--- title: "Preliminary Market Engagement - Counsel Legal Services Framework" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-051cef" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-051cef" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051cef.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051cef.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "INDEPENDENT COMMISSION FOR RECOCILATION AND INFORMATION RECOVERY" published: "2025-05-22" --- # Preliminary Market Engagement - Counsel Legal Services Framework Buyer: INDEPENDENT COMMISSION FOR RECOCILATION AND INFORMATION RECOVERY Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-051cef [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-051cef) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051cef.json) ## Summary The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery, located in Belfast, is initiating a planning stage for the Counsel Legal Services Framework. This procurement process is aimed at engaging with suppliers for a comprehensive range of legal services, including administrative law, civil litigation, and other related specialisms. The current stage is focused on pre-market engagement, with a deadline for responses set as 9th June 2025. The procurement is under the industry category of legal services and will take place in the Northern Ireland region, adhering to Northern Irish devolved regulations. The anticipated procurement process will advance to the tender stage following the completion of market engagement exercises. This tender represents significant business growth opportunities, particularly for legal firms and consultancies that specialise in a variety of legal disciplines. SMEs are especially encouraged to participate in the upcoming framework, which is structured to include a renewable contract period from July 2025 to July 2029, with the potential to extend until 2030. The projected gross value of the contract is GBP 1,200,000, suggesting a substantial business opportunity for firms capable of delivering high-quality legal services. Engaging in this tender could help businesses expand their presence in the public sector market and establish long-term partnerships with a central government body. ## Notice ICRIR is seeking to engage the market in advance of a forthcoming tender opportunity for the provision of legal services. The proposed commercial vehicle(s) will include a comprehensive list of legal specialisms, including but not limited to the following which may change as a result of further market engagement: -Administrative law/Public law -Civil litigation -Commercial -Contracts Law -Criminal law and investigations advice -Data Protection/Freedom of Information -Dispute Resolution and Litigation -Employment Law -Human Rights law -Inquests, Public Inquiries or any equivalent inquisitorial and investigative structure -Public International law -Public Procurement Law -Torts and Personal Injury law The purpose of this early market engagement is to gather insights from potential suppliers to help inform the scope, structure, and approach of the procurement to ensure it meets the needs of the organisation and delivers best value. ### Planning Information This is not a call for competition. This notice is intended to alert potential suppliers of the opportunity to take part in the pre-market engagement exercise only. Interested parties are invited to respond to the short questionnaire linked to this notice. The questionnaire must be responded to via the E-Tenders NI e-sourcing portal. Responses will assist ICRIR in the development of its new Legal Services Framework, expected to be tendered in the coming weeks. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024575-2025 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Framework | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 22 May 2025 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 9 Jun 2025 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 13 Jul 2025 - 13 Jul 2029 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £1,000,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Planning | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | INDEPENDENT COMMISSION FOR RECOCILATION AND INFORMATION RECOVERY | | Locality | BELFAST | | Post town | Northern Ireland | | Postcode | BT2 7BA | | Country | Northern Ireland | | ITL 1 | TLN Northern Ireland | | ITL 2 | TLN0 Northern Ireland | | ITL 3 | TLN06 Belfast | | Local authority | Belfast | | Electoral ward | Central | | Westminster constituency | Belfast South and Mid Down | | Delivery location | TLN Northern Ireland | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ### Codes - 79100000 - Legal services ## Release History - 22 May 2025 at 09:41 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024575-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024575-2025 22nd May 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://icrir.independent-inquiry.uk/ - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## 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-h6vhtk-051cef. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051cef.json.