Award of Legal Services Contract for Child Maintenance in Scotland

The Department for Work and Pensions, on behalf of the Child Maintenance Service, has awarded a contract for legal services related to litigation and debt recovery in Scotland. The primary supplier is Harper Macleod LLP, with a contract starting for an initial fixed term of one year, potentially extendable for up to three additional years and five months, depending on the needs of the service. The estimated value of the initial contract is £1,842,806 excluding VAT, with a total potential value of £6,637,532 if fully extended. This contract involves managing a significant volume of cases, including approximately 1,000 new Liability Order referrals and 300 Sanctions case referrals each year. The service requires close collaboration with the Child Maintenance Service to effectively manage the recovery of arrears owed by Paying Parents to Receiving Parents.