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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

DFSED-SG Bond Legal Counsel

Scottish Government · tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 5 Oct 2026, 02:33.

Opportunity overview

The Scottish Government is seeking to appoint a legal adviser to assist in accessing the sterling public bond market. From 2016, the Scottish Government’s annual limit for Capital Borrowing has been GBP 450 million, with a cumulative limit of GBP 3 billion. The 2023 Fiscal Framework review increased these limits in line with inflation, and the Scottish Government has been reviewing its capital borrowing policy options under these new limits. On 4 December 2024, the Scottish Government published a memorandum detailing the outcome of the initial due diligence and its updated capital borrowing policy in the context of the revised Fiscal Framework limits. The key objectives for the issuance of bonds includes diversifying capital funding sources, enhancing fiscal sustainability, raising Scotland’s profile among financial investors, and developing institutional fiscal discipline. On 12th November 2025 Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s assigned inaugural credit ratings for the Scottish Government of Aa3/AA respectively, both with a stable outlook. The strength and diversity of Scotland’s economy, its strong institutional framework, as well as the Scottish Government’s prudent financial management and low levels of debt are factors highlighted in the agencies’ reports. Following the inaugural rating assignments, the Scottish Government announced its intention to pursue a GBP 1.5 billion bond programme over the next parliament, with a debut benchmark bond issuance currently anticipated for late 2026 or early 2027, subject to the outcome of the Scottish Parliament election, in-year borrowing requirements and market conditions. To facilitate this, the Scottish Government intends to appoint a legal adviser to advise the Purchaser on this proposed issuance.

Classification

  • CPV79100000 — Legal services

Lots

  • The Legal Adviser will provide SG with support on all relevant legal and regulatory requirements related to a debut public listed bond issue. The maximum value will depend on the issuance structure selected. If The Purchaser proceeds with a standalone transaction, the estimate value is 200,000 GBP - 300,000 GBP excluding VAT (including the optional extension period). If The Purchaser proceeds with a Medium-Term Note programme, the estimated value is 1,300,000 GBP - 1,800,000 GBP excluding VAT (including the optional extension period). The maximum contract value will be confirmed prior to award. Additional information: Start date and duration will be confirmed before award and align with the chosen issuance structure; expected June/July 2026. If standalone: June/July 2026 start, 2‑year term to June 2028 or completion, plus 12‑month extension. If MTN: June/July 2026 start, 3‑year term with two 12‑month extensions.Value not stated

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
798981
Status
active
Main Procurement Category
services
Procurement Method
open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Has Recurrence
No

Legal basis

Id
32014L0024
Scheme
CELEX

Classification

Scheme
CPV
Id
79100000
Description
Legal services

Submission Method

electronicSubmission

Communication

Selection criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
suitability
Description
4A.1 Professional or Trade Registers enrolment Minimum level(s) of standards required: 4A.1 - Bidders must confirm they are regulated legal practice in the UK.

Applies To

supplier
Criterion 2
Type
economic
Description
4B4. The bidder confirms the name, value and/or range of the financial ratios specified in the relevant Contract Notice are as follows: 4B.5 It is a requirement of this contract that bidders hold, or can commit to obtain prior to the commencement of any subsequently awarded contract, the types and levels of insurance indicated below:
Minimum
4B.4 - Bidders must demonstrate a Current Ratio of no less than 1. Current Ratio will be calculated as follows: Total current assets divided by Total current liabilities. 4B.5 - -Public Liability 1,000,000 GBP(A sum not less than) -Professional Indemnity 1,000,000 GBP(A sum not less than) -Employers Liability (Legal Requirement) 5,000,000 GBP(A sum not less than) -Cyber Security 5,000,000 GBP(A sum not less than)

Applies To

supplier
Criterion 3
Type
technical
Description
4C.4 - Provide a statement of the relevant supply chain management and/or tracking systems used. 4C.7 - Provide details of the environmental management measures which the bidder will be able to use when performing the contract. 4C.10 - Provide details of the proportion (i.e. percentage) of the contract that you intend to subcontract: Bidders will be required to confirm whether they intend to subcontract and, if so, for what proportion of the contract.
Minimum
4C.4 - If bidders intend to use a supply chain to deliver the requirements detailed in the Contract Notice, they should confirm they have (or have access to) the relevant supply chain management and tracking systems to ensure a resilient and sustainable supply chain. This will include confirmation that they have the systems in place to pay subcontractors through the supply chain promptly and effectively, and provide evidence when requested of: a) their standard payment terms b) ≥95% of all supply chain invoices being paid on time (in accordance with the terms of contract) in the last financial year. If the bidder is unable to confirm (b) they must provide an improvement plan, signed by their Director, which improves the payment performance. 4C.7 - Production and submission of evidence of steps taken to build awareness of the climate emergency and consideration of how the organisation plans to respond to it. This should include details of planned projects and actions to reduce the bidder’s carbon emissions. 4C.10 - Bidders will be required to confirm whether they intend to subcontract and, if so, for what proportion of the contract.

Applies To

supplier

Other Requirements

Requires Staff Names And Qualifications
Yes

Covered By

GPA

Tender Period

Ends
27 Feb 2026, 12:00

Submission terms

Languages

en

Bid Validity Period

Duration In Days
180

Expected award period

Starts
27 Feb 2026, 12:00

Bid Opening

Date
27 Feb 2026, 12:00

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Description
The Legal Adviser will provide SG with support on all relevant legal and regulatory requirements related to a debut public listed bond issue. The maximum value will depend on the issuance structure selected. If The Purchaser proceeds with a standalone transaction, the estimate value is 200,000 GBP - 300,000 GBP excluding VAT (including the optional extension period). If The Purchaser proceeds with a Medium-Term Note programme, the estimated value is 1,300,000 GBP - 1,800,000 GBP excluding VAT (including the optional extension period). The maximum contract value will be confirmed prior to award. Additional information: Start date and duration will be confirmed before award and align with the chosen issuance structure; expected June/July 2026. If standalone: June/July 2026 start, 2‑year term to June 2028 or completion, plus 12‑month extension. If MTN: June/July 2026 start, 3‑year term with two 12‑month extensions.
Has Renewal
Yes
Has Options
No
Status
active

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Name
Quality
Type
quality
Description
75
Criterion 2
Type
price
Description
25

Contract period

Duration In Days
1,800

Renewal

Description
To be confirmed pre-contract award.

Submission terms

Variant Policy
notAllowed

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKM

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Name
Scottish Government
Id
GB-FTS-1538

Identifier

Legal Name
Scottish Government

Address

Street Address
5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw
Locality
Glasgow
Region
UKM
Postal Code
G2 8LU
Country Name
United Kingdom

Contact

Name
Caitlin Fullarton
Telephone
+44 412425466

Roles

buyer
centralPurchasingBody

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
TED_CA_TYPE
Id
MINISTRY
Description
Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions
Entry 2
Scheme
COFOG
Id
01
Description
General public services
Organisation 2
Name
Edinburgh Sheriff Court & Justice of the Peace Court
Id
GB-FTS-155314

Identifier

Legal Name
Edinburgh Sheriff Court & Justice of the Peace Court

Address

Street Address
27 Chambers St
Locality
Edinburgh
Postal Code
EH1 1LB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Roles

reviewBody

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Glasgow · UKM · G2 8LU · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKM

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. 007629-2026tender ·