The LSC has agreed that they will open a further tender for licence-only Family and Family & Housing work; with contracts awarded through that tender to take effect from 1st April 2012.  This will represent a final opportunity for providers who were unsuccessful due to bid form mistakes in the first tender to obtain a contract to carry out licensed work.

Given the high success rate in the recent family tender exercise, sufficient matter starts have already been awarded but a license only contract will ensure that those providers who would otherwise be unable to undertake new publicly funded family work can continue to do so.

Those that were successful in the recent family tender exercise (well over 90% of applicants completed the tender successfully, and the vast majority of existing family contracted providers have been offered the new contract which takes effect on 1 February 2012) need not apply, only those who were previously unsuccessful or who seek a licence-only Family contract.  It should be emphasised to all of those planning to apply that there will be no further opportunities to obtain a legal aid contract until tenders for the reduced scope of legal aid open in the summer for commencement in April 2013.

Full details of the tender will be published on the LSC website soon.