Planning

Legal Services Support for Recovery Strategy Unit (RSU)

  • Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

F01: Prior information notice (prior information only)

Notice identifier: 2023/S 000-010581

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-03be41

Published 13 April 2023, 9:15am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

2 Marsham Street

London

SW1P 4DF

Contact

commercialtenders@levellingup.gov.uk

Email

commercialtenders@levellingup.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UK - United Kingdom

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-housing-communities-and-local-government

Buyer's address

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-housing-communities-and-local-government

one.3) Communication

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Ministry or any other national or federal authority

one.5) Main activity

General public services


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Legal Services Support for Recovery Strategy Unit (RSU)

Reference number

CPD4124234

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 79110000 - Legal advisory and representation services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

It is anticipated that this procurement will result in the setting up of a Framework Agreement consisting of up to seven (7) Suppliers for the provision of specialist litigation support to DLUHC.

Full details will be provided within the tender documentation.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £5,000,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 79100000 - Legal services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKI32 - Westminster
Main site or place of performance

Across the United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

In April 2022, the Building Safety Act was passed, providing a range of new powers to hold to account those responsible for unsafe buildings. To this end the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities established the Recovery Strategy Unit (RSU) to pursue those who seek to obfuscate their responsibility to pay to fix unsafe buildings and make them safe.

The appointed Suppliers to this Framework Agreement will support the use of these new and untested powers to spearhead some of the first government action against actors across the built environment. This is a high-profile Government priority; the RSU reports directly to Secretary of State and the issue of building remediation receives considerable press coverage on a national scale.  

We want to work with innovative and experienced litigators, with a strong track record of advising on successful litigation in relation to commercial, property and construction matters. The actors we are pursuing are significant, both in terms of their resources and reputation. We also expect that some cases will have tax compliance and commercial law elements and we’d expect successful suppliers to advise on all legal avenues of redress. The successful firms will be working on a key priority for the Department and for No.10 and will have the opportunity to use a range of new powers to hold high profile actors to account and deliver justice for leaseholders. The outcome of the RSU’s action will significantly impact construction litigation in this country, providing case law and establishing precedent of powerful new legal remedies.

two.2.14) Additional information

DLUHC reserves the right to cancel all or part of this proposed procurement and/or withdraw/amend this notice including any dates (which are indicative at this stage).

two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice

24 April 2023


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes