Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
The Legal Aid Agency
102 Petty France
London
SW1H 9AJ
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKI32 - Westminster
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/legal-aid-agency
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://legalaid.bravosolution.co.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Applications or, where applicable, tenders must be submitted electronically via
https://legalaid.bravosolution.co.uk/l
Applications or, where applicable, tenders must be submitted to the above-mentioned address
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at
https://legalaid.bravosolution.co.uk/
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Other type
other publicly funded body
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Invitation to Tender to deliver Specialist Quality Mark (SQM) Audit Services from April 2022
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79200000 - Accounting, auditing and fiscal services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Legal Aid Agency (“LAA”) is inviting Applicants to tender for a concession contract (“Contract”) to administer the LAA’s Specialist Quality Mark (“SQM”), from 1 October 2022.
The SQM is the LAA’s organisational quality standard designed to ensure that Legal Services Providers are well run and provide good client care. The SQM gives assurance regarding the quality of advice in several ways which, whilst not direct measures of quality are fundamental to reliable delivery of a quality service and therefore are fundamentally important to the delivery of legal aid services. Compliance with the SQM, or equivalent standard (e.g. Lexcel), is a requirement for Legal Services Providers that have, or are seeking to have, a contract with the LAA.
The LAA intends to enter into contract with one (1) organisation to administer the LAA’s SQM under a licence. On the LAA’s behalf, the Licensee will provide the SQM Services, which include auditing and assessing Legal Services Providers that apply for SQM accreditation.
This is an opportunity to administer the SQM on the LAA’s behalf directly to the legal services market. There may also be opportunities for the Licensee to grow market share through delivering excellent value for money to Legal Services Providers, effective marketing or further developing the reputation of the SQM. The Licensee will be paid for the Services they provide directly by the Legal Services Providers in line with the prices submitted in this concession contract award procedure (referred to hereafter as “this procurement process”). For the avoidance of doubt, the Licensee will not be entitled to any payment from the LAA under any circumstances.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This concession is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
England and Wales only
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Legal Aid Agency (“LAA”) is inviting Applicants to tender for a concession contract (“Contract”) to administer the LAA’s Specialist Quality Mark (“SQM”), from 1 October 2022.
The SQM is the LAA’s organisational quality standard designed to ensure that Legal Services Providers are well run and provide good client care. The SQM gives assurance regarding the quality of advice in several ways which, whilst not direct measures of quality are fundamental to reliable delivery of a quality service and therefore are fundamentally important to the delivery of legal aid services. Compliance with the SQM, or equivalent standard (e.g. Lexcel), is a requirement for Legal Services Providers that have, or are seeking to have, a contract with the LAA.
The LAA intends to enter into contract with one (1) organisation to administer the LAA’s SQM under a licence. On the LAA’s behalf, the Licensee will provide the SQM Services, which include auditing and assessing Legal Services Providers that apply for SQM accreditation.
This is an opportunity to administer the SQM on the LAA’s behalf directly to the legal services market. There may also be opportunities for the Licensee to grow market share through delivering excellent value for money to Legal Services Providers, effective marketing or further developing the reputation of the SQM. The Licensee will be paid for the Services they provide directly by the Legal Services Providers in line with the prices submitted in this concession contract award procedure (referred to hereafter as “this procurement process”). For the avoidance of doubt, the Licensee will not be entitled to any payment from the LAA under any circumstances.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Concession is awarded on the basis of the criteria stated in the procurement documents
two.2.7) Duration of the concession
End date
30 September 2025
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
Section four. Procedure
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for submission of applications or receipt of tenders
Date
10 March 2022
Local time
5:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Legal Aid Agency
102 Petty France
London
SW1H 9AJ
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
Centre for Dispute Resolution
70 Fleet Street
London
EC4Y 1EU
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
Legal Aid Agency
102 Petty France
London
SW1 9AJ
Country
United Kingdom