The 2018 Civil Tender for face to face legal aid contracts started on 19th September 2017.
We created this page to keep you informed and are delighted to announce that 100% of our numerous Civil Contract tenders were successful thanks to our unique triple checking!
100% SUCCESS RATE!
PLEASE BOOK OUR MOCK SQM & LEXCEL AUDITS NOW AS SPACE IS RUNNING OUT
3rd Civil Tender deadline 5pm on 10th August 2018
3rd round of Civil Tenders in the following categories of law all areas:
Tender Verification deadline 23:50 on 20th July 2018
Organisations are reminded that contract awards are conditional on satisfactorily verifying bids.
Our peace of mind verification service:
We advise of all the documents required for verification, provide any advice required to complete the documents, check them for compliance once sent through to us and then upload all the necessary documents to the LAA via the e-tendering portal; providing confirmation and peace of mind that everything has been done.
Useful Verification Information:
Information For Applicants IFA V2.2
7.5. The LAA will reclassify an Individual Bid in the Family, Housing, Immigration and Asylum and Mental Health Categories of Law where an Applicant is unable to provide satisfactory evidence that they meet the requirements of a higher Lot but is able to provide satisfactory evidence that they meet the requirements of a lower Lot. For example, if an Applicant is unable to provide satisfactory evidence that its Family Individual Bid meets the requirements of Lot 3 but is able to provide satisfactory evidence that the meet the requirements of Lot 2 then the Individual Bid will be awarded a Lot 2 Matter Start allocation (100 Matter Starts).
7.9. In addition to meeting the verification requirements, Applicants must complete the two following administrative processes where relevant before the LAA can issue Contract documentation to an Applicant: a. Provide a completed indemnity where an organisation with a limited liability b. Provide a completed AC1 form and associated documentation for each new Office.
IFA V2.2 Annex C contains all category specific verification requirements.
7.15. When an Applicant satisfactorily verifies their Individual Bids through the verification process, they will be notified that their Face to Face Contract documentation is available to view and execute online.
7.16. Face to Face Contract documentation will be issued and executed electronically in the LAA’s Controlled Work and Administration (“CWA”) system. Successful Applicants will need to access this system to execute their Face to Face Contract by clicking the “Accept Contract” button within the system. By doing this, a successful Applicant agrees to be bound by the terms of the Contract in full.
7.17. To execute their Face to Face Contract an Applicant must have been set up on the LAA systems and issued with an account number for each new Office.
7.18. In addition, an Applicant must have set up the requisite number of ‘Designated Signatories’ on CWA before they can execute their Contract. Guidance on how to do this will be provided at the verification stage. Guidance on allocate the Designated Signatory role in CWA can be found on the LAA’s website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cwa-detailed-user-guides.
SQM/Lexcel Readiness
Please ensure you have a current Quality Standard for verification purposes and one which is also valid for the start of the new legal aid Civil Contract on 1st September 2018. We offer two levels of service, please contact us for prices:
Full Service
Aimed at new organisations applying for a fresh Quality Standard or those wishing to update their office manual and central records. We provide a new fully compliant office manual, a complete suite of central record template documents in A4 folders and supporting electronic copies. We populate our 12-month file review checker tool which will aid you track future file review progress. We conduct an on-site mock audit, prepare a full Quality Standard report and any identified corrective action. We provide guidance on how to complete corrective action and check it off once you have completed. Additional support can be provided if required.
Support Service
Aimed at organisations which already hold the Quality Standard. We review your office manual and electronic central records off site then arrange a convenient date to attend on-site and conduct a mock audit. We prepare a full Quality Standard report and provide guidance on how to complete any corrective action and check it off once you have completed. Additional support can be provided if required.
The Civil Contract Tender
The deadline for submitting responses to this procurement process was 5pm on 10 November 2017.
Available categories of Law
• Family
• Housing, Debt & Welfare Benefits (Housing and Debt may be delivered alone or in combination with Welfare Benefits)
• Immigration and Asylum (including work at IRCs)
• Mental Health
• Community Care
• Claims Against Public Authorities (formerly known as ‘Actions Against the Police')
• Clinical Negligence
• Public Law
• Family Mediation
MD Jason Hill left the LAA only last year and used to sit right next to the Commissioning team. As Senior Contracts Manager, he lead tender verification and knows exactly what the LAA seek in a quality tender bid. We ensure timely responses and Jason will personally oversee the quality of your bid to ensure the optimum advantage is obtained for your organisation.
We will tailor our pre-prepared high quality bid to directly suit your organisation, check all documents (such as supervisor declaration forms) are LAA compliant, and access the Bravo portal on your behalf to prepare the tender for final submission once you have had the opportunity to review and discuss. Electronic evidence of successful submission is kept. We keep you informed with progress throughout the process provide verification support if required. Please contact us if you have any questions.
The documents can be found below. The 2nd link details the main tender forms:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/civil-news-tender-process-for-2018-contracts-opens
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-2018-contracts-tender
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/standard-civil-contract-2018
A full timetable is listed below.
TLC Legals read the documents and created a competitive tender fee structure.
Clients were advised to read the materials and advise which categories and procurement areas they wished to tender for.
Once you are successful, we are here to manage all aspects of your legal aid contract, from achieving your SQM and/or Lexcel, to maximising cash flow, preparing for CCA and Peer Review audits, training or even challenging recoupments, contract notices and sanctions. We are here every step of the way because everyone deserves some TLC.
We created this page to keep you informed and are delighted to announce that 100% of our numerous Civil Contract tenders were successful thanks to our unique triple checking!
100% SUCCESS RATE!
PLEASE BOOK OUR MOCK SQM & LEXCEL AUDITS NOW AS SPACE IS RUNNING OUT
3rd Civil Tender deadline 5pm on 10th August 2018
3rd round of Civil Tenders in the following categories of law all areas:
- family
- housing, debt and welfare benefits
- immigration and asylum
- mental health
- community care
- claims against public authorities (formerly known as ‘actions against the police etc’)
- clinical negligence
- public Law
- family mediation
Tender Verification deadline 23:50 on 20th July 2018
Organisations are reminded that contract awards are conditional on satisfactorily verifying bids.
Our peace of mind verification service:
We advise of all the documents required for verification, provide any advice required to complete the documents, check them for compliance once sent through to us and then upload all the necessary documents to the LAA via the e-tendering portal; providing confirmation and peace of mind that everything has been done.
Useful Verification Information:
Information For Applicants IFA V2.2
7.5. The LAA will reclassify an Individual Bid in the Family, Housing, Immigration and Asylum and Mental Health Categories of Law where an Applicant is unable to provide satisfactory evidence that they meet the requirements of a higher Lot but is able to provide satisfactory evidence that they meet the requirements of a lower Lot. For example, if an Applicant is unable to provide satisfactory evidence that its Family Individual Bid meets the requirements of Lot 3 but is able to provide satisfactory evidence that the meet the requirements of Lot 2 then the Individual Bid will be awarded a Lot 2 Matter Start allocation (100 Matter Starts).
7.9. In addition to meeting the verification requirements, Applicants must complete the two following administrative processes where relevant before the LAA can issue Contract documentation to an Applicant: a. Provide a completed indemnity where an organisation with a limited liability b. Provide a completed AC1 form and associated documentation for each new Office.
IFA V2.2 Annex C contains all category specific verification requirements.
7.15. When an Applicant satisfactorily verifies their Individual Bids through the verification process, they will be notified that their Face to Face Contract documentation is available to view and execute online.
7.16. Face to Face Contract documentation will be issued and executed electronically in the LAA’s Controlled Work and Administration (“CWA”) system. Successful Applicants will need to access this system to execute their Face to Face Contract by clicking the “Accept Contract” button within the system. By doing this, a successful Applicant agrees to be bound by the terms of the Contract in full.
7.17. To execute their Face to Face Contract an Applicant must have been set up on the LAA systems and issued with an account number for each new Office.
7.18. In addition, an Applicant must have set up the requisite number of ‘Designated Signatories’ on CWA before they can execute their Contract. Guidance on how to do this will be provided at the verification stage. Guidance on allocate the Designated Signatory role in CWA can be found on the LAA’s website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cwa-detailed-user-guides.
SQM/Lexcel Readiness
Please ensure you have a current Quality Standard for verification purposes and one which is also valid for the start of the new legal aid Civil Contract on 1st September 2018. We offer two levels of service, please contact us for prices:
Full Service
Aimed at new organisations applying for a fresh Quality Standard or those wishing to update their office manual and central records. We provide a new fully compliant office manual, a complete suite of central record template documents in A4 folders and supporting electronic copies. We populate our 12-month file review checker tool which will aid you track future file review progress. We conduct an on-site mock audit, prepare a full Quality Standard report and any identified corrective action. We provide guidance on how to complete corrective action and check it off once you have completed. Additional support can be provided if required.
Support Service
Aimed at organisations which already hold the Quality Standard. We review your office manual and electronic central records off site then arrange a convenient date to attend on-site and conduct a mock audit. We prepare a full Quality Standard report and provide guidance on how to complete any corrective action and check it off once you have completed. Additional support can be provided if required.
The Civil Contract Tender
The deadline for submitting responses to this procurement process was 5pm on 10 November 2017.
Available categories of Law
• Family
• Housing, Debt & Welfare Benefits (Housing and Debt may be delivered alone or in combination with Welfare Benefits)
• Immigration and Asylum (including work at IRCs)
• Mental Health
• Community Care
• Claims Against Public Authorities (formerly known as ‘Actions Against the Police')
• Clinical Negligence
• Public Law
• Family Mediation
MD Jason Hill left the LAA only last year and used to sit right next to the Commissioning team. As Senior Contracts Manager, he lead tender verification and knows exactly what the LAA seek in a quality tender bid. We ensure timely responses and Jason will personally oversee the quality of your bid to ensure the optimum advantage is obtained for your organisation.
We will tailor our pre-prepared high quality bid to directly suit your organisation, check all documents (such as supervisor declaration forms) are LAA compliant, and access the Bravo portal on your behalf to prepare the tender for final submission once you have had the opportunity to review and discuss. Electronic evidence of successful submission is kept. We keep you informed with progress throughout the process provide verification support if required. Please contact us if you have any questions.
The documents can be found below. The 2nd link details the main tender forms:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/civil-news-tender-process-for-2018-contracts-opens
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-2018-contracts-tender
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/standard-civil-contract-2018
A full timetable is listed below.
TLC Legals read the documents and created a competitive tender fee structure.
Clients were advised to read the materials and advise which categories and procurement areas they wished to tender for.
Once you are successful, we are here to manage all aspects of your legal aid contract, from achieving your SQM and/or Lexcel, to maximising cash flow, preparing for CCA and Peer Review audits, training or even challenging recoupments, contract notices and sanctions. We are here every step of the way because everyone deserves some TLC.
Notes of Interest...
- New contract start date 1st September 2018
- 2018 Civil Tender FAQ published W/C 30th Oct.
- Residential property not excluded in 2018 Civil Contract Spec permanent office presence 2.33 to 2.35. Only excluded for 2017 Crime 2.52.
- Successfully bid for a f/f housing contract in the scheme area if you wish to tender for a Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme (HPCDS) contract in mid October 2017.
- For Family Mediation under the Face to Face Contract the LAA will no longer require Family Mediation Providers to hold the Mediation Quality Mark (MQM). Instead, the Contract requires that mediators and Family Mediation Providers meet the standards set out by the Family Mediation Council (FMC) and the Family Mediation Standards Board.
Supervision
- An individual Supervisor may not supervise more than two Offices in total. In addition in Mental Health a Supervisor may not supervise across more than two Procurement Areas. In Family Mediation where there is no limit to the number of Offices/Outreach a Supervisor may supervise.
- In the Categories of Family, Housing and Debt, Immigration and Asylum, Mental Health and Community Care each Applicant must employ at least one Full Time Equivalent (“FTE”) Supervisor who meets the Supervisor Standard in the relevant Category. Each FTE Supervisor may supervise no more than 4 FTE caseworkers. “Full time equivalent” means the equivalent of one individual working 5 days a week and 7 hours on each day.
- A Supervisor must not supervise more than four Caseworkers across a maximum of two Offices or across two Providers with one Office each. A Supervisor may only be employed on a full time basis by one Provider.
- In the Categories of Welfare Benefits Clinical Negligence, Claims Against Public Authorities and Public Law each Applicant must employ at least one Part Time Equivalent (“PTE”) Supervisor who meets the Supervisor Standard in the relevant Category. The 1 FTE Supervisor : 4 FTE caseworkers ratio applies for these Categories. For the avoidance of doubt, each PTE Supervisor may supervise no more than 2 FTE caseworkers.
- For Family Mediation, Applicants must either employ or have formal arrangements with a Supervisor who meets the Supervisor Standard in Mediation.
New Matter Starts and Lots
- An Applicant submitting an Individual Bid above the top NMS Lot must:
Contract; and either
- confirm that from the Office associated with the Individual Bid they have started the same volume or more Matter Starts under
a legal aid contract in the relevant Category of Law between 1 September 2016 and 31 August 2017; or
- complete a Delivery Plan (questions A.3.iii to A.3.v pages 87 & 88 of the ITT document: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/645817/2018-f2f-itt-information-for-applicants.pdf
- Historic civil New Matter Start (NMS) provider usage by category can be found at:
- In addition to self granting 50% NMS, LAA Providers will be able to move up to 50% of NMS between contracted offices in the 2018 contract.
- Applicants wishing to deliver more than 5 Miscellaneous Matter Starts to assist victims of human trafficking and modern slavery will have the opportunity to do so as part of the relevant Category ITT. Applicants must provide a Business Case if they wish to deliver more than 25 Miscellaneous Matter Starts (ITT 1.80).
Office Requirements
20/10/2017
LAA Frequently Asked Questions document relating to the Selection Questionnaire and Face to Face
Contracts tender published:
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/653500/face-to-face-contracts-interim-faqs.pdf
LAA Frequently Asked Questions document relating to the Selection Questionnaire and Face to Face
Contracts tender published:
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/653500/face-to-face-contracts-interim-faqs.pdf
