--- title: "Witness Service (2023-2027)" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-42213f71-01a4-440d-a013-3b573a360226" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-42213f71-01a4-440d-a013-3b573a360226" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-42213f71-01a4-440d-a013-3b573a360226.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-42213f71-01a4-440d-a013-3b573a360226.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "MINISTRY OF JUSTICE" published: "2021-10-07" --- # Witness Service (2023-2027) Buyer: MINISTRY OF JUSTICE Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-42213f71-01a4-440d-a013-3b573a360226 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-42213f71-01a4-440d-a013-3b573a360226) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-42213f71-01a4-440d-a013-3b573a360226.json) ## Summary The Ministry of Justice is currently in the planning stage for the procurement of a new contract for the Witness Service, covering the period from 2023 to 2027. This service has been operational in all Criminal Courts in England and Wales for the last 25 years and is crucial for providing emotional and practical support to witnesses. The engagement end date is set for 30 October 2021, with the anticipated timeline for the competition to go live in December 2021. The contract will aim to improve the existing model while incorporating lessons learned from previous experiences, including the recent COVID-19 pandemic. This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) that specialise in support services within the justice sector. Companies that can offer innovative solutions for witness support, demonstrate expertise in trauma-informed care, and provide flexibility to adapt to changing needs, such as the use of digital platforms, will be particularly well-suited to compete. The forthcoming Supplier Event on 20 October 2021 will further facilitate engagement and allow potential bidders to express their interest and gather more information. ## Notice The Ministry of Justice will shortly commence the procurement for the future Witness Service. The Witness Service is an existing service, which has operated in all Criminal Courts in England and Wales for the last 25 years. The service is highly valued by stakeholders and partners for the independent, emotional and practical support it has provided witnesses over the last two decades to enable them to give their best evidence. Over the life of the new contract, it will deliver critical benefits including: Delivering on the rights and standards of care for victims and witnesses set out in the Victims Code and Witness Charter. Delivering the targets set by the Prime Minister through the Crime & Justice Task Force (CJTF) to significantly improve the experience of victims in the Criminal Justice System. Enabling this government's plans for court recovery to be realised. The future service will be materially similar the current model for support. However, we will also prioritise delivering essential improvements in value-for-money and quality of service, as well as testing ambitious options to future-proof the design of the service based on lessons learned in recent years. The Ministry of Justice is seeking a supplier to provide support to witnesses, guided by the following principles: To continue to deliver an effective service for witnesses attending court - building on the existing model for support and the significant benefits it provides to witnesses. To improve the service at a detailed level, informed by current and developing victim support policy. 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 learn lessons from delivery of the support for victims and witnesses during the COVID-19 pandemic and test ways to build additional flexibility and resilience into the model for support. This would aim to ensure the service can respond with confidence to future pandemic-like scenarios, use of Nightingale courts, extended operating hours and supporting witnesses in giving remote and pre-recorded evidence. To work with the MOJ and other Criminal Justice partners to bolster the delivery of a basic level of support for all witnesses, including through digital support. Indicative project milestones include: Competition Live - December 2021 Award confirmed and transition commenced - August 2022 Launch of the Future Witness Service (latest) - January 2023 The scope of the service is being finalised, including through feedback from the market, and will be confirmed in the Contract Notice. Additional information: We would like to invite interested parties to attend an online Supplier Event which will take place on 20 October 2021. To express an interest either in attending this event and/or participating in this competition please email: VW.National.Services@justice.gov.uk The form of response should be limited to the provision of a single point of contact (full company name, contact name, job title, e-mail address and telephone number). The Authority will then issue invitations to all interested parties, confirming the timings and location of the events. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/59e31fcb-5e1d-4960-b515-6999dd4bdce1 | | Notice type | Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Not specified | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 7 Oct 2021 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 30 Oct 2021 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | MINISTRY OF JUSTICE | | Locality | LONDON | | Post town | South West London | | Postcode | SW1H 9AJ | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West | | ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London | | Local authority | Westminster | | Electoral ward | St James's | | Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 75 - Administration, defence and social security services ### Codes - 75230000 - Justice services ## Release History - 7 Oct 2021 at 13:35 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/59e31fcb-5e1d-4960-b515-6999dd4bdce1 - 1 Oct 2021 at 13:56 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/56281fab-4a75-4f55-bdf2-94791f25af03 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/59e31fcb-5e1d-4960-b515-6999dd4bdce1 7th October 2021 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/56281fab-4a75-4f55-bdf2-94791f25af03 1st October 2021 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder - http://www.justice.gov.uk Witness Service ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-42213f71-01a4-440d-a013-3b573a360226. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-42213f71-01a4-440d-a013-3b573a360226.json.