---
title: "Framework Agreement for Court Reporting & Transcription (CRT) Services"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-03835d"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-03835d"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03835d.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03835d.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "MINISTRY OF JUSTICE"
published: "2023-07-06"
---

# Framework Agreement for Court Reporting & Transcription (CRT) Services

Buyer: MINISTRY OF JUSTICE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-03835d

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## Summary

The Ministry of Justice has awarded a Framework Agreement for Court Reporting & Transcription (CRT) Services, on behalf of HM Courts & Tribunals Service. This agreement includes Off-site Transcription Services (OTS), Attendance-based Transcription Services (ATS), and Real-time Transcription Services (RTS) for various court proceedings. The procurement process was completed under the Light Touch Regime via an open procedure. The awarded suppliers for the Off-Site Transcription Services (OTS) Lot are Appen (UK) Ltd, DA Languages Limited, Epiq Europe Limited, eScribers Limited, Marten Walsh Cherer Limited, Opus 2 International Limited, The Transcription Agency LLP, and Ubiqus UK Limited.

This tender by the Ministry of Justice presents opportunities for businesses in the judicial services industry to provide transcription services. Companies specializing in court reporting, transcription, and legal documentation are well-suited to compete. By participating in this open procurement process, businesses can vie for contracts to deliver high-quality and timely transcription services for court proceedings, contributing to the efficient administration of justice in England and Wales.

## Notice

Following a competitive process, the Ministry of Justice (hereafter the Authority) has awarded a Framework Agreement for the procurement of the following Court Reporting and Transcription Services (CRT) on behalf of HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS): a. Off-site Transcription Services (OTS) which involves the Court recordings being sent to the relevant supplier where they produce the transcription services based on the contracted service level timeframe. b. Attendance-based Transcription Services (ATS) comprises stenographers or loggers attending the Court proceeding and then later producing the transcript to the contracted timescales. c. Real-time Transcription Services (RTS) involves temporarily supplying equipment and production of near-instantaneous transcriptions of proceedings on site.

### Lot Information

Off-site Transcription Services (OTS)

OTS involves the production of high volumes of low-value transcripts away from the court, hearing centre or venue, using a recording provided by the court. The supplier is responsible for producing the transcripts in line with HMCTS' rules, including the application of reporting restrictions (anonymisation) and the collection of relevant approvals and permissions. Services are provided based on agreed service bandings and capped units referred to as folios (72 words). OTS is split into two distinct areas, Crown Court transcription and HMCTS Approved Transcription Panel (ATP): a. Crown Courts contracts under OTS are contracted via Regional lots. Audio is recorded using a dedicated Digital Audio Recording, Transfer and Storage system (DARTS) and stored on the DARTS online portal for supplier access. Requestors are limited to one specific supplier based on the location of the hearing. b. ATP covers Civil & Family Courts and Tribunals. The ATP works on a panel basis where requestors can choose from any of the four suppliers. Audio is recorded using various Digital Audio Recording (DAR) formats after which audio is either downloaded onto physical media and posted to the relevant supplier or uploaded onto the relevant supplier's portal. For Lot 1 four Call-Off contracts are planned to be awarded on a Regional basis based on the highest tender scores. However the Authority reserves the right to amend the methodology for awarding future Call-off Contracts under the Framework.

Options: If the Authority proceeds with the Framework and contract awards, the initial Call-Off contracts under the Framework will be for an initial period of 2 years from the contract commencement date and thereafter, at the discretion of the Authority, for up to a further 2 years.

Renewal: If the Authority proceeds with the Framework and contract awards: - the Framework duration will be 4 years - the initial Call-Off contracts under the Framework will be for an initial period of 2 years from the contract commencement date and thereafter, at the discretion of the Authority, for up to a further 2 years.

Attendance-based transcription services (ATS) Crime and Real-time transcription services (RTS)

ATS Crime - Services comprise of stenographers (skilled professionals utilising stenotype machines) attending hearings to make a record of proceedings to supplement court recording in order to produce a transcript within the stipulated timescales. These services are primarily required in the Court of Appeal Crime Division located within the Royal Courts of Justice (RCJ). RTS: The provision of near instantaneous transcription services which usually involves a stenographer attending the court proceeding and inputs a real-time record of the hearing. Editors, either based remotely or on site, will assist in the production of a 'stream', which would appear on screens in the courtroom, laptops and media feeds. RTS also includes the supplier providing the specialised equipment required for the necessary timescales.

Options: If the Authority proceeds with the Framework and contract awards, the initial Call-Off contracts under the Framework will be for an initial period of 2 years from the contract commencement date and thereafter, at the discretion of the Authority, for up to a further 2 years.

Attendance-based Transcription Services (ATS) - Civil, Family and Tribunals

1. Services comprise of loggers attending hearings to make a note of proceedings to supplement court recording in order to produce a transcript within the stipulated timescales. These services are primarily required in the Civil Appeals Court and Administrative Courts located within the RCJ and The Rolls Building. 2. The Lot also include the provision of limited on-site transcription, in the form of a "sensitive case service", where supplier personnel with appropriate level of security clearance attend the secure hub located at either the Field House (Central London) or the RCJ to produce a transcript on site. 3. In addition to Civil jurisdictions, the ATS service also includes specialist jurisdictions such as the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC), the Proscribed Organisations Appeals Commission (POAC) and PAAC (Pathogens Access Appeals Commission).

Options: If the Authority proceeds with the Framework and contract awards, the initial Call-Off contracts under the Framework will be for an initial period of 2 years from the contract commencement date and thereafter, at the discretion of the Authority, for up to a further 2 years.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019369-2023 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large, SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 6 Jul 2023 |
| Submission deadline | 12 Dec 2022 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 5 Jul 2023 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £21,522,874 |
| Lots value | £21,522,874 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £1 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## 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 |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 8 |
| Supplier names | APPEN (UK; DA LANGUAGES; EPIQ EUROPE; ESCRIBERS; MARTEN WALSH CHERER; OPUS 2 INTERNATIONAL; THE TRANSCRIPTION AGENCY; UBIQUS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 75 - Administration, defence and social security services

### Codes

- 75231000 - Judicial services

## Release History

- 6 Jul 2023 at 21:15 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019369-2023
- 10 Nov 2022 at 18:32 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031922-2022

## Notice URLs

- https://ministryofjusticecommercial.bravosolution.co.uk
- https://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-03835d. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03835d.json.