Sorry - pressure of work has precluded posting here today. Not even a song.
It is late on now and as ever the news of the day comes through from the LSC at 16.45. Check the tender pages where procurement plans have gone but at least we know we have a 7 week bid window.
More on Monday and will pull the song over.
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT WARNING
Immigration bidders please make sure that you have completed the "Commercial Response" section of the ITT - IN FULL. Before you "publish".
There are two sections to ITT the "Technical Response" and the "Commercial Response". Once again we have received a call from a firm who have missed this vital section of the bid.
I don't blame the firm, this is an easy mistake to make. In support of this view a quote a client who mailed me today to say;
"I have never come across a more confusing and customer hostile web site in my life".
The Private Sector Applicant Information Form, about which we have commented before is subject to this notice.
Seems you will have to submit this information at some point, however not right now. It seems that the form is "corrupt". Immigration firms therefore do not have have to upload this in their soon to be "published" bids.
Do not ask!
The Mental Health procurement plan has finally been published.
I think I have said this here before, I certainly have said it out-loud, and once again I have marked a fresh immigration bid this morning which was fatally flawed by a simple error. (Made because the software is not a transparent as it should be).
I am covering all this sort of thing on the, not-to-be-missed, webinar on Friday.
The original Rose Royce version of this has just been on the radio. Unsurprisingly I prefer this one (it is one me and our kid do too);
Finally good luck to the Mighty Leeds tomorrow.
Immigration FAQ has just been published on-line and is now hot off the press (well laser printer, and they are hot - in the physical sense and not in the way youngsters use the word).
Our clients question - Is the Private Sector Applicant Information Form* mandatory? - has not been answered (although questions about how to complete it have been).
Will let you know if there are any further developments
If mandatory this form will be required from all Civil and Criminal bidders.
Autorecbots get a permanent home in Jarrow. Unsurprisingly I already knew this.
There is much internet tomfoolery going on with the now infamous "airbrushed" David Cameron poster.
This website allows you to make one yourself and this is my topical attempt. Do have a go and send them in.
A client, who wants to remain nameless, forwarded this link to oral evidence at the Public Accounts Committee. (I am required to make it clear that this is an UNCORRECTED transcript and that the participants have not had the chance to make corrections as yet).
Some of it is astounding and you might find it surprising that I have some sympathy for the LSC - the questioning about the NZ "holiday" for instance seems to me entirely unnecessary for instance.
The exchange about profitability rates for LA firms is something you all may well take exception with and is contradictory to earlier expressed concerns about the loss of quality firms and the development of excellence in the field of Criminal Defence.
I have also expressed my view that the NAO findings are made without being subject potential cost appeal - consequently are open to question. I guess that the LSC cannot use this in their defence however.
It does however help explain why a new round of CCAs is underway!
We have a few spaces left on next weeks contracting courses in Bradford and Gateshead so get you bookings in asap.
It will be nice to do some face to face training, rather than talking into a phone headset in front of a computer screen. I hope I have not forgotten how to do it!
Civil procurement just get more and more chaotic. "Updated" Family and SWL procurement plans are due shortly and the window has moved back to the 22nd February (we will have a week of appointments to rearrange again!!!).
Mental Health seems to be starting on the 8th Feb though - but we have been waiting for those procurement plans for months.
Cue Sgt Fraser...
This Friday we touch on the vexed subject of making money out of the standard fee scehmes. It brings together, in one short focussed session, all the key cost protection and maximisation advice JRS has provided to clients in recent years. We also identify the essential the essential attitudinal change required by fee earners in an almost entirely "output funded" scheme.
With the tightening of the PACE scheme, LC3 claims and the proposals for the Family Scheme in October it is vital firms get to grips with this as soon as possible.
Another i Pod, dog walk inspired choice. An all time favourite with his best know track;
As if there wasn't enough to be getting on with, cost audits and appeals have suddenly reappeared as has an SQM audit and what looks like a national initiative on Court Duty Solicitor claims and records. Things which follow from this are:
Get appropriate proof of means on all LH cases - read the guidance at Part F of Civil contractDo some franchising
Use our Court Duty Solicitor record (in the resources section on the sidebar)
That is all.
Immigration firms: please, please, please ring us about your bids. Your biggest risks are simple technical errors - pick up the phone, it's free.
This Friday's webinar was planned before CDS procurement was put back a month. We have decided not to play around with the timetable and go ahead with this guide to making a successful "bid" for a renewal of, or fresh application for, your contract.
As ever a distilled and essential guide to the central requirements of on-line bidding.
Think we had one through the garden last night judging by the footprints - corny, weather related choice perhaps but one I like from Belle & Sebastian;
The Immigration tender process runs apace and we are reminded of the key deadlines today:
14th Jan the Q&A process ends and the final deadline is Noon 28th January.
Working on this today has identified one Q which needs an answer; is the "Private Client Information" spreadsheet, which contains certain equal opps and financial disclosure mandatory?
There is not a red asterisk against that numbered question and is says that "this will not be marked" but who knows - many will do it for belt and braces reasons no doubt. We will let you know when we have a definitive answer.
Don't forget the return to 17.5% VAT which will begin to have an impact upon your billing.
Here is their guidance on the subject.
You will doubtless have received an e-mail indicating that today's anticipated BACS run will not take place due to "some technical reasons". You will however be pleased to note that the LSC have -
"escalated this issue to our contracted provider at a very senior level and have invoked our established contingency plans, but these will take some time to fully implement".
UPDATE
Sucessfull "excalation" completed -
"Your BACS payment will therefore be in your bank account on Friday 8 January, which is one day later than usual".
As previously announced our Friday Webinar Service recommences this Friday. The first one is;
The Year AheadA summary of all the key dates, events and changes we can expect in the world of Legal Aid supply. Be sure you are fully aware of all the deadlines and all the actions you will have to take in the New Year.
Not a desperately original first weeks topic I know, but hopefully we can bring a bit of clarity about forthcoming events.
We will have to wait and see if it is to be a "happy" one but first impressions on a return to the office are not that positive. This gloomy story and Marcel Berlins predictions don't provide a lot of cheer either.
Crime contract bidding has been moved back a month at least and this gives us a little longer to book visits and get prepared. (That it will now be effectively simultaneous with the Civil round is a little problematic though).
The NMS plunder, and refusal of schedule extensions where requested form the majority of the post awaiting me at the office and again there is not an overridding message of hope here either.
Then there is the weather.
Anyhow put all that aside, nothing can shake my positivity about the forthcoming year this morning