---
title: "Independent Legal Representation for Complainers in Sexual Offence Cases in Scotland"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000843155"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000843155"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000843155.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000843155.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
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-r6ebe6-0000843155

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000843155)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000843155.json)

## Summary

The Scottish Government is developing a new legal service called Independent Legal Representation (ILR) for certain complainers in sexual offence cases in Scotland. The service arises from reforms in the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 and will build on the Government’s previous and continuing work to develop ILR. The requirement is for legal services covering independent representation in these cases, including legal advice and representation within the service model being developed. Delivery is intended to support eligible complainers across Scotland. The work is classified as legal services and is relevant to law firms, legal practices and other organisations with experience of criminal justice, victims’ rights and sensitive sexual offence casework.

This is a planning-stage Request for Information (RFI), intended to test the Scottish Government’s planning assumptions and gather market information to shape the future service specification, sourcing strategy, procurement approach and commercial arrangements. The buyer currently intends to use an open procurement process, but has made no final decision on the approach. Responses will also help assess the market’s capacity and capability to deliver the service. The buyer’s indicative expectation is that a future notice will be published on 16 November 2026; this is a planned date, not a tender deadline. The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement and falls under the legal basis of Directive 2014/24/EU.

This planning exercise will suit established legal service providers able to advise and represent complainers in sexual offence cases, work within Scotland’s criminal justice system and handle highly sensitive matters with appropriate independence, confidentiality and safeguarding. Relevant suppliers are likely to include solicitors’ firms, legal partnerships and specialist organisations with experience in victims’ rights, sexual offence proceedings and trauma-informed client support. Providers should be prepared to explain their available legal expertise, staffing model, geographic reach across Scotland, capacity to support eligible complainers and approach to consistent service delivery. The RFI is particularly useful for organisations that want to influence the emerging specification and commercial model by sharing practical evidence about market capability, delivery risks and workable service arrangements.

## 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 | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP564777 |
| Notice type | OJEU - F1 - Prior Information 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 01:00 - Planning - OJEU - F1 - Prior Information Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP564777

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=SEP564777&idx=1
  18th September 2026 - Request for Information (RFI)
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP564777
  Independent Legal Representation for Complainers in Sexual Offence Cases in Scotland - 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.

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=843155
- http://www.scotland.gov.uk
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000843155

## 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-r6ebe6-0000843155. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000843155.json.