Tender: EM Lawshare Framework Agreement – Appointment of 10 Private Law Firms to Provide Public Sector Legal Services (England & Wales)

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West Northamptonshire Council is seeking private law firms to join a new EM Lawshare (EMLS) framework agreement to deliver legal services to consortium members across ten specified areas of work (excluding child care). The council is acting as lead authority and running a Light Touch procurement under the Procurement Act 2023 using the Competitive Flexible procedure to replace an existing framework that expires on 31 March 2026; the closed framework will appoint 10 firms, will not be split into lots, and requires appointed firms to be able to respond across all ten areas. Current EMLS membership comprises just over 240 contracting authorities (circa 82% local authorities and parish councils in England and 18% comprising wholly owned local authority subsidiaries, blue light services, park authorities, combined authorities, NHS bodies, police and crime commissioners, universities and colleges) and all contracting authorities in England & Wales are eligible to join the Consortium (non-local authorities require Consortium Board approval). The framework has a maximum total value of £1 billion (exclusive of VAT), includes a management fee charged to appointed firms on a sliding scale of income invoiced to Consortium members (net of VAT and disbursements) as set out in the Invitation to Tender, requires added-value services as detailed in the Specification, applies annual price indexation from the third contract year (see Schedule 4, paragraph 1), and has a revised conflicts assessment in accordance with Section 83. Registration and tender return must be completed via the In-Tend portal (https://in-tendhost.co.uk/wnc/aspx/Home) and tenders must be submitted by midday on Monday 19 October 2026; late submissions will not be accepted.