# CORP168 Legal Advice for MARS

> Contract award record from UK public-sector procurement sources.

## Key facts

- Public buyer: [Somerset NHS Foundation Trust](/buyers/somerset-nhs-foundation-trust/contract-awards)
- Contract winner: [Freeths LLP](/contract-winners/freeths/public-sector-contract-awards)
- Award value: £33,000
- Tender value: £33,000
- Award date: 4 August 2026
- Published: 5 August 2026
- Contract start: 3 July 2026
- Contract end: 2 July 2027
- Stage: awarded
- Procurement category: services
- Notice ID: d9c4f5b1-f48d-4ad0-a25a-c91a1138ef58-909521
- OCID: ocds-b5fd17-e1a8026e-ba8e-4991-ad0c-332290f65a8b

## Description

A Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme \(MARS\) is a form of voluntary severance, designed to enable employees to leave their employment voluntarily in return for a severance payment\. Critical to the MARS is for the employee to seek independent legal advice which is paid for by the Trust\. The Trust has awarded a call-off contract with a single provider using an agreed pricing structure which limits duplication and saves time and money whilst still achieving the required level of independence\.

## Related contract awards

- [EFM163 Water, Waste Water and Ancillary Services](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-4cbb0df2-e621-4467-9f3f-6f76fe531d6a): Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
- [x10 Rise and Recliners for Labour Ward](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-b855c9a4-3a6e-4185-a0c0-20eb7003f79f): Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
- [Vivid Rise and Recliners for Beacon Centre](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-5b4a597d-1730-4e73-a89f-55202b3696e5): Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
- [RMCB Legal Support Services](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-a070c35e-fc20-41fb-83f9-86dccab35ace): Runnymede Borough Council
- [Legal Support for Demolition Works](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-afe4e5a1-4e51-4278-90e8-fccbb809ca4a): WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY
- [Legal work for Leicestershire County Council Pension Fund's property portfolio\.](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-62541d38-a9c3-4772-bde9-ed2cbe581f5a): Leicestershire County Council

## Source

[View the original notice on Contracts Finder](https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/d9c4f5b1-f48d-4ad0-a25a-c91a1138ef58-909521)