--- title: "Witness Service (2023 - 2027)" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-031445" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-031445" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-031445.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-031445.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "MINISTRY OF JUSTICE" published: "2022-02-07" --- # Witness Service (2023 - 2027) Buyer: MINISTRY OF JUSTICE Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-031445 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-031445) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-031445.json) ## Summary The Ministry of Justice is facilitating a procurement process for the Witness Service contract, covering a period from 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2027. This public procurement falls within the justice services industry and has an estimated value of £47.8 million. The procurement is currently in the Open procedure stage, with submissions due by 18th March 2022. Located in London, UK, the project aims to provide enhanced support to witnesses during trials, offering them necessary information and emotional assistance when giving evidence. This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in support services within the justice sector. Companies with expertise in witness support, legal services, or trauma-informed care are encouraged to bid. The competitive nature of the tender allows for potential growth in the provision of a much-needed service, aligning with the Ministry of Justice's goal to deliver effective and responsive witness support. Bidders can register and submit their proposals digitally through the Ministry's e-Sourcing Portal, ensuring ease of access and participation. ## Notice This notice launches the competition for the provision of the Witness Service contract (2023 - 2027). The Witness Service offers a basic level of support to all witnesses, including: Providing information to witnesses about their rights and the process of giving evidence. Greeting witnesses on the day of trial, acting as a generally supportive presence and supporting HMTCS staff escorting witnesses through court buildings (including the use of special entrances for witnesses) and relaying messages from the court room. The service also offers witnesses a visit to the court building before their trial so they can familiarise themselves with the environment. Outreach support' is additionally offered for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses (VIW). This comprises initial meetings away from the court environment to help prepare them and manage their expectations about the process. ### Lot Information Lot 1 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. The anticipated quantity or scope is an estimate of the potential value of the contract and does not in any way guarantee any level of expenditure. The estimated cost range is real in 2022, does not account for inflation. All values should be considered as indicative only. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003498-2022 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 7 Feb 2022 | | Submission deadline | 18 Mar 2022 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 31 Mar 2023 - 31 Mar 2027 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £47,800,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Active | | 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 Feb 2022 at 22:45 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003498-2022 ## Notice URLs - https://ministryofjusticecommercial.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html ## 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-031445. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-031445.json.