Public Contracts Regulations 2015: Understanding Legal Services
The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 govern public procurement in the United Kingdom. These regulations are designed to ensure that public procurement processes are transparent, fair, and competitive. The regulations apply to all public sector bodies, including central government departments, local authorities, and the NHS.
One area of public procurement that is particularly complex is legal services. In this article, we will explain the regulations that apply to the procurement of legal services by public sector bodies.
What are Legal Services?
Legal services are a broad category that includes advice, representation, and drafting of documents. Examples of legal services include:
– Advice on contract law or employment law
– Representation in court or tribunal proceedings
– Drafting legal documents such as contracts or wills
Legal services are often procured by public sector bodies to assist with their day-to-day operations, such as drafting contracts or advising on compliance with regulatory requirements.
The Procurement Process
The procurement process for legal services is governed by the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. This means that public sector bodies must follow a transparent and competitive process when procuring legal services.
The first step in the procurement process is to determine the requirements for the legal services. This includes identifying the services needed, the scope of work, and any specific requirements. This information is then used to create a specification that sets out the requirements for the legal services.
The next step is to advertise the procurement opportunity. This can be done through a variety of channels, including the Contracts Finder website and the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). The procurement notice should provide a clear description of the legal services required and set out the evaluation criteria that will be used to assess bids.
Once bids have been received, the evaluation process begins. This involves assessing each bid against the evaluation criteria set out in the procurement notice. The evaluation should be carried out in a transparent and objective manner. The winning bid is usually the one that provides the best value for money, taking into account the legal services required and the cost of the services.
The Contract
Once the winning bid has been selected, a contract is drawn up between the public sector body and the legal services provider. The contract should set out the scope of work, the deliverables, and the cost of the services. It should also include provisions for monitoring and reporting on the progress of the work.
The contract should be reviewed regularly to ensure that the legal services provided are meeting the requirements set out in the specification. If the legal services provider is not meeting the requirements, the public sector body may need to terminate the contract and re-tender the services.
Conclusion
The procurement of legal services by public sector bodies is governed by the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. This means that public sector bodies must follow a transparent and competitive process when procuring legal services. The procurement process involves determining requirements, advertising the opportunity, evaluating bids, and drawing up a contract. The contract should be reviewed regularly to ensure that the legal services provided are meeting the requirements set out in the specification.
