---
title: "Provision of Legal Advisers for the Public Ownership Programme"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06ee11"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06ee11"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ee11.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ee11.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DFT OPERATOR LIMITED"
published: "2026-08-27"
---

# Provision of Legal Advisers for the Public Ownership Programme

Buyer: DFT OPERATOR LIMITED  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06ee11

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ee11.json)

## Summary

DFT Operator Limited procured legal advisory services for the Public Ownership Programme. The work supports due diligence and mobilisation when Train Operating Companies are transferred into public ownership, including advice and guidance to the operator during those activities. This is a public-sector transport legal services requirement, delivered in the United Kingdom. The procurement covered advice and related legal services through the Government Commercial Agency’s Legal Panel for Government RM6360 framework. The selected provider, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP, is based in London. The requirement is therefore relevant to law firms with public-sector, transport, corporate, commercial, transactional or due-diligence capability, particularly those able to advise on complex organisational transfers and mobilisation into public ownership.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded following a limited procedure without prior publication of a competition notice. The stated route was a compliant direct award through the GCA Framework Legal Panel for Government RM6360. The award was made to Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP and is recorded as active. The contract value is £3,650,000. The award date was 27 August 2026, and the contract was signed on 27 August 2026. One bid was recorded. Evaluation was based on price. The procurement had one lot, but that lot is recorded as cancelled, while the related award and contract remain active. No contract duration is stated in the process information.

This award indicates substantial demand from DFT Operator Limited for specialist legal support connected with transferring Train Operating Companies into public ownership. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need a strong public-sector legal practice, experience in transport or regulated industries, and the ability to provide coordinated advice across due diligence and mobilisation. Relevant capability may include corporate transactions, commercial contracting, governance, employment and regulatory matters arising when an operating company changes ownership or status. The route also shows the importance of access to, and compliance with, the Government Commercial Agency’s Legal Panel for Government RM6360 framework. The selected supplier’s scale indicates that the buyer values capacity to manage a complex, high-value programme alongside experienced legal teams and delivery resources.

## Notice

Legal Adviser support to the Public Ownership Programme, providing advice and guidance on the due diligence and mobilisation activities undertaken by DFTO in transferring Train Operating Companies (TOCs) into public ownership.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Compliant direct award via GCA Framework Legal Panel for Government RM6360 for the provision of legal advice and services.

### Procurement Information

Compliant direct award via GCA Framework Legal Panel for Government RM6360 for the provision of legal advice and services

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081971-2026 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 27 Aug 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £3,650,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DFT OPERATOR LIMITED |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Postcode area | South East London |
| Postcode | SE1 8SW |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI4 Inner London - East |
| ITL 3 | TLI45 Lambeth |
| Local authority | Lambeth |
| Electoral ward | Waterloo & South Bank |
| Westminster constituency | Vauxhall and Camberwell Green |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 79100000 - Legal services

## Release History

- 27 Aug 2026 at 17:37 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081971-2026

## Notice URLs

- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/dft-operator-limited

## 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-06ee11. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ee11.json.