Planning

Justice-wide Intermediary Services - Preliminary Market Engagement

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

09 Apr 2026 at 10:04

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

08 Apr 2026 at 12:02

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

28 Nov 2025 at 11:36

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Justice in the United Kingdom is currently in the planning phase of a public procurement process concerning Justice-wide Intermediary Services. This process is focused on engaging the market for services related to justice, law-court administrative services, and police services across the UK. The ministry has planned an online market engagement event for 29th April 2026 to explore how these services could be delivered, with registration required by 28th April 2026. This phase includes a preliminary market engagement notice published on 9th April 2026, with further market engagement expected until March 2027. The procurement, valued at approximately £100 million to £120 million, aims to cover these vital services from April 2029 to March 2035, under a light-touch regime and is above the threshold value, making it suitable for various business sizes, including SMEs and VCSEs.

This market engagement by the Ministry of Justice offers significant growth opportunities for businesses specialising in communication services for vulnerable groups within the justice system. The procurement targets entities involved in providing justice services, law-courts-related administrative services, and police services. Companies that can deliver intermediary functions—particularly those experienced with frameworks like the HMCTS Appointed Intermediary Services and the Witness Intermediary Scheme—will find this tender well-matched to their expertise. Given its sizeable budget and national scope, this initiative is ideal for businesses aiming to expand their footprint in the public sector by offering innovative solutions to enhance the justice system's accessibility and efficiency.

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

Notice Information

Notice Title

Justice-wide Intermediary Services - Preliminary Market Engagement

Notice Description

The MoJ is currently exploring the future of intermediary services provision and invites the market to participate in preliminary market engagement, prior to any procurement process. The MoJ is exploring how these services may be delivered across the Ministry and the wider justice sector. Services being considered include those currently provided under the HMCTS Appointed Intermediary Services Frameworks (HAIS) and the Witness Intermediary Scheme (WIS), in addition to ad hoc intermediary services provided to support His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and the Parole Board. You can find out more about the current HAIS arrangements at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hmcts-intermediary-services#about-hmcts-intermediary-services You can find out more about the current Witness Intermediary Scheme at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ministry-of-justice-witness-intermediary-scheme Intermediaries are impartial communication specialists whose primary responsibility is to enable complete, coherent and accurate communication with vulnerable witnesses, defendants and parties in the justice system, in order to improve the quality of evidence and facilitate the vulnerable person's understanding and participation in the proceedings. The role of an intermediary includes making an assessment and reporting, orally or in writing, about the communication needs of the vulnerable person and the steps that should be taken to meet those needs. It also includes implementing those measures, at a court hearing or interview, for example at a solicitor's office or police station.

Planning Information

The purpose of this notice is to enable suppliers to find out how to participate in an online market engagement event planned for 29th April 2026. This event will take the form of an online webinar or 'live event' using Microsoft Teams. Interested parties are required to register an expression of interest by emailing intermediariesproject@justice.gov.uk Joining instructions will be issued to those that have expressed an interest in attending before 28th April 2026. A recording of the event will be made available via the MoJ eSourcing Portal after 29th April 2026. Your details will be held for the purposes of alerting you to market engagement activity, including the publication of information on the MoJ eSourcing Portal. This is the second phase of market engagement relating to Justice-wide intermediary services. The MoJ has previously conducted engagement through a market engagement questionnaire. Materials published to support that first phase of engagement will be available via the MoJ eSourcing Portal alongside the recording of the event. The MoJ intends to take undertake further market engagement following the event on 29th April 2026. The engagement deadline date of 31st March 2027 contained in this notice is an estimate of when we intend all market engagement activity will be completed. To view the recording and supporting information after the event interested parties are required to register an account via the MoJ eSourcing Portal at: https://ministryofjusticecommercial.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html If you are unsure whether you are already registered on the MoJ eSourcing Portal, you can email the support team: esourcing@justice.gov.uk Note that a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) will be used as a mechanism for sharing information, and no feedback or responses to engagement will affect your ability to tender for contracts in the future. Responses at this stage are not evaluated or attributed to you or your organisation in future procurement stages. If your organisation does not wish to participate in the market engagement event or subsequent events, this will not prevent your organisation from being able to participate in any subsequent procurement. The information contained in this notice is only indicative of current thinking and is neither exhaustive nor binding and MOJ reserves the right to amend it at the time of issue of any further notices or at any other time. MoJ reserves the right not to proceed with any procurement. Nothing in this notice shall constitute a commitment to procuring. Any and all costs associated with the production of a response to market engagement must be borne by your organisation. MoJ will not contribute in any way to meeting costs of any response. MoJ expects that all responses to this engagement opportunity will be provided by the supplier in good faith, to the best of its ability, in light of the information available at the time of response.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05eaec
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032240-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

CPV Codes

75230000 - Justice services

75231100 - Law-courts-related administrative services

75241100 - Police services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£100,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Apr 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
11 Jul 20272 years to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2029 - 31 Mar 2035 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
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
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

Further Information

Notice Documents

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-05eaec-2026-04-09T11:04:51+01:00",
    "date": "2026-04-09T11:04:51+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05eaec",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PDNN-2773-HVYN",
            "name": "Ministry of Justice",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PDNN-2773-HVYN"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "102 Petty France",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "SW1H 9AJ",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKI32"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Commercial",
                "email": "intermediariesproject@justice.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/procurement",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PDNN-2773-HVYN",
        "name": "Ministry of Justice"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "The purpose of this notice is to enable suppliers to find out how to participate in an online market engagement event planned for 29th April 2026. This event will take the form of an online webinar or 'live event' using Microsoft Teams. Interested parties are required to register an expression of interest by emailing intermediariesproject@justice.gov.uk Joining instructions will be issued to those that have expressed an interest in attending before 28th April 2026. A recording of the event will be made available via the MoJ eSourcing Portal after 29th April 2026. Your details will be held for the purposes of alerting you to market engagement activity, including the publication of information on the MoJ eSourcing Portal. This is the second phase of market engagement relating to Justice-wide intermediary services. The MoJ has previously conducted engagement through a market engagement questionnaire. Materials published to support that first phase of engagement will be available via the MoJ eSourcing Portal alongside the recording of the event. The MoJ intends to take undertake further market engagement following the event on 29th April 2026. The engagement deadline date of 31st March 2027 contained in this notice is an estimate of when we intend all market engagement activity will be completed. To view the recording and supporting information after the event interested parties are required to register an account via the MoJ eSourcing Portal at: https://ministryofjusticecommercial.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html If you are unsure whether you are already registered on the MoJ eSourcing Portal, you can email the support team: esourcing@justice.gov.uk Note that a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) will be used as a mechanism for sharing information, and no feedback or responses to engagement will affect your ability to tender for contracts in the future. Responses at this stage are not evaluated or attributed to you or your organisation in future procurement stages. If your organisation does not wish to participate in the market engagement event or subsequent events, this will not prevent your organisation from being able to participate in any subsequent procurement. The information contained in this notice is only indicative of current thinking and is neither exhaustive nor binding and MOJ reserves the right to amend it at the time of issue of any further notices or at any other time. MoJ reserves the right not to proceed with any procurement. Nothing in this notice shall constitute a commitment to procuring. Any and all costs associated with the production of a response to market engagement must be borne by your organisation. MoJ will not contribute in any way to meeting costs of any response. MoJ expects that all responses to this engagement opportunity will be provided by the supplier in good faith, to the best of its ability, in light of the information available at the time of response.",
                "dueDate": "2027-03-31T23:59:59+01:00",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "078016-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078016-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-11-28T11:36:12Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "031924-2026",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031924-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-04-08T13:02:06+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "032240-2026",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032240-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-04-09T11:04:51+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "prj_14821",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Justice-wide Intermediary Services - Preliminary Market Engagement",
        "description": "The MoJ is currently exploring the future of intermediary services provision and invites the market to participate in preliminary market engagement, prior to any procurement process. The MoJ is exploring how these services may be delivered across the Ministry and the wider justice sector. Services being considered include those currently provided under the HMCTS Appointed Intermediary Services Frameworks (HAIS) and the Witness Intermediary Scheme (WIS), in addition to ad hoc intermediary services provided to support His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and the Parole Board. You can find out more about the current HAIS arrangements at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hmcts-intermediary-services#about-hmcts-intermediary-services You can find out more about the current Witness Intermediary Scheme at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ministry-of-justice-witness-intermediary-scheme Intermediaries are impartial communication specialists whose primary responsibility is to enable complete, coherent and accurate communication with vulnerable witnesses, defendants and parties in the justice system, in order to improve the quality of evidence and facilitate the vulnerable person's understanding and participation in the proceedings. The role of an intermediary includes making an assessment and reporting, orally or in writing, about the communication needs of the vulnerable person and the steps that should be taken to meet those needs. It also includes implementing those measures, at a court hearing or interview, for example at a solicitor's office or police station.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "75230000",
                        "description": "Justice services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "75231100",
                        "description": "Law-courts-related administrative services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "75241100",
                        "description": "Police services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 120000000,
            "amount": 100000000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "specialRegime": [
            "lightTouch"
        ],
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true,
                    "vcse": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2029-04-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2035-03-31T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "status": "planning"
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2027-07-11T23:59:59+01:00"
        },
        "status": "planning"
    },
    "language": "en"
}