Section one: Contracting authority
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
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
Other activity
Other publicly funded services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Legal Aid Agency’s Specialist Quality Mark (SQM)
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79210000 - Accounting and auditing services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) is an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). It works with providers of legal services to ensure fair, prompt and effective access to civil and criminal legal aid and advice in England and Wales. LAA would like to engage the service of a provider to administer its Specialist Quality Mark (SQM) scheme. The SQM is the organisational quality standard owned by the LAA but delivered under licence and services delivered under contract will be directly chargeable from legal services providers. The purpose of the SQM is to ensure providers of legal services are well managed, provide good levels of client care and have appropriate systems in place to ensure delivery of good quality advice. Compliance with the SQM, or the Law Society’s equivalent standard Lexcel, is a requirement for legal services providers that have, or are seeking to have, a contract with the LAA. The service, which involves auditing and assessing legal services providers who apply for SQM accreditation, will be delivered across England and Wales. We anticipate that services under contract are likely to be required for a maximum of 5 years from 1 April 2022.
To register to attend an on-line market engagement session, interested organisations should email civil.tenders@justice.gov.uk by no later than 7 July 2021.
Full detail of the procurement process will be detailed in the invitation to tender.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £2,500,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79210000 - Accounting and auditing services
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) would like to engage the service of a provider to deliver the Specialist Quality Mark (SQM) scheme. The SQM is the organisational quality standard owned by the LAA but delivered under licence. Its purpose is to ensure providers of legal services are well managed, provide good levels of client care and have appropriate systems in place to ensure delivery of good quality advice. Compliance with the SQM, or the Law Society’s equivalent standard Lexcel, is a requirement for legal services providers that have, or are seeking to have, a contract with the LAA. The service, which involves auditing and assessing legal services providers who apply for SQM accreditation, will be delivered across England and Wales. The purpose of this Prior Information Notice is to engage with possible providers to discuss various arrangements for the service.
Organisations interested in this procurement opportunity are asked to email LAA (civil.tenders@justice.gov.uk) to register to attend an on-line market engagement event. Organisations should register by no later than 7 July 2021. The market engagement session is expected to take place in July 2021.
Full detail of the procurement process will be detailed in the invitation to tender.
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
23 June 2021
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