London Boroughs' Legal Alliance Barristers Framework

London Boroughs’ Legal Alliance Barristers Framework

LBLA wishes to re-procure a Framework of expert and experienced legal advisers for specialist advocacy and related legal services. 8 Lots.

United Kingdom-London: Legal services

2019/S 136-335408

Contract notice

Services

Legal Basis:

Directive 2014/24/EU

Section I: Contracting authority

I.1)Name and addresses

The Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London
City of London Corporation, Guildhall
London
EC2P 2EJ
United Kingdom
Contact person: Matthew Jones, Senior Category Manager, City Procurement
Telephone: +44 2073321606
E-mail: Matthew.Jones@cityoflondon.gov.uk
NUTS code: UKI

Internet address(es):Main address: https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/

Address of the buyer profile: https://www.capitalesourcing.com

I.2)Information about joint procurement

I.3)Communication

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://www.capitalesourcing.com

Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via: https://www.capitalesourcing.com

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the abovementioned address

I.4)Type of the contracting authority

Regional or local authority

I.5)Main activity

General public services

Section II: Object

II.1)Scope of the procurement

II.1.1)Title:

London Boroughs’ Legal Alliance (LBLA) Barristers Framework

Reference number: prj_COL_13699

II.1.2)Main CPV code

79100000

II.1.3)Type of contract

Services

II.1.4)Short description:

London Boroughs’ Legal Alliance (‘LBLA’) is made up of: the City of London Corporation; the London Boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Ealing, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Newham, Redbridge, Waltham Forest and Westminster; and the London Fire Brigade. LBLA wishes to re-procure a framework of expert and experienced legal advisers for specialist advocacy and related legal services.

The City of London Corporation will act as the Contracting Authority on behalf of itself and the other LBLA members and will execute a Framework Agreement with each economic operator appointed. The Framework Agreement replaces an existing framework arrangement and will also be available to other local authorities in London and South East England. Further information for this opportunity can be found in II.2.4) Description of the procurement field (of this notice).

II.1.5)Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: 55 000 000.00 GBP

II.1.6)Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: yes

Tenders may be submitted for all lots

II.2)Description

II.2.1)Title:

Adult Social Services

Lot No: 1

II.2.2)Additional CPV code(s)

79100000

79110000

79130000

79140000

II.2.3)Place of performance

NUTS code: UKI

NUTS code: UKJ

II.2.4)Description of the procurement:

The Framework Agreement will run for a period of 3 years commencing on 1.1.2020, with an option to extend for a further year. The participating authorities in this procurement are: the City of London Corporation, the London Boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Ealing, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Newham, Redbridge, Waltham Forest and Westminster; and London Fire Brigade. Other local authorities in London and the South East of England (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex) will also be eligible to access the framework. It is intended that framework places will be awarded by reference to 8 different lots.

Lot 1: Adult Social Services:

— mental health,

— community care, including procurement issues relating to providers,

— mental capacity and deprivation of liberty,

— court of protection including mental health cases,

— functions of the local authority under the Care Act 2014 and relevant legislation relating to children (for example at transition, young carers, etc.),

— forced marriages, regardless of the age of the parties concerned (including children),

— coroners work including inquests.

The estimated total value of the Framework Agreement is stated in II.1.5) of this notice and is for the entire duration, including the optional 12-month extension, together with the call-off contracts.

Please note that the contract requirements will be subject to available financial resources, chamber(s) performance and flexibility to meet changing demands.

There will be no form of exclusivity or volume that is guaranteed under the resultant Framework Agreement and the Contracting Authority and other participating authorities will be entitled to enter into other contracts and arrangements with other suppliers for the provision of any, or all, of the requirements which are the same as, or similar to those specified under the established Framework Agreement.

II.2.5)Award criteria

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

II.2.6)Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: 2 500 000.00 GBP

II.2.7)Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months: 36

This contract is subject to renewal: no

II.2.10)Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: no

II.2.11)Information about options

Options: yes

Description of options:

The Framework Agreement will run for a period of 3 years commencing on 1.1.2020, with an option to extend for a further year.

II.2.12)Information about electronic catalogues

II.2.13)Information about European Union funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: no

II.2.14)Additional information

Specialist legal consultants, Kennedy Cater, manage the LBLA and its Barristers Framework Agreement on behalf of LBLA members, delivering legal spend savings and efficiency gains, including an extensive legal training programme, delivered with the Barristers Framework chambers.

Any questions relating to this procurement must be made via the correspondence area in the Capital e-Sourcing system.

II.2)Description

II.2.1)Title:

Children’s Services

Lot No: 2

II.2.2)Additional CPV code(s)

79100000

79110000

79130000

79140000

II.2.3)Place of performance

NUTS code: UKI

NUTS code: UKJ

II.2.4)Description of the procurement:

The Framework Agreement will run for a period of 3 years commencing on 1.1.2020, with an option to extend for a further year. The participating authorities in this procurement are: the City of London Corporation; the London Boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Ealing, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Newham, Redbridge, Waltham Forest and Westminster: and London Fire Brigade. Other local authorities in London and the South East of England (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex) will also be eligible to access the framework. It is intended that framework places will be awarded by reference to 8 different lots.

Lot 2: Children’s Services Care proceedings:

— The Children Act 1989,

— The Child Abduction and Custody Act,

— adoption proceedings, special guardianship and placement orders,

— public interest immunity,

— judicial review,

— functions of the local authority under the Care Act 2014 and relevant legislation relating to children (for example at transition, young carers, etc.),

— forced marriage,

— advice on international placements and placement of children in other jurisdictions,

— injunctions, particularly in the context of social media campaigns involving cases, and generally media advice in children related matters (including social media),

— human rights claims,

— FGM,

— inherent jurisdiction and wardship.

Please note that the contract requirements will be subject to available financial resources, chamber(s) performance and flexibility to meet changing demands.

II.2.5)Award criteria

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

II.2.6)Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: 23 600 000.00 GBP

II.2.7)Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months: 36

This contract is subject to renewal: no

II.2.10)Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: no

II.2.11)Information about options

Options: yes

Description of options:

The Framework Agreement will run for a period of 3 years commencing on 1.1.2020, with an option to extend for a further year.

II.2.12)Information about electronic catalogues

II.2.13)Information about European Union funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: no

II.2.14)Additional information

Any questions relating to this procurement must be made via the correspondence area in the Capital e-Sourcing system.

II.2)Description

II.2.1)Title:

Governance and Public Law

Lot No: 3

II.2.2)Additional CPV code(s)

79100000

79110000

79130000

79140000

II.2.3)Place of performance

NUTS code: UKI

NUTS code: UKJ

II.2.4)Description of the procurement:

The Framework Agreement will run for a period of 3 years commencing on 1.1.2020, with an option to extend for a further year. The participating authorities in this procurement are: the City of London Corporation; the London Boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Ealing, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Newham, Redbridge, Waltham Forest and Westminster; and London Fire Brigade. Other local authorities in London and the South East of England (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex) will also be eligible to access the framework. It is intended that Framework places will be awarded by reference to 8 different lots.

Lot 3: Governance and Public Law:

— governance, constitutional and policies,

— regulatory issues,

— commercial and contractual disputes, and procurement issues,

— information law including Data Protection and Freedom of Information, Environmental Information Regulations 2004,

— Local Government Finance,

— education, including SENDIST, exclusion cases, advice on opening schools, academy conversions, etc.,

— employment matters, especially complex issues or relating to senior staff,

— judicial reviews on any subject matter,

— any other high profile, high risk matter, that is likely to have an impact on the authority as a whole,

— company law,

— establishment of corporate structures and trading vehicles, including charities, LLPs, ABSs, CBSs and JVs.

Please note that the contract requirements will be subject to available financial resources, chamber(s) performance and flexibility to meet changing demands.

II.2.5)Award criteria

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

II.2.6)Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: 5 100 000.00 GBP

II.2.7)Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months: 36

This contract is subject to renewal: no

II.2.10)Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: no

II.2.11)Information about options

Options: yes

Description of options:

The Framework Agreement will run for a period of 3 years commencing on 1.1.2020, with an option to extend for a further year.

II.2.12)Information about electronic catalogues

II.2.13)Information about European Union funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: no

II.2.14)Additional information

Any questions relating to this procurement must be made via the correspondence area in the Capital e-Sourcing system.

II.2)Description

II.2.1)Title:

Criminal Litigation and Prosecutions

Lot No: 4

II.2.2)Additional CPV code(s)

79100000

79110000

79130000

79140000

II.2.3)Place of performance

NUTS code: UKI

NUTS code: UKJ

II.2.4)Description of the procurement:

The Framework Agreement will run for a period of 3 years commencing on 1.1.2020, with an option to extend for a further year. The participating authorities in this procurement are: the City of London Corporation: the London Boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Ealing, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Newham, Redbridge, Waltham Forest and Westminster; and London Fire Brigade. Other local authorities in London and the South East of England (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex) will also be eligible to access the framework. It is intended that framework places will be awarded by reference to 8 different lots.

Lot 4: Criminal Litigation and Prosecutions:

— trading standards and health and safety, including food hygiene,

— fraud in relation to all areas of local authority activities, including blue badge, social care, tenancy fraud and corporate fraud,

— full range of prosecution/enforcement work undertaken by local authorities including planning, licensing, education, and environmental crime (including fly tipping, nose prosecutions, nuisance, ASB, policing and Care Act),

— POCA,

— Housing Act 2014 enforcements.

Please note that the contract requirements will be subject to available financial resources, chamber(s) performance and flexibility to meet changing demands.

II.2.5)Award criteria

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

II.2.6)Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: 2 700 000.00 GBP

II.2.7)Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months: 36

This contract is subject to renewal: no

II.2.10)Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: no

II.2.11)Information about options

Options: yes

Description of options:

The Framework Agreement will run for a period of 3 years commencing on 1.1.2020, with an option to extend for a further year.

II.2.12)Information about electronic catalogues

II.2.13)Information about European Union funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: no

II.2.14)Additional information

Any questions relating to this procurement must be made via the correspondence area in the Capital e-Sourcing system.

II.2)Description

II.2.1)Title:

Housing

Lot No: 5

II.2.2)Additional CPV code(s)

79100000

79110000

79130000

79140000

II.2.3)Place of performance

NUTS code: UKI

NUTS code: UKJ

II.2.4)Description of the procurement:

The Framework Agreement will run for a period of 3 years commencing on 1.1.2020, with an option to extend for a further year. The participating authorities in this procurement are: the City of London Corporation; the London Boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Ealing, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Newham, Redbridge, Waltham Forest and Westminster; and London Fire Brigade. Other local authorities in London and the South East of England (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex) will also be eligible to access the framework. It is intended that framework places will be awarded by reference to 8 different lots.

Lot 5: Housing:

— full range of local authority landlord & tenant matters, including advice and representation,

— homelessness (including s 204’s),

— allocations,

— s.80 EPA,

— anti-social behaviour proceedings,

— injunctions,

— disrepair claims,

— repossession and evictions,

— gas servicing access claims,

— service charge disputes and Leasehold Valuation Tribunals,

— advice on internal housing management policies and procedures,

— public law defences,

— mortgage repossessions,

— trespasser claims,

— judicial review,

— leasehold disputes,

— public law/equality act claims in relation to Housing,

— houses in multiple occupation.

Please note that the contract requirements will be subject to available financial resources, chamber(s) performance and flexibility to meet changing demands.

II.2.5)Award criteria

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

II.2.6)Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: 7 700 000.00 GBP

II.2.7)Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months: 36

This contract is subject to renewal: no

II.2.10)Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: no

II.2.11)Information about options

Options: yes

Description of options:

The Framework Agreement will run for a period of 3 years commencing on 1.1.2020, with an option to extend for a further year.

II.2.12)Information about electronic catalogues

II.2.13)Information about European Union funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: no

II.2.14)Additional information

Any questions relating to this procurement must be made via the correspondence area in the Capital e-Sourcing system.

II.2)Description

II.2.1)Title:

Planning

Lot No: 6

II.2.2)Additional CPV code(s)

79100000

79110000

79130000

79140000

II.2.3)Place of performance

NUTS code: UKI

NUTS code: UKJ

II.2.4)Description of the procurement:

The Framework Agreement will run for a period of 3 years commencing on 1.1.2020, with an option to extend for a further year. The participating authorities in in this procurement are: the City of London Corporation; the London Boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Ealing, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Newham, Redbridge, Waltham Forest and Westminster; and London Fire Brigade. Other local authorities in London and the South East of England (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex) will also be eligible to access the framework. It is intended that framework places will be awarded by reference to 8 different lots.

Lot 6: Planning:

— planning appeals,

— enforcement notices including injunctions,

— listed buildings,

— highways,

— housing/retail,

— S106 Agreements,

— local development frameworks/schemes,

— TPOs,

— CIL,

— town and village greens,

— mixed use developments,

— CPOs,

— judicial review,

— injunctions,

— appropriation,

— regeneration,

— procurement,

— other general planning advice.

Please note that the contract requirements will be subject to available financial resources, chamber(s) performance and flexibility to meet changing demands.

II.2.5)Award criteria

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

II.2.6)Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: 9 200 000.00 GBP

II.2.7)Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months: 36

This contract is subject to renewal: no

II.2.10)Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: no

II.2.11)Information about options

Options: yes

Description of options:

The Framework Agreement will run for a period of 3 years commencing on 1.1.2020, with an option to extend for a further year.

II.2.12)Information about electronic catalogues

II.2.13)Information about European Union funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: no

II.2.14)Additional information

Any questions relating to this procurement must be made via the correspondence area in the Capital e-Sourcing system.

II.2)Description

II.2.1)Title:

Property

Lot No: 7

II.2.2)Additional CPV code(s)

79100000

79110000

79130000

79140000

II.2.3)Place of performance

NUTS code: UKI

NUTS code: UKJ

II.2.4)Description of the procurement:

The Framework Agreement will run for a period of 3 years commencing on 1.1.2020, with an option to extend for a further year. The participating authorities in this procurement are: the City of London Corporation; the London Boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Ealing, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Newham, Redbridge, Waltham Forest and Westminster; and London Fire Brigade. Other local authorities in London and the South East of England (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex) will also be eligible to access the framework. It is intended that framework places will be awarded by reference to 8 different lots.

Lot 7: Property:

— commercial and residential matters,

— lease renewals and forfeitures,

— mediation and arbitration of commercial LL&T Disputes,

— rights of way (private and public),

— restrictive covenants and easements,

— mortgages and property estoppels,

— possession actions,

— dilapidations,

— mixed use developments,

— CPOs,

— judicial review,

— injunctions,

— appropriation,

— regeneration,

— procurement.

Please note that the contract requirements will be subject to available financial resources, chamber(s) performance and flexibility to meet changing demands.

There will be no form of exclusivity or volume that is guaranteed under the resultant Framework Agreement and the contracting authority and other participating authorities will be entitled to enter into other contracts and arrangements with other suppliers for the provision of any, or all, of the requirements which are the same as, or similar to those specified under the established Framework Agreement.

II.2.5)Award criteria

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

II.2.6)Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: 1 300 000.00 GBP

II.2.7)Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months: 36

This contract is subject to renewal: no

II.2.10)Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: no

II.2.11)Information about options

Options: yes

Description of options:

The Framework Agreement will run for a period of 3 years commencing on 1.1.2020, with an option to extend for a further year.

II.2.12)Information about electronic catalogues

II.2.13)Information about European Union funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: no

II.2.14)Additional information

Any questions relating to this procurement must be made via the correspondence area in the Capital e-Sourcing system.

II.2)Description

II.2.1)Title:

Civil Litigation

Lot No: 8

II.2.2)Additional CPV code(s)

79100000

79110000

79130000

79140000

II.2.3)Place of performance

NUTS code: UKI

NUTS code: UKJ

II.2.4)Description of the procurement:

The Framework Agreement will run for a period of 3 years commencing on 1.1.2020, with an option to extend for a further year. The authorities that are participating in this procurement are: the City of London Corporation; the London Boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Ealing, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Newham, Redbridge, Waltham Forest and Westminster; and London Fire Brigade. Other local authorities in London and the South East of England (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex) will also be eligible to access the framework. It is intended that framework places will be awarded by reference to 8 different lots.

Lot 8: Civil Litigation:

— full range of claims brought against local authorities, including personal injury claims,

— claims against the police (City of London especially),

— coroners work including inquests,

— debt recovery,

— general civil litigation,

— commercial litigation,

— education,

— social media, reputation issues generally, and issues arising from the Defamation Act,

— routine employment tribunal cases and employment advice,

— construction litigation.

Please note that the contract requirements will be subject to available financial resources, chamber(s) performance and flexibility to meet changing demands.

II.2.5)Award criteria

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

II.2.6)Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: 2 900 000.00 GBP

II.2.7)Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months: 36

This contract is subject to renewal: no

II.2.10)Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: no

II.2.11)Information about options

Options: yes

Description of options:

The Framework Agreement will run for a period of 3 years commencing on 1.1.2020, with an option to extend for a further year.

II.2.12)Information about electronic catalogues

II.2.13)Information about European Union funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: no

II.2.14)Additional information

Any questions relating to this procurement must be made via the correspondence area in the Capital e-Sourcing system.

Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information

III.1)Conditions for participation

III.1.1)Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers

III.1.2)Economic and financial standing

Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents

III.1.3)Technical and professional ability

Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents

III.1.5)Information about reserved contracts

III.2)Conditions related to the contract

III.2.1)Information about a particular profession

III.2.2)Contract performance conditions:

III.2.3)Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract

Section IV: Procedure

IV.1)Description

IV.1.1)Type of procedure

Open procedure

IV.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

IV.1.4)Information about reduction of the number of solutions or tenders during negotiation or dialogue

IV.1.6)Information about electronic auction

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

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: no

IV.2)Administrative information

IV.2.1)Previous publication concerning this procedure

IV.2.2)Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

Date: 16/08/2019

Local time: 12:00

IV.2.3)Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates

IV.2.4)Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted:

English

IV.2.6)Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender

Duration in months: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)

IV.2.7)Conditions for opening of tenders

Date: 16/08/2019

Local time: 12:00

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.1)Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: no

VI.2)Information about electronic workflows

VI.3)Additional information:

This procurement process is being undertaken using the electronic tendering system ‘Capital eSourcing’ (url: www.capitalesourcing.com).

The procurement is being run as a one stage process, resembling the open procedure and its main features — which includes the core elements of the Standard Selection Questionnaire (SQ). Suppliers will need to register an interest on the system and submit a tender submission no later than 12:00 noon on 16.8.2019 in order to participate and registration is free. Tender submissions cannot be uploaded after the return deadline.

The estimated total value given at II.1.5) is for the full duration of the Framework Agreement, which is up to four (4) years. The estimated annual contract value across the lots is approximately 14 000 000 GBP.

The Contracting Authority reserves the right at any time to vary the timescales in this notice, cease the procurement process and not award Framework Agreement or to award only part of the opportunity described in this notice. If the Contracting Authority takes up any of these rights then it will not be responsible for, or pay the expenses or losses, which may be incurred by any candidate or tenderer as a result. Economic operators are solely responsible for their costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation of their tender submissions and all stages throughout the procurement. Under no circumstances will the Contracting Authority be liable for costs or expense borne by the economic operators.

The services advertised in this notice fall under the services listed in Annex XIV to Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council and the Contracting Authority is not obliged to follow The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 in full. The procurement process that will apply to the services is specified in the procurement documents accordingly.

VI.4)Procedures for review

VI.4.1)Review body

High Court, Royal Courts of Justice
Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 20794760000

VI.4.2)Body responsible for mediation procedures

VI.4.3)Review procedure

Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:

The Contracting Authority will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar days (when using electronic means) standstill period at the point information on the award of the Framework Agreement is communicated to tenderers. This period allows unsuccessful tenderers to challenge the decision to award a Framework Agreement before a contract is executed/signed (as appropriate). The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (‘Regulations’) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). Any such action must be brought promptly and within the time-limits as defined in the above regulations. Where a Framework Agreement has not been entered into the court may order the setting aside of the award decision or order the contracting authority to amend any document and may award damages. If the Framework Agreement has been entered into the court has the options to award damages and/or to shorten or order the Framework Agreement ineffective.

VI.4.4)Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained

High Court, Royal Courts of Justice
Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 20794760000

VI.5)Date of dispatch of this notice:

15/07/2019