Purpose

The procurement process for this opportunity was an Open Invitation to Tender under the Procurement Act 2023. In total, 5 bids were received.

The selection process evaluated each bidder’s response on the following criteria:
• Company Information – Pass/Fail
• Conditions of Participation – Pass/Fail
• Technical Questions – 50%
o Understanding of GMCA Context and Requirements – 10%
o Approach to Delivery – 25%
o Team, Local Presence and Resourcing – 10%
o Communication, Reporting and Relationship Management – 5%
• Social Value – 20% (12% Qualitative, 8% Quantitative)
• Price – 30%

Technical questions were assessed initially by individual evaluators, with each question being evaluated by a minimum of three evaluators who had all completed and signed Conflict of Interest declarations.

In addition to the previously mentioned assessment criteria, bidders were also subject to comprehensive Finance and Economic Standing and Information Governance evaluations. These were carried out by specialists within GMCA and conducted in line with the processes published within the documentation.

A contract for services will be awarded to DLA Piper for the delivery of GMCA965 Legal Services Support to GMCA’s Waste & Resources Service.

The initial contract duration is 19 months, commencing on 1st June 2026 and concluding on 31st December 2027, with a maximum value of £395,000.

The contract includes the option to extend for up to a further two years, taking the potential end date to 31st December 2029, subject to GMCA’s requirements and satisfactory supplier performance. The value of the optional extension period is up to £250,000 per annum, resulting in an overall potential contract value of up to £895,000 (excluding VAT) where all extensions are exercised.

Decision

GMCA’s Waste & Resources Service is responsible for managing complex contractual arrangements and ensuring the effective delivery of waste services across Greater Manchester. These arrangements require ongoing access to specialist legal expertise, particularly in relation to large-scale, long-term contractual models and associated commercial and regulatory considerations.

Historically, GMCA has relied on external legal support to supplement internal capacity and provide specialist advice where required. This is particularly important in areas such as PPP/PFI-type contract management, where technical expertise and sector-specific legal knowledge are essential to support decision-making, mitigate risk, and ensure compliance with statutory obligations.

The procurement of a dedicated legal services provider is therefore intended to ensure continuity of support, strengthen GMCA’s ability to manage its Waste & Resources contractual portfolio effectively, and provide the necessary resilience and specialist capability to respond to emerging legal and commercial challenges. This approach supports the Authority in maintaining robust governance, protecting its commercial interests, and delivering value for money over the life of the contract.

Following an open competitive procurement process, GMCA wishes to award one contract with a total potential lifetime value of up to £895,000 to DLA Piper.