--- title: "Procurement of Criminal Legal Aid Services from 1 October 2025" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-af36540f-18d1-4097-8283-51bf16c63927" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-af36540f-18d1-4097-8283-51bf16c63927" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-af36540f-18d1-4097-8283-51bf16c63927.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-af36540f-18d1-4097-8283-51bf16c63927.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "THE LEGAL AID AGENCY" published: "2024-09-17" --- # Procurement of Criminal Legal Aid Services from 1 October 2025 Buyer: THE LEGAL AID AGENCY Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-af36540f-18d1-4097-8283-51bf16c63927 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-af36540f-18d1-4097-8283-51bf16c63927) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-af36540f-18d1-4097-8283-51bf16c63927.json) ## Summary The Legal Aid Agency is seeking applications for the provision of Criminal Legal Aid Services under the 2025 Standard Crime Contract, commencing from 1 October 2025. This opportunity spans multiple regions across the United Kingdom, including North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West, and Wales. Prospective suppliers should note that the procurement is currently in the Tender stage, with an initial application deadline set for 23:59 on 22 October 2024. The procurement process employs an open procedure, specifically designed to support SMEs and VCSEs, within the legal services sector, and involves different stages to allow for phased contract commencements and integration into Duty Rotas between October 2025 and September 2034. This tender offers a substantial opportunity for businesses specialising in criminal legal aid to secure long-term contracts valued at £1.8 billion. The extensive regional coverage and the staggered integration stages provide ample scope for businesses to build robust service delivery models and expand their footprint in the public legal aid sector. Ideally suited to established legal practices as well as smaller, community-focused legal service providers, this procurement aims to ensure widespread access to quality legal aid services across England and Wales. Businesses are encouraged to review the Application Guide and engage in the clarification period to optimise their tender submissions. ## Notice The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) is inviting Applicants to submit a Tender for a 2025 Standard Crime Contract ("Crime Contract") to deliver publicly funded criminal legal aid services from 1 October 2025. Applicants wishing to deliver criminal legal aid services under a Crime Contract must submit a response to the SQ for 2025 Standard Crime Contracts - Stage 1 and the 2025 Standard Crime Contract ITT - Stage 1. This application period opens on 17 September 2024. The LAA intends that the application period will remain open until on, or around, 30 September 2034, subject to the right of early termination. The first stage of the process is for those who wish their contract to commence on 1 October 2025 and to be able to join Duty Rotas from this date also. The second stage of the process will open on 23 October 2024 and close on 30 April 2025 and is for those who wish there contract to commence on 1 October 2025 and to be able to join duty rotas that commence in January 2026. The third stage will open on 1 May 2025 and will close on, or around, 30 September 2034. The deadline for submitting a Tender in the first stage is 23:59 on 22 October 2024. You must read the Application Guide (AG) document for this procurement process before submitting your Tender. The AG can be found in the 'Attachments' section of ITT 1032 - '2025 Standard Crime Contract - Stage 1 Selection Questionnaire for ' or can be downloaded from GOV.UK: Crime Contract 2025 Tender - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) We will accept questions about this AG up until 23:59 on 1 October 2024 (referred to below as 'End date for supplier clarification messages'). Questions must be submitted through the relevant eTendering message board. Further information on how to submit a question can be found in the AG. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/1d00c75e-ea00-4c1c-b73f-62bada9d43b0 | | 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 | 17 Sep 2024 | | Submission deadline | 22 Oct 2024 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 30 Sep 2025 - 30 Sep 2035 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £1,800,000,000 | | 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 | 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 | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ### Codes - 79100000 - Legal services ## Release History - 17 Sep 2024 at 11:14 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/1d00c75e-ea00-4c1c-b73f-62bada9d43b0 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/1d00c75e-ea00-4c1c-b73f-62bada9d43b0 17th September 2024 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/crime-contract-2025-tender Information for organisations interested in delivering face to face Criminal Legal Aid Services from October 2025 ## Notice URLs - https://www.gov.uk/topic/legal-aid-for-providers/tenders ## 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-af36540f-18d1-4097-8283-51bf16c63927. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-af36540f-18d1-4097-8283-51bf16c63927.json.