Published date: 29 January 2021
Awarded contract - This means that the contract has been awarded to a supplier.
Contract summary
Industry
Expert witness services - 71319000
Location of contract
London
Value of contract
£160,015
Procurement reference
GLD030 2020
Published date
29 January 2021
Closing date
1 June 2020
Closing time
5pm
Contract start date
13 August 2020
Contract end date
27 November 2020
Contract type
Service contract
Procedure type
Single tender action (below threshold)
A direct contract with a single supplier, without competition.
This procedure can be used for procurements below the relevant contract value threshold.
Contract is suitable for SMEs?
No
Contract is suitable for VCSEs?
No
Description
Ajmalul Hossain QC via Selborne Chambers Limited is acting as the Secretary of State for the Home Department ("SSHD") Expert Witness on foreign law (specifically Bangladeshi nationality/citizenship law) in three separate appeals against deprivation of citizenship in the Special Immigration Appeals Commission: C3, C4 and C7.
Although three options were identified, there were a number of reasons why Ajmalul Hossain QC was considered to be the only viable option to support the SSHD's position in C3, C4 and C7:
1) Ajmalul Hossain QC is an experienced barrister in Bangladesh who has regularly appeared before the Supreme Court. Neither of the other two possible experts had experience in Bangladeshi Courts.
2) Ajmalul Hossain QC's position as a QC working regularly in England and Singapore would ensure that the reports presented foreign law in a clear and consistent manner which has previously been an issue.
3) The SSHD considered that Ajmalul Hossain QC's experience as an advocate in the UK Courts provided him with an insight into the process of cross-examination and demonstrated his ability to advocate successfully in a pressurised situation.
Given the above set of specific criteria, the pool of possible experts in Bangladeshi nationality law who practised at a high level in the Bangladeshi Courts and were able to write fluently in English was necessarily small. In addition, the directions for C3, C4 and C7 were expedited in order to ensure that a decision on their deprivation appeals was obtained promptly on the basis of the conditions in which C3 and C4 were living. This meant that the SSHD had a relatively short period to identify and instruct an expert to produce three detailed reports on a complex area of Bangladeshi nationality law, and who was available and willing to appear on behalf of the SSHD at a five day preliminary issues hearing in November 2020.
Award information
Awarded date
12 August 2020
Contract start date
13 August 2020
Contract end date
27 November 2020
Total value of contract
£160,015
This contract was awarded to 1 supplier.
Ajmalul Hossain QC via Selborne Chambers Limited
Address
10 Essex Street
London
WC2R 3AAReference
No reference - other
Value of contract
£160,015
Supplier is SME?
No
Supplier is VCSE?
No
About the buyer
Contact name
Sreeya Dey
Address
102 Petty France
Westminster
LONDON
SW1H 9GL
England
Telephone
020 7210 3142
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Closing: 1 June 2020, 5pm
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