Tender

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Translation, Transcription & Alternative Format Services

Ministry of Justice

This public procurement record has 6 releases in its history.

TenderCancellation

02 Sep 2026 at 14:56

UK12 - Procurement Termination Notice
PlanningUpdate

06 Feb 2026 at 15:18

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

11 Dec 2025 at 11:58

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

11 Dec 2025 at 11:57

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

11 Dec 2025 at 11:08

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Planning

23 May 2025 at 16:26

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Justice sought Translation, Transcription and Alternative Format Services for the Ministry, its executive agencies, arm’s-length bodies and associated partners with jurisdiction across England, Wales and Scotland. The requirement covers written and spoken language translation, transcription, and producing information in alternative formats. It is a public-sector language and accessible-information services contract, with translation services and writing agency services as the relevant classifications. Delivery is required across the United Kingdom. The single requirement was suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. Services would support the justice system and related public bodies, rather than a single local authority or site.

The process reached tender stage, when the buyer invited offers, but it was subsequently withdrawn and the procurement was abandoned. It was a single-lot services procurement under the Public Contracts Act 2023, with a gross estimated value of £18,000,000 (£15,000,000 excluding tax). The intended contract period was 29 October 2027 to 28 October 2031, with potential extension to 28 October 2034 and renewal rights. The market-engagement questionnaire deadline was 19 March 2026 at 23:59 UTC. The procurement was terminated on 24 August 2026 because the anticipated timetable for re-procurement had been materially deferred. The Ministry is reviewing its future requirements and procurement approach; any replacement will be a separate exercise.

This opportunity suited suppliers able to provide coordinated language services across England, Wales and Scotland for a central government justice customer and its wider network. Relevant capability included professional translation, transcription of recorded or spoken material, and conversion of information into alternative formats for accessibility. Suppliers would need the operational capacity to support multiple public bodies and manage varied service requests across a national footprint. Experience of public-sector, legal, justice or other regulated work would have been relevant to the requirement’s intended users, particularly where accuracy, confidentiality, accessibility and consistent service delivery are important. The stated SME suitability also indicated that smaller specialist providers could be eligible to compete, potentially using delivery partners where appropriate.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Translation, Transcription & Alternative Format Services

Notice Description

The service provider will deliver Translation, Transcription and Alternative Format Services to the MoJ, its Executive Agencies, Arm's Length Bodies (ALBs) and other associated partners with jurisdiction over England, Wales and Scotland.

Planning Information

The MoJ is interested in understanding the market's capacity and capability to bid for, and provide, these services and plans to use early market engagement to help shape the commercial strategy and operational model to meet future justice system needs for Translation, Transcription and Alternative Format Services. The purpose of this notice is to enable suppliers to express interest, and register with us to catch up on already held market engagement event and prepare for the next upcoming market engagement event. Interested parties are required to complete the following actions: 1. Register for an account through the MoJ Sourcing Portal at https://ministryofjusticecommercial.bravosolution.co.uk 2. Navigate to the left side menu and click on 'PQQs Open to All Suppliers' > find and click on 'PQQ_543 - prj_14617-Translation & Transcription Services - Market Engagement' - for the avoidance of doubt this is not an actual PQQ just a space on our sourcing system to coordinate market engagement activities. There are no mandatory actions to take. 3. Suppliers must express an interest by clicking 'Express interest' and will then be able to view the detail relating to market engagement already undertaken and the upcoming session. The 'PQQ_543 - prj_14617-Translation & Transcription Services - Market Engagement' area will be the forum used to store previous sessions slides and recordings and communicate the second market engagement event which will be held on 5 March 2026, on MS Teams. The Engagement deadline in this notice reflects the closing date for questionnaire submission by Suppliers following the session.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05246e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083118-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK12 - Procurement Termination Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

CPV Codes

79530000 - Translation services

92312211 - Writing agency services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£15,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 May 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
29 Oct 2027 - 28 Oct 2031 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Withdrawn
Lots Status
Withdrawn
Awards Status
Cancelled
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
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
LONDON
Postcode
SW1H 9AJ
Postcode Area
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

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...