Farming Connect Framework: Legal Surgeries & Legal Advice on Family Succession and Joint Ventures

Menter a Busnes are seeking to procure a range of specialist agricultural solicitors to deliver Succession Surgeries and provide legal advice on family farm succession and joint ventures for the Farming Connect Programme funded by Welsh Government.Framework Contract.In line with contractual requirements and expected funding period of the project, the framework contract will be for a period of 2 years from the date on which the contract commences, with a possibility to extend for 1 year. It is the intention of the Client for the contract to commence 1 April 2023. Menter a Busnes reserves the right to trigger break clauses at every annual anniversary of the establishment of the framework agreement, allowing opportunity to terminate the agreement and conduct a replacement tendering exercise. This option will only be followed when it is deemed to be in the interests of gaining access to new innovation within the marketplace and toensure the projects can adequately evolve to meet the changing needs of the sector. This will be structured in a way that minimises input required from existing framework participants that wish to continue participating in any new framework, while also allowing fair opportunity for all suppliers to update details of their technical capabilities.Requirements.Much of the activity undertaken will be either on a one-to-one or group advice delivery basis. It is a second advertisement, after the initial procurement process failed to attract enough suppliers. The framework will be split into four lots:1. Delivery of legal advice at Succession Surgeries (£30,000 - £40,000)2. Delivery of legal advice at Legal Surgeries (£7,500 - £15,000)3. Delivery of legal advice and services to farm businesses on family succession (£30,000 - £40,000)4. Delivery of legal advice and service to farm businesses looking to establish a joint venture (£20,000 - £35,000)Succession SurgeriesSurgeries provide advice on specific issues or to raise technical skills and awareness of farmers. Menter a Busnes are seeking to procure specialist solicitors to deliver surgeries to farming businesses on succession. We are seeking specialist solicitors to deliver up to one-hour surgeries digitally or Face to Face. Under the topic of farm succession we are looking for solicitors to deliver advice on probate and estate planning, wills, partnership agreements, tenancies as well as general discussion on starting the succession process and the matters that need to be considered. The solicitor will be responsible for direct contact to arrange the surgery once the referral has been made by Menter a Busnes.Legal SurgeriesSurgeries provide advice on specific issues or to raise technical skills and awareness of farmers. Menter a Busnes are seeking to procure specialist solicitors to deliver surgeries to farming businesses on legal issues regarding agricultural law. We are seeking specialist solicitors to deliver up to one-hour surgeries digitally or Face to Face. Under the topic of legal surgeries we are looking for solicitors to deliver advice on agricultural law issues such as boundary disputes, public footpaths, land leases, grazing disputes, implications of land purchases/sales, issues with sales/purchases of stock etc. The solicitor will be responsible for direct contact to arrange the surgery once the referral has been made by Menter a Busnes.Legal advice – Family successionProviding advice to farming family businesses on the development of asuccession plan and acting on their instructions to implement the plan including the drafting of legal documents relating to the succession plan. A business plan to accompany the succession plan will have been produced alongside this via the Farming Connect Advisory Service (this is a separate contract but a mandatory requirement for businesses to be eligible for the legal advice).The family will have also undertaken a facilitated family meeting to ensure all family members have the opportunity to contribute to the development of the succession plan (this is a separate contract but a mandatory requirement for businesses to be eligible for the legal advice).Legal advice – Joint VenturesProviding advice to individuals looking to establish a joint venture / collaborative farming venture and acting on their instructions to establish the venture including the drafting of legal documents in accordance with the business plan. A joint business plan for the joint venture must have been produced alongside this via the Farming Connect Advisory Service (this is a separate contract but a mandatory requirement for businesses to be eligible for the legal advice).In the application form, suppliers should clearly state which services they are able to provide to Menter a Busnes in support of delivering the Farming Connect Programme in their response. For each of the services tendered for, tenderers will need to demonstrate a good trackrecord of similar work within the last three years as well as knowledge and experience of the industry in Wales, evidence of continued CPD and excellent communication skills.