AWARD OUTCOME
What happened
Essex County Council awarded HCR LEGAL LLP a legal-support contract for the CPO/SRO process connected with infrastructure for the Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community project. The contract was signed on 30 September 2026 and runs from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2029.
Published outcomeOne active award and one active contract are recorded for HCR LEGAL LLP under lot 1.
Market significanceThis is a £135,000 net (£162,000 gross) below-threshold call-off under the RM6374 Legal Panel for Public Sector framework, covering legal services.
AWARDED SUPPLIERS AND LOTS
1 supplier record analysed
HCR LEGAL LLP
99% confidenceAward 1 · Lots 1 · Individual supplier allocation not separately stated; the single recorded contract is valued at £135,000 net and £162,000 gross. GBP · verified; active award and contract
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Award 1 names HCR LEGAL LLP as its supplier. Supplier verification matches Companies House number OC382982 to HCR LEGAL LLP. Contract 1 is linked to award 1.
LIFECYCLE
Award or contract stage
Notice type
99% confidenceContract details notice on Find a Tender
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Document 095410-2026 is described as a Contract details notice on Find a Tender.
Tender status
99% confidenceComplete
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The tender status is "complete".
Award status
99% confidenceActive
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Award 1 has status "active".
Contract status
99% confidenceActive
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Contract 1 has status "active".
Contract signature
99% confidenceSigned 30 September 2026
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Contract 1 reports dateSigned as 2026-09-30.
Contract start
99% confidence1 October 2026
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Contract 1 period startDate is 2026-10-01.
VALUES
Published values explained
Contract value excluding VAT
99% confidence£135,000
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Contract 1 value amount is 135000 GBP; amountGross is separately reported.
Contract value including VAT
99% confidence£162,000
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Contract 1 value amountGross is 162000 GBP.
Value basis
98% confidenceContract value; net and gross amounts published
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Contract 1 provides both amount and amountGross.
TIMELINE
Procurement timeline
Contract signed
99% confidence30 September 2026
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Contract 1 dateSigned is 2026-09-30.
Contract start
99% confidence1 October 2026
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Contract 1 period startDate is 2026-10-01.
Contract end
99% confidence30 September 2029
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Contract 1 period endDate is 2029-09-30.
Notice published
99% confidence8 October 2026
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The contract details notice datePublished is 2026-10-08.
Term
99% confidence3 years
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The published period runs from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2029.
SCOPE
What was awarded
Requirement
99% confidenceLegal support services for the CPO/SRO process
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The tender description states that services support the CPO/SRO process for infrastructure works.
Project
99% confidenceTendring Colchester Borders Garden Community project
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Named in the tender description.
Framework route
99% confidenceRM6374 Legal Panel for Public Sector, lot 1b
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The tender description states that the services are provided under RM6374 Legal Panel for Public Sector framework Lot 1b.
Awarded procurement lot
99% confidenceLot 1
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Award 1 and its item are related to lot 1.
Service classification
99% confidenceCPV 79100000 — Legal services
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Award item 1 gives CPV 79100000 with description "Legal services".
Delivery region
97% confidenceUKH3
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Award item 1 lists delivery address region UKH3.
PROCEDURE
Procedure and competition
Procurement method
99% confidenceSelective
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Tender procurementMethod is "selective".
Method detail
99% confidenceBelow threshold — award under framework
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Tender procurementMethodDetails states "Below threshold - award under framework".
Competition flag
95% confidenceCompetitive
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Tender competitive field is true.
Competition metrics
99% confidenceNumber of bidders and evaluation results not supplied in the published notice.
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No bid count, scores or evaluation narrative is present in the supplied data.
CONTRACT TERMS
Published contract terms
Contract period
99% confidence1 October 2026 to 30 September 2029
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Contract 1 period provides these start and end dates.
Below-threshold indicator
99% confidenceYes
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Contract 1 aboveThreshold is false, and the procurement method detail says below threshold.
Extension options
99% confidenceInformation not supplied in the published notice.
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No extension or option terms are included in the supplied contract data.
COMMERCIAL VIEW
Commercial observations
Commercial route
99% confidenceFramework call-off under RM6374 rather than a standalone open procurement.
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The notice describes an award under the RM6374 framework and identifies a related framework process.
Published value coverage
94% confidenceA single contract is linked to the sole recorded award and supplier, but no separate lot-level value is published.
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Contract 1 links to award 1; award 1 names one supplier and relates to lot 1, while lot data contains no value.
Service focus
95% confidenceSpecialist legal support for compulsory purchase order and/or special road order work related to infrastructure.
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The description identifies support for the CPO/SRO process for project infrastructure works.
DATA QUALITY
Gaps and source limitations
Lot detail
99% confidenceLot 1 has no published title, description or value.
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The lot record contains only ID 1 and status complete; title, description and value are null.
Award date
99% confidenceInformation not supplied in the published notice.
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Award 1 has no award_date.
Tender timetable
99% confidenceTender start date and submission deadline are not supplied.
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The process-level tender_start_at and submission_deadline are null.
Evaluation transparency
99% confidenceBid count, scoring, pricing breakdown and award rationale are not supplied.
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No such fields or narrative appear in the supplied notice data.
SOURCE DATA LIMITATIONS
Information not supplied in the published notice
- Lot 1 title, description and individual lot value are not published.
- No award date is supplied.
- Tender timetable, bidder count, evaluation scores, pricing breakdown and award rationale are not supplied.
- No extension or renewal terms are published; any future procurement timing is only an estimate derived from the stated contract end date.
MARKET THEMES
Relevant award themes
Essex County CouncilHCR LEGAL LLPCPO Legal Support ServicesRM6374Legal Panel for Public SectorTendring Colchester Borders Garden Communitylegal services
COMMON QUESTIONS
About this award
Who won the CPO Legal Support Services contract?
HCR LEGAL LLP, verified against Companies House number OC382982.
What is the published contract value?
£135,000 excluding VAT and £162,000 including VAT.
When does the contract run?
From 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2029.
What is the contract for?
Legal support for the CPO/SRO process for infrastructure associated with the Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community project.
ProcuraAxis award analysis supplements, but does not replace, the official award notice, contract data or procurement documents. “Awarded” does not by itself prove that a contract has been signed.