AWARD OUTCOME
What happened
National Oceanography Centre has concluded and signed a contract with BURGES SALMON LLP for ad hoc UK visa and immigration advice and support.
Published outcomeOne active award and contract cover lot 1. The published contract value is £31,200 excluding VAT (£37,440 including VAT).
Market significanceThis is a below-threshold, limited-competition legal advisory services engagement with a potential duration of almost two years if the discretionary extension is used.
AWARDED SUPPLIERS AND LOTS
1 supplier record analysed
BURGES SALMON LLP
99% confidenceAward 1 · Lots 1 · £31,200 excluding VAT; £37,440 including VAT GBP · Verified legal supplier; active award and contract
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Award 1 identifies BURGES SALMON LLP as supplier. The supplier was verified by Companies House number OC307212. The contract value applies to contract 1, associated with award 1 and lot 1.
LIFECYCLE
Award or contract stage
Notice type
99% confidenceContract details notice on Find a Tender
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The published document is described as “Contract details notice on Find a Tender” and is tagged award and contract.
Procurement status
98% confidenceComplete
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Tender status is recorded as complete; the award and contract are both recorded as active.
Contract signature
99% confidenceSigned on 18 September 2026
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Contract 1 records dateSigned as 2026-09-18.
Contract term
99% confidence18 September 2026 to 31 August 2027
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Contract period startDate is 2026-09-18 and endDate is 2027-08-31.
VALUES
Published values explained
Contract value excluding VAT
99% confidence£31,200
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Contract 1 value.amount is 31200 GBP.
Contract value including VAT
99% confidence£37,440
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Contract 1 value.amountGross is 37440 GBP.
Value allocation
97% confidenceContract-level value allocated to award 1 / lot 1
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Contract 1 is linked to award 1, which is linked to lot 1.
TIMELINE
Procurement timeline
Contract signed
99% confidence18 September 2026
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Contract 1 dateSigned is 2026-09-18.
Contract start
99% confidence18 September 2026
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Contract 1 period startDate is 2026-09-18.
Initial contract end
99% confidence31 August 2027
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Contract 1 period endDate is 2027-08-31.
Notice published
99% confidence14 October 2026
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The contract details notice datePublished is 2026-10-14.
Maximum possible end date
99% confidence30 August 2028
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Contract 1 maxExtentDate is 2028-08-30.
SCOPE
What was awarded
Requirement
99% confidenceAd hoc UK visa and immigration advice and support
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The notice description states that NOC appointed a specialist legal services provider for ad hoc UK visa and immigration advice and support.
Service areas
99% confidenceImmigration routes, sponsor licence compliance, immigration legislation, and related visa and immigration queries
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These service areas are listed in the notice description.
Procurement category
99% confidenceServices — legal advisory services (CPV 79111000)
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Award 1 is categorised as services and lists CPV 79111000, Legal advisory services.
Delivery location
96% confidenceUnited Kingdom
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Award item 1 lists a UK delivery address.
PROCEDURE
Procedure and competition
Procurement method
99% confidenceLimited
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Tender procurementMethod is recorded as limited.
Method detail
99% confidenceBelow threshold - limited competition
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Tender procurementMethodDetails states “Below threshold - limited competition”.
Above-threshold status
99% confidenceBelow threshold
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Contract 1 records aboveThreshold as false.
Competition information
99% confidenceNumber of bidders and evaluation results unknown
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Information not supplied in the published notice data.
CONTRACT TERMS
Published contract terms
Initial term
99% confidence18 September 2026 to 31 August 2027
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The contract period runs from 2026-09-18 to 2027-08-31.
Extension option
99% confidenceMay be extended by up to 12 months at NOC's discretion
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The renewal description states that the contract may be extended by up to a further 12 months at NOC's discretion.
Maximum term endpoint
99% confidence30 August 2028
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Contract 1 maxExtentDate is 2028-08-30.
Pricing detail
99% confidenceNot published beyond total net and gross contract values
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Information not supplied in the published notice data.
COMMERCIAL VIEW
Commercial observations
Engagement model
98% confidenceAd hoc specialist legal support
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The scope describes ad hoc visa and immigration advice and support.
Commercial structure
97% confidenceSingle-supplier, single-lot legal advisory services contract
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One award names one supplier and relates to lot 1; the award item is classified as legal advisory services.
Award rationale
99% confidenceNot published
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Information not supplied in the published notice data.
DATA QUALITY
Gaps and source limitations
Award date
99% confidenceNot published
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Award 1 does not contain an award date in the supplied data.
Lot detail
99% confidenceLot 1 has no published title, description, or standalone value
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The supplied lot record contains only identifier 1 and status complete; value and descriptive fields are null.
Competition and evaluation
99% confidenceBidder count, bid prices, scoring and evaluation rationale are not supplied
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Information not supplied in the published notice data.
Extension exercise
98% confidenceNo evidence that the extension has been exercised
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The notice records a discretionary extension option only; the contract remains within its initial period at the stated end date.
SOURCE DATA LIMITATIONS
Information not supplied in the published notice
- The published data does not provide an award date.
- Lot 1 has no published title, description, or individual value.
- Information on bidder numbers, evaluation, award rationale, pricing breakdown and supplier selection is not supplied in the published notice.
- The extension is an option only; no extension exercise is evidenced.
MARKET THEMES
Relevant award themes
National Oceanography CentreBURGES SALMON LLPvisa and immigration advicelegal advisory servicespublic procurementUK immigrationFind a Tender
COMMON QUESTIONS
About this award
Who won the National Oceanography Centre immigration advice contract?
BURGES SALMON LLP, verified against Companies House number OC307212.
What is the contract value?
The published value is £31,200 excluding VAT and £37,440 including VAT.
When does the contract end?
The initial term ends on 31 August 2027. NOC may extend it by up to 12 months, with a published maximum end date of 30 August 2028.
Was the contract signed?
Yes. The contract data records a signature date of 18 September 2026.
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.