Award

Language Services - Translation and Transcription

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

AwardUpdate

01 Dec 2025 at 09:07

Award

12 May 2021 at 09:38

Tender

21 Oct 2020 at 13:51

Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Justice has completed the procurement process for the provision of translation and transcription services, awarding a contract to thebigword Group Ltd. The contract, valued at £18,160,000, will support the Ministry and its associated entities across England, Wales, and Scotland until 28th October 2027, with a potential extension to 2028. The services encompass broad translation and transcription tasks, including converting written and audio materials across multiple languages, and adapting content to various formats such as braille and large print. This contract falls under the "Translation services" category and was procured through an open procedure, catering to suppliers from the United Kingdom and beyond.

This procurement offers significant opportunities for businesses in the translation and transcription industry, particularly those capable of handling large-scale, multilingual projects. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) are especially encouraged, as the suitability criteria favour such organisations. With a broad delivery address range and a diverse scope of services required, businesses with capacities in adaptive formats and rapid project turnaround are likely to benefit the most. The extension option further enhances the prospects for long-term engagement and growth for the chosen supplier.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Notice Title

Language Services - Translation and Transcription

Notice Description

This is a contract award notice following the procurement for the provision of translation and transcription services for the Ministry of Justice, its executive agencies, its arm's length bodies and any other government body. The services include the translation of written material and transcription of oral material from a source language into a target language within a specified timescale and format as requested by MoJ entities and other bodies across England, Wales and Scotland. The scope of services includes: - translation of written material from one language to another as text, - transcription of audio files, tapes and other electronic media into written and/or electronic text documents in the same or different languages, - transcription of written documents and/or electronic media into alternative formations such as (but not limited to) braille, easy read, large print, text to audio and typesetting. The maximum term available is to 28/10/2028, but the current contract is due to expire 28/10/2027.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-0a23072d-53d6-4c48-bebc-f9e823243c94
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/486b4d5e-c584-4de6-8f40-6c08da7ee117
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure (above threshold)
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security


CPV Codes

79530000 - Translation services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£18,160,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£18,160,000 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 Dec 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
23 Nov 2020Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
26 Apr 20214 years ago
Contract Period
26 Apr 2021 - 28 Oct 2028 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
Additional Buyers

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE.

Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LEEDS
Postcode
LS1 4AP
Post Town
Leeds
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

THEBIGWORD GROUP

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-b5fd17-0a23072d-53d6-4c48-bebc-f9e823243c94-2025-12-01T09:07:08Z",
    "date": "2025-12-01T09:07:08Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-b5fd17-0a23072d-53d6-4c48-bebc-f9e823243c94",
    "language": "en",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "tender": {
        "id": "tender_224551/959607",
        "title": "Language Services - Translation and Transcription",
        "description": "This is a contract award notice following the procurement for the provision of translation and transcription services for the Ministry of Justice, its executive agencies, its arm's length bodies and any other government body. The services include the translation of written material and transcription of oral material from a source language into a target language within a specified timescale and format as requested by MoJ entities and other bodies across England, Wales and Scotland. The scope of services includes: - translation of written material from one language to another as text, - transcription of audio files, tapes and other electronic media into written and/or electronic text documents in the same or different languages, - transcription of written documents and/or electronic media into alternative formations such as (but not limited to) braille, easy read, large print, text to audio and typesetting. The maximum term available is to 28/10/2028, but the current contract is due to expire 28/10/2027.",
        "datePublished": "2020-10-21T14:51:36+01:00",
        "status": "complete",
        "classification": {
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "id": "79530000",
            "description": "Translation services"
        },
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "countryName": "British Oversea Territories"
                    },
                    {
                        "countryName": "Channel Islands"
                    },
                    {
                        "countryName": "Europe"
                    },
                    {
                        "countryName": "Isle of Man"
                    },
                    {
                        "countryName": "Rest of the World"
                    },
                    {
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "countryName": "British Oversea Territories"
                    },
                    {
                        "countryName": "Channel Islands"
                    },
                    {
                        "countryName": "Europe"
                    },
                    {
                        "countryName": "Isle of Man"
                    },
                    {
                        "countryName": "Rest of the World"
                    },
                    {
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "countryName": "British Oversea Territories"
                    },
                    {
                        "countryName": "Channel Islands"
                    },
                    {
                        "countryName": "Europe"
                    },
                    {
                        "countryName": "Isle of Man"
                    },
                    {
                        "countryName": "Rest of the World"
                    },
                    {
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ]
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amount": 18160000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "procurementMethod": "open",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure (above threshold)",
        "tenderPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2020-11-23T12:00:00Z"
        },
        "contractPeriod": {
            "startDate": "2021-04-27T00:00:00+01:00",
            "endDate": "2028-10-28T23:59:59+01:00"
        },
        "suitability": {
            "sme": true,
            "vcse": true
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "documentType": "tenderNotice",
                "description": "Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder",
                "url": "https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/dd0ed314-0084-4c1f-83fb-b1c6e56f8198",
                "datePublished": "2020-10-21T14:51:36+01:00",
                "format": "text/html",
                "language": "en"
            },
            {
                "id": "2",
                "documentType": "tenderNotice",
                "description": "MoJ e-Sourcing Portal - Jaggaer (formerly Bravo)",
                "url": "https://ministryofjusticecommercial.bravosolution.co.uk"
            }
        ]
    },
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-CFS-92753",
            "name": "Ministry of Justice.",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Ministry of Justice."
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "5 Wellington Place",
                "locality": "Leeds",
                "postalCode": "LS1 4AP",
                "countryName": "England"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "MoJProcurementLang@Justice.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ]
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-CFS-39199",
            "name": "Ministry of Justice.",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Ministry of Justice."
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "102 Petty France",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "SW1H 9AJ",
                "countryName": "England"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "MoJProcurementLang@Justice.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ]
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-CFS-171372",
            "name": "thebigword Group Ltd",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "thebigword Group Ltd"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Link-Up House, Wortley Ring Road, Lower Wortley, Leeds, LS12 6AB"
            },
            "details": {
                "scale": "sme",
                "vcse": false
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ]
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-CFS-183111",
            "name": "Ministry of Justice",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Ministry of Justice"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "102 Petty France",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "SW1H 9AJ",
                "countryName": "England"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "MoJProcurementLang@Justice.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-CFS-183111",
        "name": "Ministry of Justice"
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "ocds-b5fd17-0a23072d-53d6-4c48-bebc-f9e823243c94-1",
            "status": "active",
            "date": "2021-04-27T00:00:00+01:00",
            "datePublished": "2021-05-12T10:38:51+01:00",
            "value": {
                "amount": 18160000,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-CFS-171372",
                    "name": "thebigword Group Ltd"
                }
            ],
            "contractPeriod": {
                "startDate": "2021-04-27T00:00:00+01:00",
                "endDate": "2028-10-28T23:59:59+01:00"
            },
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "description": "Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder",
                    "url": "https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/486b4d5e-c584-4de6-8f40-6c08da7ee117",
                    "datePublished": "2021-05-12T10:38:51+01:00",
                    "format": "text/html",
                    "language": "en",
                    "dateModified": "2025-12-01T09:07:08Z"
                },
                {
                    "id": "2",
                    "documentType": "tenderNotice",
                    "description": "MoJ esourcing website",
                    "url": "https://ministryofjusticecommercial.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html"
                },
                {
                    "id": "3",
                    "description": "n/a",
                    "url": "https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/1a7cc9b7-fb37-4893-a44d-b437bfbe2b49",
                    "format": "application/pdf"
                },
                {
                    "id": "4",
                    "description": "MoJ esourcing website",
                    "url": "https://ministryofjusticecommercial.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html"
                }
            ]
        }
    ]
}