Tendering Opportunities

Working with us

We sometimes work with external providers to supply our services.

This page contains information about current invitations to tender under the Criminal Defence Service.

We may also provide pre-tender information on this page.

Criminal Defence Service Direct

Criminal Defence Service Direct (CDS Direct) is a telephone helpline that provides non means tested legal advice direct to members of the public suspected of criminal offences and detained by the police.
 
You can view the findings from the recent six-month evaluation of the pilot on the Duty Solicitor page.

Lord Carter of Coles has proposed expanding the service to include own client work from October 2007. This is subject to the outcome of the LSC/DCA consultation Legal aid: a sustainable future.

Pre-tender Open Meeting

The LSC held an Open Meeting on 31 October to provide more information about the service and the potential tender process. The presentation from the meeting and accompanying notes and handouts are under Related Documents. 

Tender process

The Expression of Interest will be published on this page in January 2007 together with further details on the tender process.   

All tender guidance and forms will be published on this website. 

Q&A

We will publish all questions raised during the tender process, along with their responses, on this page. Please email mary.burkinshaw@legalservices.gov.uk to submit a question for the Q&A. 

An up-to-date Q&A containing all questions submitted so far, including those raised at the Open Meeting, is available under Related Documents.