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Tribunal Clerking

Ministry of Justice

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

22 Oct 2026 at 10:55

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Justice, through HM Courts & Tribunals Service, is planning a fully managed tribunal clerking service for in-person and hybrid hearings across England. Hearings may take place at courts, hospitals, community venues and other approved locations. The supplier will be responsible for providing a complete, reliable and appropriately assured clerking service so tribunal panels and participants can conduct hearings effectively. This is an outcome-based service: the requirement is for a managed service, not the supply of temporary workers or individual clerks. The service covers administration and operational support for tribunal hearings.

The process is at planning: HMCTS has stated its intention to procure, but no competition has commenced and there is no invitation to tender. The buyer plans to use a single lot. The estimated value is £1.8 million excluding VAT (£2.16 million including VAT). The anticipated contract period runs from 1 June 2027 to 31 May 2030. HMCTS expects a further procurement notice by 12 January 2027. Before then, it plans a virtual market-engagement event on 12 November 2026, from 10:00 to 12:00 GMT, to discuss the requirement, delivery and commercial models, procurement options and market capacity. Participation is voluntary and will not affect any future evaluation.

The requirement is likely to suit providers with experience in managed services, workforce management, operational support, business process outsourcing, hearing support, scheduling or resource deployment. Suppliers will need the capacity to recruit, vet, train, schedule, deploy, supervise and manage a workforce, and to take accountability for its performance across a service covering multiple types of venue and hearing format. HMCTS is seeking feedback on suppliers’ capability and capacity, possible delivery models and commercial approaches, routes to market and likely competition. This engagement is intended to help shape the future procurement strategy, so suppliers able to explain workable operating models and demonstrate reliable, assured service delivery are well placed to contribute. Small and medium-sized enterprises are considered suitable for the requirement.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Tribunal Clerking

Notice Description

The Authority requires a fully managed Tribunal Clerking Service to support the effective delivery of in-person and hybrid tribunal hearings at court, hospital, community and other approved venues across England. The Supplier shall deliver an outcome-based service and shall be accountable for the recruitment, vetting, training, scheduling, deployment, supervision, management and performance of all Supplier Personnel. The Authority is not procuring temporary workers or individual personnel and shall not supervise, direct or control Supplier Personnel as workers. The required outcome is that accepted hearings receive a complete, reliable and appropriately assured clerking service so that the tribunal panel and participants can conduct the hearing effectively.

Planning Information

Tribunal Clerking Services Market Engagement Notice HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is undertaking preliminary market engagement in relation to a potential future requirement for the provision of Tribunal Clerking Services across England. The purpose of this engagement is to better understand the capabilities and capacity of the managed services market and to inform the development of HMCTS's procurement strategy and route to market. No procurement has commenced, and this market engagement exercise does not constitute a call for competition. HMCTS is seeking participation from organisations with experience in delivering managed services, workforce management solutions, operational support services, business process outsourcing (BPO), hearing support services, scheduling and resource deployment services, or similar service delivery models. Market Engagement Event HMCTS will host a virtual market engagement event on: Date: 12 November 2026 Time: 10:00 to 12:00 (GMT) Location: Microsoft Teams The session will provide an overview of the proposed requirement and will seek supplier feedback on: The proposed service requirement and operating model. Supplier capability and capacity to deliver the service. Potential delivery models and commercial approaches. Routes to market and procurement options. Market appetite and likely levels of competition. The engagement exercise will assist HMCTS in understanding current market capability and identifying the most appropriate commercial approach to meet future service requirements. How to Register Organisations wishing to attend should email: HMCTSCommercial@justice.gov.uk with the subject line: Tribunal Clerking Market Engagement The email should include the following details for each attendee: Full name Job title Email address Following receipt of the registration request, HMCTS will issue a Microsoft Teams invitation to the nominated attendees. Important Information Participation in this market engagement exercise is entirely voluntary and will not form part of any future evaluation process. Attendance, non-attendance, or any information provided during the event will not confer any advantage or disadvantage in any future procurement activity. HMCTS reserves the right to amend, postpone or cancel the engagement event and any subsequent procurement activity at its discretion. HMCTS looks forward to engaging with the market and welcoming interested organisations to the event.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078d9e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099854-2026
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
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

CPV Codes

75100000 - Administration services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,800,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Oct 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
12 Jan 20273 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jun 2027 - 31 May 2030 3-4 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
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)

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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.

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