Australian Government: Attorney-General's Department
Australian Government: Attorney-General's DepartmentAchieving a Just and Secure Society

Legal Services Multi-Use List

Tender Notification

Applications for inclusion on the Commonwealth Legal Services Multi-Use List

The Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department is establishing a legal services multi-use list (LSMUL) which will be used by most Australian Government departments, agencies and bodies to purchase legal services.

The Department is seeking applications from interested legal service providers. Applications are due by 5.00pm on Friday 24 February 2012.

Addendum

The Department has issued an addendum to clarify aspects of the Legal Services Multi-Use List Application for Inclusion documentation. The addendum to the AFI is available below.

Following the release of the Blunn Krieger and Gruen reports, the Government is pursuing reforms to enhance the management and delivery of legal services across the Commonwealth. Details of the projects currently being progressed by the Attorney-General’s Department (the Department) can be found on the Commonwealth legal services reform webpage.

As part of the reforms, the Department is establishing a whole-of-government LSMUL. The Department approached the market on 7 December 2011. Applications for the first assessment period are due by 24 February 2012.

The Legal Services Directions 2005 will be amended and will take effect from the date that the LSMUL starts operating. Under the amended Directions, all Commonwealth agencies subject to the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 or Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 (with limited exceptions) will be required to use the LSMUL when purchasing external legal services in Australia.

The LSMUL will identify service providers who have been pre-qualified to provide legal services to agencies in nominated categories of legal work. Service providers will be required to apply for and satisfy the conditions for participation outlined in the Application for Inclusion (AFI).

Inclusion on the LSMUL does not guarantee that any legal services or any volume of legal services will be ordered by agencies.

The LSMUL is expected to be operational in June 2012. Agencies will be encouraged to utilise the LSMUL on its implementation. Transitional arrangements will allow agencies with existing panel arrangements to continue to use those arrangements for a period of 12 months after the LSMUL is established.

After the transitional period, agencies will be required to source external legal services through the LSMUL. Agencies wishing to use an existing panel arrangement beyond the transitional period must contact the Office of Legal Services Coordination (OLSC) for prior written approval to do so.

Applications for inclusion on the LSMUL

The Department is seeking applications from service providers wishing to be appointed to the LSMUL.

The AFI includes:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

As set out in Part 1 of the AFI, the process for applying for inclusion on the LSMUL is:
  1. Download Parts 2 and 3 of the AFI.
  2. Complete and sign two copies of Part 2 of the AFI.
  3. Complete Part 3 of the AFI and attach necessary supporting information.
  4. Lodge Parts 2 and 3 of the AFI electronically to lsmul@ag.gov.au, together with the necessary supporting documentation, as set out below:
    1. The completed and signed Part 2 should be scanned to PDF 8 (or above format).
    2. The completed Part 3 should be provided in PDF 8 (or above) format and in Microsoft Word 2002 SP3 (or above) format.
  5. Post the two signed hard copies of Part 2 of the AFI to OLSC at the address below:

    Legal Services Multi-Use List Evaluation Team
    Office of Legal Services Coordination
    Attorney-General's Department
    3-5 National Circuit
    BARTON ACT 2600
  6. Once OLSC receives both the electronic AFI and the hard copies of the LSMUL Deeds, applicants will receive an electronic lodgement receipt.

Assessments of AFIs

AFIs may be submitted at any time. However, assessments will only be undertaken two times each year and cut off dates will apply. AFIs received after a cut off date will be evaluated during the next round of assessments. Cut off dates are provided in the table below. These dates may be amended by OLSC, at its discretion, by posting alternative periods on this webpage.

Following the establishment of the LSMUL, no assessments will be undertaken from 30 November to 1 February each year.

Cut off dates for assessment Notification of outcome

Friday, 24 February 2012

Friday, 25 May 2012

Tuesday, 4 September 2012 Monday, 5 November 2012

Industry briefings

OLSC held a number of industry briefings on the LSMUL in December 2011.

Industry briefing presentation slides are available below.

Frequently asked questions - as at January 2012