Criminal Defence Direct (CDD) Procurement Process

Criminal Defence Direct (CDD) Service Procurement Exercise – Launch in summer 2025

The Legal Aid Agency (LAA), on behalf of the Lord Chancellor, will run a procurement exercise to award contracts for two providers to deliver the CDD Service from on or around 1 March 2026.

Key Details:

• Service: 24/7 non means tested telephone-based legal advice for individuals detained at police stations for non-indictable offences.

• Contract Award: Two providers will each manage 50% of the caseload (with possible variations).

• Duration: 1 March 2026 – 31 May 2031.

Procurement Process Updates:

From 24 February 2025, all suppliers must use the Cabinet Office Central Digital Platform to share their organisation’s information with Contracting Authorities by providing a share code during the procurement process.

If suppliers are still unable to create a share code after getting assistance from the Cabinet Office, please email contact: Crime.Contracts@justice.gov.uk.

Key Service Changes:

The LAA, as part of this procurement, will introduce the following key changes to the CDD Service that align with the move to enhanced flexibility and reducing barriers to support providers in successfully delivering the CDD contract and ensure consistency across similar services.

For the new CDD Contract the LAA are:

• allowing Applicants to choose the arrangements most suitable for their delivery models and are not specifying the office requirements;

• removing supervisor-to-advisor ratios;

• removing the requirement for supervisors to be on-site 35 hours/week; and

• introducing a new KPI to track client engagement and timeliness of advice