Direct award for external solicitors for housing development grant assistance

About the buyer

West Midlands Combined Authority runs regional transport, growth and skills programmes for seven West Midlands councils, and buys as a local authority with its own procurement team. Suppliers register free on the Bravo Solution portal, where tender opportunities are advertised. A rolling pipeline lists larger opportunities expected over the next eighteen months. Transport for West Midlands, the authority's transport arm, procures local transport policy and delivery on its behalf. The Mayor and the leaders of the seven constituent councils sign off major contracts through the authority's board. A standard pre-qualification questionnaire assesses new suppliers before award.

UK local government drives £140bn in annual procurement, led by social protection (£66.6bn) and education (£57.1bn).

Over the past 5 years, most of the West Midlands Combined Authority's contract awards have been in architectural and engineering services, business services and IT services.