Empanelment Of Legal Consulting Firms For Acquisition Wing, Department Of Defence
The Acquisition Wing, Department of Defence, Ministry of Defence proposes to empanel Legal Consulting firms. An Expression of Interest (Eol) is invited from the Legal Consulting firms which have adequate experience in Legal services which includes; Legal Advice under any Act/Rules of Central/State Government, Special Legal advice assigned by Central Ministries/Departments/ Regulatory/Statutory Authorities/ UN Bodies, IPR, Contract Management and international guidelines and possesses relevant experience.
The Firm shall be required to perform various activities on a case-to-case basis based on a stipulated TOR. Some of the indicative activities are as follows:
1) Legal Advice on acquisition related contractual matters.
2) Legal Advice on resolving of contractual issues during contract formulation and Post contract management.
3) Legal Advice and support during arbitration process, Suspension & blacklisting of firms, court cases etc.
4) Advice on deviations noticed in RPF, LoRs, Contracts, LOAS, IGAS, MoUs, Licensing Agreements, Offset Agreement, Novation Agreement, PCIPS, EMDs etc.
5) Legal Advice to adequately protect DDR&D rights while engaging with industries in various engagement models.
6) Legal advice on issues such as IPR related matters during ToTs, Patents and industry engagement models.
7) Legal scrutiny for Indigenization mandates under Buy(Indian) & Make categories, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) issues under Make-I & Make-Il programs and for Offset obligation compliance.
8) To develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for legal disputes with vendors, including Fast track arbitration panels for high-value contracts and conflict resolution mechanisms for Make-1 & Make-II Projects.
9) To conduct regulatory impact analysis on evolving defence laws (e.g. impact of new FDI policies, US tariffs, etc) and provide periodic legal updates on changes in defence procurement policies globally.
10) Any other duties of legal nature which may be assigned by Acquisition Wing, DoD, SHQs and DDR&D.
Minimum Eligibility/Qualification Criteria:
The following are the eligibility criteria for submission of EOI:
1) The legal Firms shall be well acquainted with the statutory & regulatory environment in the defence sector, IPR, contract management and international guidelines and possess relevant experience.
[Mode of proof: Experience certificates in relevant field]
ii) The legal Firms shall be on the panel of at least one Central or State Govt. organization /PSU/Govt. Autonomous Organization/ Govt. Institution/ Statutory Body at least for any one year in 2022-23/2023-24/2024-25. [Mode of Proof: Copy of empanelment order/contract along with the certificate from the respective organization showing that the firm had been empaneled during the relevant period]
iii) The legal Firms shall have adequate legal, administrative and financial capability to undertake the tasks assigned.
iv) The legal Firms should be registered in India and should have completed operation for a minimum of 5(five) years since its inception/ formation.
[Mode of Proof: Copy of the firm's Registration Certificate along with partners showing that the firm had completed 5 years period]
v) The Legal Firm should have an annual turnover of not less than Rs. 5 Crore (Rupees Five Crore only) per year for the past 3 (three) consecutive years (i.e. FY 2022-23, 2023-24 & 2024-25) and a certificate to this effect should be submitted from the Auditor of the Firm.
[Mode of Proof: Copy of profit and loss account of the firm for each of the 3 years authenticated by Chartered Accountant]
vi) Further, any Bidder which has been barred by Government of India/ any State Government/ Government agency, Supreme Court/High Court or any lower court within last three years or the bar exists as on date of Eol submission, would not be eligible to submit an Eol. An undertaking stating the same must be submitted along with the Eol.
[Mode of proof: Undertaking in the prescribed format]
Tenure of Empanelment: The initial empanelment will be for one year or until further orders whichever is earlier. The same may be extended on satisfactory performance for two terms of one year each at the same quoted rate.
How to Apply: Legal firms may apply by filling out the prescribed application form attached to the notification.
Last Date to Apply: July 4, 2025, by 5:00 p.m.
