Tender

Witness Service (2023 - 2027)

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

07 Feb 2022 at 22:45

Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Justice is facilitating a procurement process for the Witness Service contract, covering a period from 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2027. This public procurement falls within the justice services industry and has an estimated value of £47.8 million. The procurement is currently in the Open procedure stage, with submissions due by 18th March 2022. Located in London, UK, the project aims to provide enhanced support to witnesses during trials, offering them necessary information and emotional assistance when giving evidence.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in support services within the justice sector. Companies with expertise in witness support, legal services, or trauma-informed care are encouraged to bid. The competitive nature of the tender allows for potential growth in the provision of a much-needed service, aligning with the Ministry of Justice's goal to deliver effective and responsive witness support. Bidders can register and submit their proposals digitally through the Ministry's e-Sourcing Portal, ensuring ease of access and participation.

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

Witness Service (2023 - 2027)

Notice Description

This notice launches the competition for the provision of the Witness Service contract (2023 - 2027). The Witness Service offers a basic level of support to all witnesses, including: Providing information to witnesses about their rights and the process of giving evidence. Greeting witnesses on the day of trial, acting as a generally supportive presence and supporting HMTCS staff escorting witnesses through court buildings (including the use of special entrances for witnesses) and relaying messages from the court room. The service also offers witnesses a visit to the court building before their trial so they can familiarise themselves with the environment. Outreach support' is additionally offered for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses (VIW). This comprises initial meetings away from the court environment to help prepare them and manage their expectations about the process.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The Witness Service is an existing service which will be recommissioned. The Witness Service has operated in all Criminal Courts in England and Wales since 2003, with a combination of volunteers and paid staff providing emotional and practical support to prosecution and defence witnesses to enable them to give their best evidence. The future service will be materially similar to the current model. However, we will also examine options for future improvement through effective engagement with the market. The Ministry of Justice is seeking a provider to provide support guided by the following principles, reflecting our vision for the service: To continue to deliver a service for witnesses attending court - building on the existing model for support and the significant benefits it provides to witnesses. To provide the service flexibility to better respond to new challenges, including pandemic-like scenarios, future use of Nightingale courts, Extended Operating Hours and support witnesses in giving remote and pre-recorded evidence. To improve the service at a detailed level, learning lessons from victim policy in recent years. This will include working to create a more trauma-informed approach, improving the accessibility of the service and improving partnership working with victim advocates. To create opportunities within the service design to test ambitious options for future improvement of the service, including through digital support. The anticipated quantity or scope is an estimate of the potential value of the contract and does not in any way guarantee any level of expenditure. The estimated cost range is real in 2022, does not account for inflation. All values should be considered as indicative only.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-031445
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003498-2022
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

75 - Administration, defence and social security services


CPV Codes

75230000 - Justice services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£47,800,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 Feb 20224 years ago
Submission Deadline
18 Mar 2022Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2023 - 31 Mar 2027 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
shirley.assimeng@justice.gov.uk
Contact Phone
+44 02033343555

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1H 9AJ
Post Town
South West London
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

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-h6vhtk-031445-2022-02-07T22:45:12Z",
    "date": "2022-02-07T22:45:12Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-031445",
    "description": "The services being awarded are listed within Schedule 3 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR) and so pursuant to regulation 74 will be subject to the light regime under which the Authority is not obliged to comply with the full requirements of the PCR. The Authority will conduct an Open procedure and will comply with its obligations of equal treatment, transparency, non-discrimination and proportionality at all times during the procurement. 2. QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT: Details of the objective criteria for selecting a winning bidder will be set out in the procurement documents. 3. ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL ASSESSMENT Details of the Authority's approach to Economic and Financial assessment will be set out in the procurement documents. 4 AWARD CRITERIA: The award criteria will be based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT), evaluated on a Price per Quality Point (PQP) basis. Variant bids will not be permitted 5.REGISTRATION: The Authority will be performing events through its e-Sourcing Portal known as Jaggaer. The e-Sourcing Portal is an online application that allows all potential suppliers to create and submit their responses to any SQ and tenders via the internet. Bidders Instructions to express an interest in this tender 1). Login to the Portal with the username/password. 2) Click the 'PQQs / ITTs Open To All Suppliers' link. (These are pre-qualification questionnaires or invitations to tender open to any registered supplier). 3) Click on the relevant SQ/ ITT to access the content using the following: Project Code - prj_7250 ITT Code - ITT_5936 4). Click the Express Interest button at the top of the page. This will move the ITT into your My ITTs page. This is a secure area reserved for your projects only. 5) You can now access any attachments by clicking Buyer Attachments in the ITT Details box. Instructions on how to submit a tender will be provided.",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-031445",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "32014L0024",
            "scheme": "CELEX"
        },
        "title": "Witness Service (2023 - 2027)",
        "status": "active",
        "classification": {
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "id": "75230000",
            "description": "Justice services"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "description": "This notice launches the competition for the provision of the Witness Service contract (2023 - 2027). The Witness Service offers a basic level of support to all witnesses, including: Providing information to witnesses about their rights and the process of giving evidence. Greeting witnesses on the day of trial, acting as a generally supportive presence and supporting HMTCS staff escorting witnesses through court buildings (including the use of special entrances for witnesses) and relaying messages from the court room. The service also offers witnesses a visit to the court building before their trial so they can familiarise themselves with the environment. Outreach support' is additionally offered for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses (VIW). This comprises initial meetings away from the court environment to help prepare them and manage their expectations about the process.",
        "value": {
            "amount": 47800000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "description": "The Witness Service is an existing service which will be recommissioned. The Witness Service has operated in all Criminal Courts in England and Wales since 2003, with a combination of volunteers and paid staff providing emotional and practical support to prosecution and defence witnesses to enable them to give their best evidence. The future service will be materially similar to the current model. However, we will also examine options for future improvement through effective engagement with the market. The Ministry of Justice is seeking a provider to provide support guided by the following principles, reflecting our vision for the service: To continue to deliver a service for witnesses attending court - building on the existing model for support and the significant benefits it provides to witnesses. To provide the service flexibility to better respond to new challenges, including pandemic-like scenarios, future use of Nightingale courts, Extended Operating Hours and support witnesses in giving remote and pre-recorded evidence. To improve the service at a detailed level, learning lessons from victim policy in recent years. This will include working to create a more trauma-informed approach, improving the accessibility of the service and improving partnership working with victim advocates. To create opportunities within the service design to test ambitious options for future improvement of the service, including through digital support. The anticipated quantity or scope is an estimate of the potential value of the contract and does not in any way guarantee any level of expenditure. The estimated cost range is real in 2022, does not account for inflation. All values should be considered as indicative only.",
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2023-04-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2027-03-31T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "hasRenewal": false,
                "submissionTerms": {
                    "variantPolicy": "notAllowed"
                },
                "hasOptions": false,
                "status": "active"
            }
        ],
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UK"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "participationFees": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "type": [
                    "document"
                ]
            }
        ],
        "submissionMethod": [
            "electronicSubmission",
            "written"
        ],
        "submissionMethodDetails": "https://ministryofjusticecommercial.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html",
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "economic",
                "documentType": "economicSelectionCriteria"
            },
            {
                "id": "technical",
                "documentType": "technicalSelectionCriteria"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethod": "open",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure",
        "coveredBy": [
            "GPA"
        ],
        "tenderPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2022-03-18T12:00:00Z"
        },
        "submissionTerms": {
            "languages": [
                "en"
            ]
        },
        "awardPeriod": {
            "startDate": "2022-02-07T00:00:00Z"
        },
        "bidOpening": {
            "date": "2022-02-07T00:00:00Z"
        },
        "hasRecurrence": false
    },
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-6365",
            "name": "Ministry of Justice",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Ministry of Justice"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "102 Petty France",
                "locality": "London",
                "region": "UK",
                "postalCode": "SW1H 9AJ",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "telephone": "+44 02033343555",
                "email": "Shirley.Assimeng@justice.gov.uk",
                "url": "https://ministryofjusticecommercial.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://ministryofjusticecommercial.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "TED_CA_TYPE",
                        "id": "MINISTRY",
                        "description": "Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "COFOG",
                        "id": "10",
                        "description": "Social protection"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-3615",
            "name": "Ministry of Justice",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Ministry of Justice"
            },
            "address": {
                "locality": "London",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "roles": [
                "reviewBody"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-FTS-6365",
        "name": "Ministry of Justice"
    },
    "language": "en"
}