Published date: 1 October 2021

Withdrawn future opportunity


Approach to market date: 15 December 2021

Contract summary

Industry

  • Justice services - 75230000

Location of contract

SW1H 9AJ

Value of contract

£30,000,000

Procurement reference

tender_286488/1001878

Published date

1 October 2021

Approach to market date

15 December 2021

Contract start date

1 January 2023

Contract end date

31 December 2027

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

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. Please note we are still in the process of obtaining final approvals for this work.

More information

Previous notice about this procurement

Witness Service (2023-2027)

  • Future opportunity
  • Published 1 October 2021

Links

Additional text

The Authority plans to hold a Supplier Event on Wednesday 20 October 2021. Suppliers interested in attending the event should confirm their interest by 5pm on Thursday 14 October 2021 by sending an email to the Future Witness Service commercial team at 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. Details of interested parties shall be added to the Authority's e-sourcing portal, in order to share information.

About the buyer

Contact name

Elizabeth Glen

Address

102 Petty France
London
SW1H 9AJ
England

Email

elizabeth.glen@justice.gov.uk