497-6249-4bb0-a7fb-413a237a0648" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-ae3b6497-6249-4bb0-a7fb-413a237a0648.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-ae3b6497-6249-4bb0-a7fb-413a237a0648.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "ENTERPRISE CHESHIRE AND WARRINGTON" published: "2025-12-12" --- # Specialist Legal Support for ECW Pre-Transfer Planning Buyer: ENTERPRISE CHESHIRE AND WARRINGTON Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-ae3b6497-6249-4bb0-a7fb-413a237a0648 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-ae3b6497-6249-4bb0-a7fb-413a237a0648) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-ae3b6497-6249-4bb0-a7fb-413a237a0648.json) ## Summary Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington (ECW) is currently in the tender stage of procuring specialist legal support for pre-transfer planning, focusing on the potential transfer of its functions with the upcoming establishment of the Combined Authority for Cheshire and Warrington. The procurement, titled "Specialist Legal Support for ECW Pre-Transfer Planning," is classified under business services, specifically covering law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security. The open procurement method is employed, with a tender process set to conclude on 5th January 2026. The project is to commence on 16th January 2026 and is expected to end on 24th April 2026. The services will be delivered within the North West of the United Kingdom. This opportunity is designed to attract small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs). The buying organisation, Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington, is wholly owned by the three unitary authorities in Cheshire and Warrington, having transitioned from a Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). This tender presents significant opportunities for firms specialising in legal services, particularly those with expertise in organisational, corporate, public law, employment, and commercial matters. Companies capable of providing comprehensive legal advice and demonstrating flexibility in response to evolving transfer landscapes will find this opportunity lucrative. The structure of the contract, which includes both a retainer and call-off component, offers sustained engagement over the transition period. Ideal candidates are those that can deliver swift and knowledgeable responses amidst the reorganisation efforts driven by governmental devolution initiatives. This contract not only paves the way for reinforcing business partnerships within the public sector but also enhances portfolios with strategic economic development engagements in a pivotal regional project. ## Notice Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington (ECW) is a company limited by guarantee wholly owned by the three unitary authorities in Cheshire and Warrington. It was formerly the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) for the area and brought across its staff, funding role and assets when it transferred to LA ownership in 2024. Cheshire and Warrington is part of the Government's devolution priority programme and will be creating a Combined Authority for the sub-region in Spring 2026. The Combined Authority will take on responsibility for the strategic economic development of Cheshire and Warrington, a role formerly undertaken by the LEP and, more recently, ECW. With the establishment of a new Combined Authority (CA), it is anticipated that some or all functions currently delivered by ECW and CWTB may transfer either to one or more of the sub-region's local authorities, to the CA or to another body. No final decisions have yet been made, and the scope, scale, and nature of any transfer remain under active consideration. The company is seeking to appoint a provider of specialist legal advice to help with those discussions, supporting pre-transfer planning and due diligence on the potential transfer of some or all of ECW's functions, assets, and responsibilities. This support will be commissioned through a retainer and call-off contract. The appointed provider must be able to advise across a broad spectrum of organisational, corporate, public law, employment, and commercial matters, and respond quickly as the transfer landscape becomes clearer. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/893d75c6-0a8f-4aff-a4b1-671be2b00ced | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure (below threshold) | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 12 Dec 2025 | | Submission deadline | 5 Jan 2026 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 16 Jan 2026 - 24 Apr 2026 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | ENTERPRISE CHESHIRE AND WARRINGTON | | Locality | WINSFORD | | Post town | Crewe | | Postcode | CW7 1AH | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLD6 Cheshire | | ITL 3 | TLD63 Cheshire West and Chester | | Local authority | Cheshire West and Chester | | Electoral ward | Winsford Dene | | Westminster constituency | Mid Cheshire | | Delivery location | TLD North West (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ### Codes - 79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ## Release History - 12 Dec 2025 at 14:53 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/893d75c6-0a8f-4aff-a4b1-671be2b00ced ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/893d75c6-0a8f-4aff-a4b1-671be2b00ced 12th December 2025 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/0e3aefb7-3ef5-4a8c-8986-e31ad4b71225 - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/fb14a61c-9ad3-4865-a8f0-5063a1918c03 - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/a52554d1-9994-42db-9c93-59ba0e1ee824 ## Notice URLs - https://cheshireandwarrington.com/how-we-work/about/tenders-and-opportunities/ ## 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-ae3b6497-6249-4bb0-a7fb-413a237a0648. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-ae3b6497-6249-4bb0-a7fb-413a237a0648.json.