NHSLA fires gun on procurement of £544m legal panels

The NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) has begun the procurement of a legal services framework worth an estimated £544m over four years.

The framework has been divided into the following lots:

1. Clinical liabilities: legal advice/assistance including handling pre-litigation; litigation and other forms of dispute resolution in respect of potential, actual or alleged clinical liabilities of NHS Trusts and others. NHSLA is envisaged to be the main user of this lot. Estimated value: £480m. The anticipated maximum number of suppliers to be appointed for Lot 1 is ten.
2. Non clinical liabilities: Legal advice/assistance including handling pre-litigation; litigation and other forms of dispute resolution in respect of actual or alleged non-clinical liabilities of NHS Trusts and others including employers liability and public/products liability. NHSLA is envisaged to be the main user of Lot 2. Estimated value: £32m. Save as set out in the tender documents, the anticipated maximum number of suppliers to be appointed for Lot 2 is four.
3. Regulatory, health and disciplinary law: Legal advice/assistance relating to all aspects of medical and health care law including mental health, public health, pharmaceutical, biotech and human tissue matters. Entities other than NHSLA that are listed in the tender documents are expected to be the main users of Lot 3. Estimated value: £32m. Save as set out in the tender documents, the anticipated maximum number of suppliers to be appointed for Lot 3 is ten.

The contract is expected to start on 19 May 2017 and end on 18 May 2021.