Scope
Reference
PFB5088 LU
Description
London Universities Purchasing Consortium (LUPC) is establishing a multi-provider framework agreement for the provision of legal services in England and Wales. The framework will be available to the members of LUPC, HEPCW, NEUPC, NWUPC, and SUPC. It will need to support a diverse membership of universities and colleges of higher and further education, as well as other not-for-profit organisations in the education, arts, science, charity, and wider public sectors. The Services provided will need to support members with in-house legal teams, and members with no internal legal support. Projects will vary widely from small transactional call-offs, project driven requirements, and long-term ongoing legal support. The design of the Framework Agreement is to provide members with a range of law firms with different cultures, specialisms, and resources, while providing opportunities for SME law firms, and flexibility of call off options to meet our members ever changing needs.
Commercial tool
Establishes a framework
Total value (estimated)
- £37,500,000 excluding VAT
- £45,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 19 August 2025 to 19 August 2028
- Possible extension to 19 August 2030
- 5 years, 1 day
Description of possible extension:
Subject to the terms of the framework agreement the extension can be a maximum of 2 (two) years as one extension or in 1 (one) year increments.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 79100000 - Legal services
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Lot constraints
Maximum number of lots a supplier can bid for: 1
Maximum number of lots a supplier can be awarded: 1
Lot LOT-0001. Sub Lot 1A Legal Services PA23 Band A
Description
Group A Full-Service Law Firms - Maximum 8 (eight) law firms appointed, Participants awarded will have a mean average of seniority level rates of less than £200 per hour as calculated in Schedule 6 Pricing Schedule Sub Lot 1A provides legal services where the average hourly rate is
Lot value (estimated)
- £12,500,000 excluding VAT
- £15,000,000 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot LOT-0002. Sub Lot 1B Legal Services PA23 Band B
Description
Lot 1B - Group B Full-Service Law Firms - Maximum 8 (eight) law firms appointed, Participants awarded will have a mean average of seniority level rates of between £200 and less than £250 per hour as calculated in Schedule 6 Pricing Schedule
Lot value (estimated)
- £12,500,000 excluding VAT
- £15,000,000 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot LOT-0003. Sub Lot 1C Legal Services PA23 Band C
Description
6.1.1.3 Lot 1C - Group C Full-Service Law Firms - Maximum 8 (eight) law firms appointed, Participants awarded will have a mean average of seniority level rates of £250 per hour or greater as calculated in Schedule 6 Pricing Schedule
Lot value (estimated)
- £12,500,000 excluding VAT
- £15,000,000 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Framework
Maximum number of suppliers
24
Maximum percentage fee charged to suppliers
1%
Further information about fees
Framework Levy Percentage means 1% as determined by the TWP and tender strategy.
Framework operation description
London Universities Purchasing Consortium seek to provide a framework agreement for legal services to support its members and the members of the any Participating Consortium. The This Framework Agreement will replace the current agreement which will expire 3rd September 2025.
Award method when using the framework
Either with or without competition
Contracting authorities that may use the framework
Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium North Eastern Universities Purchasing Consortium North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium Higher Education Purchasing Consortium, Wales
Contracting authority location restrictions
- UK - United Kingdom
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
Lot LOT-0001. Sub Lot 1A Legal Services PA23 Band A
Lot LOT-0002. Sub Lot 1B Legal Services PA23 Band B
Lot LOT-0003. Sub Lot 1C Legal Services PA23 Band C
Refer to ITT for full details of legal and financial capacity conditions.
Technical ability conditions of participation
Lot LOT-0001. Sub Lot 1A Legal Services PA23 Band A
Lot LOT-0002. Sub Lot 1B Legal Services PA23 Band B
Lot LOT-0003. Sub Lot 1C Legal Services PA23 Band C
Refer to ITT for full details of technical requirements including mandatory requirements.
Particular suitability
Lot LOT-0001. Sub Lot 1A Legal Services PA23 Band A
Lot LOT-0002. Sub Lot 1B Legal Services PA23 Band B
Lot LOT-0003. Sub Lot 1C Legal Services PA23 Band C
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
17 June 2025, 5:30pm
Tender submission deadline
30 June 2025, 11:59pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
24 July 2025
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical (Quality) | Technical questions will be used to assess the participant's ability to perform the services of the contract. |
Quality | 70% |
| Commercial (Price) | A structured pricing model (Schedule 6) will be used to evaluate the participant's bid split into a number of key pricing areas. |
Price | 30% |
Other information
Payment terms
The framework supports a standard payment term of 30 days from accurate invoice submission date.
Description of risks to contract performance
This framework does not guarantee any value nor volume of use.
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Justification for not publishing a preliminary market engagement notice
PIN was released under PCR2015 for the purpose of PME; however, the tender was not available to be published before PA23 regulations came into effect. This PIN is not being used since PA23, nor is being used to reduce time limits.
Contracting authority
London Universities Purchasing Consortium
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PNVT-3763-LBZD
5th Floor, Pinnacle House, 23-26 St Dunstan's Hil
London
EC3R 8HN
United Kingdom
Contact name: Roy Dennis
Telephone: +44 2073072772
Email: r.dennis@lupc.ac.uk
Website: https://www.lupc.ac.uk
Region: UKI31 - Camden and City of London
Organisation type: Public undertaking (commercial organisation subject to public authority oversight)