--- title: "Independent Legal Representation for Complainers in Sexual Offence Cases in Scotland" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0774f2" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0774f2" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0774f2.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0774f2.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "Scottish Government" published: "2026-09-18" --- # Independent Legal Representation for Complainers in Sexual Offence Cases in Scotland Buyer: Scottish Government Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0774f2 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0774f2) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0774f2.json) ## Summary The Scottish Government is planning a new independent legal representation service for certain complainers in sexual offence cases in Scotland. The service arises from reforms introduced by the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 and is intended to provide legal advice and representation to eligible complainers. The requirement covers legal advisory, legal representation and related legal information services, including independent representation in sexual offence proceedings. Delivery is across Scotland. The procurement is being developed as a single requirement, with the Scottish Government seeking market insight to shape the service specification, sourcing strategy and commercial arrangements. This will suit legal practices and other organisations with relevant expertise in representing complainers and delivering sensitive, publicly commissioned legal services in Scotland. This process is at the planning stage and is currently a request for information to test the Scottish Government’s planning assumptions and understand the market’s capacity and capability. It is not an invitation to tender. The buyer currently intends to use an open procurement process, but says its approach may change after considering market responses. The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement. A future notice is expected on 16 November 2026. The request for information will help determine the sourcing strategy, service specification, procurement approach and commercial arrangements. No contract value, contract duration, award criteria or response deadline is set out at this stage. The requirement is likely to suit Scottish legal practices, legal service providers and consortia able to provide independent advice and representation to complainers in sexual offence cases. Relevant preparation would include experience of criminal or victims’ rights law, handling sensitive cases, supporting vulnerable clients and operating with appropriate independence from other participants in proceedings. Suppliers should consider how they would demonstrate suitably qualified legal professionals, robust safeguarding and confidentiality arrangements, reliable client communication and capacity to deliver consistently across Scotland. The buyer is specifically seeking evidence of market capacity and capability, so organisations with established service models, regional coverage and experience of publicly funded or publicly commissioned legal work should be well placed to contribute to the planning and prepare for the later procurement. ## Notice 1. The Scottish Government is seeking information to inform a potential procurement exercise for the delivery of a new legal service known as "Independent Legal Representation" (ILR) for certain complainers in sexual offence cases as a result of reforms in the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025. 2. This will build on previous and continuing work by the Scottish Government to develop the ILR service. The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to further test planning assumptions and create an opportunity to gather information from the market not otherwise available to Government. We intend responses to support future decision-making around the procurement process and service delivery. 3. Please find attached a Request for Information (RFI), which provides further details regarding this requirement. ### Lot Information Lot 1 The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to gather market insight and supplier feedback to inform the development of the sourcing strategy, service specification, procurement approach, and commercial arrangements for the provision of Independent Legal Representation for Complainers in Sexual Offence Cases in Scotland. The information received will be used to help shape the Authority's requirements and assess the capacity and capability of the market to deliver the service. At this stage, the Authority's intention is to undertake an open procurement process; however, no final decisions have been made, and the Authority reserves the right to amend its approach following consideration of the responses received through this RFI. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/088458-2026 | | Notice type | Planning Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 18 Sep 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 16 Nov 2026 | | 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 | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planned | | Lots status | Planned | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | Scottish Government | | Locality | GLASGOW | | Postcode area | Glasgow | | Postcode | G2 8LU | | Country | Scotland | | ITL 1 | TLM Scotland | | ITL 2 | TLM3 West Central Scotland | | ITL 3 | TLM32 Glasgow City | | Local authority | Glasgow City | | Electoral ward | Anderston/City/Yorkhill | | Westminster constituency | Glasgow North | | Delivery location | TLM Scotland | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ### Codes - 79100000 - Legal services - 79110000 - Legal advisory and representation services - 79111000 - Legal advisory services - 79112000 - Legal representation services - 79140000 - Legal advisory and information services ## Release History - 18 Sep 2026 at 08:36 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/088458-2026 ## Notice URLs - http://www.scotland.gov.uk - https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000843155 - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=843155 - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA10482 ## 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-0774f2. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0774f2.json.