--- title: "Witness Services (2023-2027)" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-02e6a7" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02e6a7" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02e6a7.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02e6a7.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "MINISTRY OF JUSTICE" published: "2021-10-07" --- # Witness Services (2023-2027) Buyer: MINISTRY OF JUSTICE Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-02e6a7 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02e6a7) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02e6a7.json) ## Summary The Ministry of Justice is initiating a procurement process for the Witness Service, which will provide support to witnesses in Criminal Courts across England and Wales from 2023 to 2027. An online Supplier Event is scheduled for 20 October 2021, with interested suppliers required to confirm their participation by 14 October 2021. The competition is set to go live in December 2021, with an expected transition to a new contract by August 2022. The service falls under the justice services category and aims to enhance the overall experience of witnesses in the criminal justice system. This tender presents significant business opportunities for companies specialising in legal and support services, particularly those with experience in delivering emotional and practical assistance within court environments. Businesses capable of providing innovative solutions that improve accessibility and adapt to challenges such as pandemic-related disruptions will be particularly well-suited to compete. Engaging with this procurement process could enable successful bidders to contribute to the future design of witness support services, thereby playing a vital role in enhancing the justice system in the UK. ## Notice 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). ### Lot Information Lot 1 The Ministry of Justice will shortly commence the procurement of a new contract for the Witness Service. 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. Indicative project milestones include: Competition Live - December 2021 Award confirmed and transition commenced - August 2022 Launch of the Future Witness Service (latest) - January 2021 The scope of the service, is being finalised, including through feedback from the market, and will be confirmed in the Contract notice. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025125-2021 | | Notice type | Planning Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning, Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 7 Oct 2021 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 15 Dec 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 | Planned | | Lots status | Planned | | 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 - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ### Codes - 75230000 - Justice services - 75231100 - Law-courts-related administrative services - 79140000 - Legal advisory and information services ## Release History - 7 Oct 2021 at 21:45 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025125-2021 - 1 Oct 2021 at 21:45 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024521-2021 - 30 Sep 2021 at 21:45 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024376-2021 ## Notice URLs - http://www.justice.gov.uk ## 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-h6vhtk-02e6a7. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02e6a7.json.