Policy

1 July, 2009

LSC publishes final 2010 contract proposals

Tender for face-to-face services to take place during autumn 2009

The Legal Services Commission (LSC) has published its response to the consultation on 'Civil Bid Rounds for 2010 Contracts' by setting out the services it intends to commission when the new contracts start on 1 April 2010.

The tender for the new three-year contracts will run for a period of six weeks from 7 September to 16 October 2009 and will be based on the proposals outlined in the LSC consultation response, Civil Bid Rounds for 2010 Contracts, and include -

  • adopting a more joined-up approach to tackling the causes of legal problems and integrating services, in recognition that people often have linked problems;
  • funding being focused on priority areas and cases, such as allegations of significant breaches of human rights or those involving domestic abuse;
  • securing all levels of advice from Legal Help through to Legal Representation to ensure clients receive a 'seamless service' and 'to provide assurance that advisers are able to identify and use all appropriate legal channels'; 
  • operating 'an open and transparent' bidding process that meets EU procurement law and enables both existing and new providers to compete for a contract; and
  • commissioning services that maintain standards and ensure easier access to advice for clients based on the existing CLS and Family Strategies.

The bid rounds will be carried out using an e-tendering system and applications will only be accepted through the LSC's online portal. The system has recently been successfully tested on an interim immigration and asylum tender exercise. Successful bidders will be notified of their contract award in December 2009. Any appeals need to be made by January 2010 and will be reviewed through March 2010 with contracts going live on 1 April 2010.

The LSC has made a number of changes to its original proposals based on feedback during the consultation process. These include -

  • new matter start levels being adjusted in each procurement area to respond to local conditions;
  • improving clarity for the requirements of consortia arrangements; and
  • children-only services being awarded family contracts due to the recognition of the need for a distinct approach and specialism in this area of work.

The LSC reports that a 'significant number of responses were received to the proposal to no longer let single category contracts in debt, housing and welfare benefits' with a particular concern being the 'potential reduction in access to services in areas where providers were unable to deliver this combination of categories'. Despite this the Commission considers that its decision to accept consortia arrangements minimises this issue and are continuing to ask for a 'combined debt, housing and welfare benefits service'.

The Commission will shortly be publishing procurement plans that will set out how it will apply service requirements in each of the procurement areas. It will also produce briefing materials during for potential applicants including information on using the e-tendering process to enable it to be ready for the start of the tender process.

The LSC's response to the consultation on Civil Bid Rounds for 2010 Contracts is available on the LSC's website.

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