---
title: "Legal On-line Research Services"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000759737"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000759737"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000759737.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000759737.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "CROWN OFFICE AND PROCURATOR FISCAL SERVICE"
published: "2026-04-08"
---

# Legal On-line Research Services

Buyer: CROWN OFFICE AND PROCURATOR FISCAL SERVICE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000759737

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000759737)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000759737.json)

## Summary

The procurement process, led by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), involves the acquisition of legal online research services, specifically licensing access to Westlaw UK. This contract was awarded to Thomson Reuters, amounting to £2,500,000. COPFS, a national agency operating out of Edinburgh, issued this voluntary ex ante transparency (VEAT) notice on behalf of the Legal Information Network for Scotland (LINETS). The process follows a limited procurement method without prior publication due to the unique positioning of Thomson Reuters as the sole provider of these services. The contract was signed on 28 February 2024 and is currently active, with services intended for the Edinburgh Crown Office. The industry category falls under social protection, as classified by COFOG.

This procurement presents notable opportunities for large enterprises capable of providing or competing in the supply of specialised legal research services, despite the unique constraint here with Thomson Reuters' proprietary products. Such contracts are pivotal for organisations aiming to solidify their footprint in the legal services sector, offering potential for growth by aligning with governmental digital transformation efforts. Businesses focusing on law, IT service provisioning, or those that offer complementary services to Westlaw UK may find indirect benefits through collaboration or sub-contracting opportunities.

## Notice

This is a voluntary ex ante transparency (VEAT) notice. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) on behalf of Legal Information Network for Scotland (LINETS) have entered into a contract with Thomson Reuters. This is for access for up to 1800 licenses to Westlaw UK. This is a vast library of consolidated primary and secondary law combined with expert guidance. These products are either solely owned or held under licence by Thomson Reuters and not available elsewhere in the marketplace.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

This is a voluntary ex ante transparency (VEAT) notice. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) on behalf of Legal Information Network for Scotland (LINETS) have entered into a contract with Thomson Reuters. This is for access for up to 1800 licenses to Westlaw UK. This is a vast library of consolidated primary and secondary law combined with expert guidance. These products are either solely owned or held under licence by Thomson Reuters and not available elsewhere in the marketplace.

### Procurement Information

Under Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 33(b) (ii)competition is absent for technical reasons. These products are either solely owned or held under licence by Thomson Reuters and not available elsewhere in the marketplace. Thomson Reuters do not offer out their online products to other companies.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=APR553433 |
| Notice type | OJEU - F3 - Contract 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 | 8 Apr 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 28 Feb 2024 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £2,500,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | CROWN OFFICE AND PROCURATOR FISCAL SERVICE |
| Locality | EDINBURGH |
| Post town | Edinburgh |
| Postcode | EH1 1LA |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM1 East Central Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM13 City of Edinburgh |
| Local authority | City of Edinburgh |
| Electoral ward | City Centre |
| Westminster constituency | Edinburgh East and Musselburgh |
| Delivery location | TLM Scotland |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | THOMSON REUTERS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 75 - Administration, defence and social security services

### Codes

- 75230000 - Justice services

## Release History

- 8 Apr 2026 at 00:00 - Award - OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=APR553433
- 28 Mar 2024 at 00:00 - Award - OJEU - F15 - Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR502036

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR502036
  Legal On-line Research Services - This is a voluntary ex ante transparency (VEAT) notice. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) on behalf of Legal Information Network for Scotland (LINETS) have entered into a contract with Thomson Reuters. This is for access for up to 1800 licenses to Westlaw UK. This is a vast library of consolidated primary and secondary law combined with expert guidance. These products are either solely owned or held under licence by Thomson Reuters and not available elsewhere in the marketplace.
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=APR553433
  Legal On-line Research Services - This is a voluntary ex ante transparency (VEAT) notice. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) on behalf of Legal Information Network for Scotland (LINETS) have entered into a contract with Thomson Reuters. This is for access for up to 1800 licenses to Westlaw UK. This is a vast library of consolidated primary and secondary law combined with expert guidance. These products are either solely owned or held under licence by Thomson Reuters and not available elsewhere in the marketplace.

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://www.copfs.gov.uk/
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000759737

## 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-r6ebe6-0000759737. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000759737.json.