Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
THE FINANCIAL REPORTING COUNCIL LIMITED
8Th Floor,125 London Wall
LONDON
EC2Y5AS
Telephone
+44 2074922300
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKI - London
Companies House
02486368
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/1e19204b-61b1-41c3-a350-59ef3ff2c17c
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the above-mentioned address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Economic and financial affairs
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Legal Services Framework Agreement
Reference number
FRC2023-0146
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79100000 - Legal services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is an independent regulator which serves the public interest by setting high standards of corporate governance, corporate reporting and audit and by holding to account those responsible for delivering them. The FRC also monitors and takes enforcement action where things go wrong to ensure the proper operation of the market and confidence in the UK economy and the UK's international reputation as an attractive place to do business.
The purpose of this exercise is to create a Framework Agreement to provide a panel of law firms (the panel) to provide legal services for the FRC, through the FRC's in-house legal team.
The legal team advises on a wide range of issues, including but not limited to:
• creating, implementing, using and maintaining the FRC's powers and procedures;
• developing and maintaining legally sound policies across the FRC;
• information handling, sharing and risk;
• corporate legal advice (eg on contracts, governance, intellectual property rights, brand and logo use, insurance etc);
• responding to challenges (eg judicial review and complaints) as well as all litigation taken by, and against, the FRC.
We propose to appoint up to three* law firms to act for the FRC across its business on a four-year contract (with a further one year extension).
* The FRC reserves the right to increase this number where law firms have the same overall evaluation scoring.
PLEASE SEE THE FULL DETAILS IN THE TENDER PACK. THE TENDER PACK CAN BE ACCESSED VIA CONTRACTS FINDER
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/1e19204b-61b1-41c3-a350-59ef3ff2c17c
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £2,290,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
Tenders may be submitted for all lots
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Public and regulatory law
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79100000 - Legal services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
- UKI - London
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Example of the matters on which advice may be sought:
• FRC regulations and procedures
• Independent tribunal procedures
• Public and regulatory law litigation (including enforcement proceedings and judicial review proceedings)
• Statutory interpretation
This Lot also includes Local audits, for example, advice may be sought on:-
• Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014
• Companies Act 2006, Part 42 and Sch 10 (as modified by the 2014 Act)
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
60
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
12 months
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Information law
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79100000 - Legal services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
- UKI - London
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Examples of the matters on which advice may be sought:-
• UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018
• Freedom of Information Act 2000
• Environmental Information Regulations 2004
• Confidential information
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
60
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
12 months
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Corporate and commercial law/general law (including litigation)
Lot No
3
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79100000 - Legal services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
- UKI - London
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Examples of the matters on which advice may be sought:-
• Contracts - formation, execution, interpretation, breach and remedies, termination
• Companies law (especially relating to governance issues)
• General litigation
• Intellectual property (eg trademarks)
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
60
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
12 months
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Employment law
Lot No
4
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79100000 - Legal services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
- UKI - London
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Examples of the matters on which advice may be sought:
• Starting employment - recruitment, contract etc
• Pre-employment checks
• Pay, benefits, pensions and tax
• Legal aspects of working and travel abroad
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
60
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
12months
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
Framework agreement with several operators
In the case of framework agreements, provide justification for any duration exceeding 4 years:
The duration is four years (with the option to extend for a further 12 months should the FRC undertake transformation projects that require continuity of legal advisors).
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
7 May 2024
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
7 May 2024
Local time
12:05pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.3) Additional information
Please access the tender documents via
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/1e19204b-61b1-41c3-a350-59ef3ff2c17c
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The Financial Reporting Council
London
Country
United Kingdom