Procurement of Criminal Legal Aid Services from 1 October 2025

The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) is inviting Applicants to submit a Tender for a 2025 Standard Crime Contract ("Crime Contract") to deliver publicly funded criminal legal aid services from 1 October 2025.

Applicants wishing to deliver criminal legal aid services under a Crime Contract must submit a response to the SQ for 2025 Standard Crime Contracts - Stage 1 and the 2025 Standard Crime Contract ITT - Stage 1.

This application period opens on 17 September 2024. The LAA intends that the application period will remain open until on, or around, 30 September 2034, subject to the right of early termination. The first stage of the process is for those who wish their contract to commence on 1 October 2025 and to be able to join Duty Rotas from this date also. The second stage of the process will open on 23 October 2024 and close on 30 April 2025 and is for those who wish there contract to commence on 1 October 2025 and to be able to join duty rotas that commence in January 2026. The third stage will open on 1 May 2025 and will close on, or around, 30 September 2034.

The deadline for submitting a Tender in the first stage is 23:59 on 22 October 2024.

You must read the Application Guide (AG) document for this procurement process before submitting your Tender.

The AG can be found in the 'Attachments' section of ITT 1032 - '2025 Standard Crime Contract - Stage 1 Selection Questionnaire for ' or can be downloaded from GOV.UK: Crime Contract 2025 Tender - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

We will accept questions about this AG up until 23:59 on 1 October 2024 (referred to below as 'End date for supplier clarification messages'). Questions must be submitted through the relevant eTendering message board.

Further information on how to submit a question can be found in the AG.