PIN: Market Engagement for Witness Service (2023-2027)

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.

Additional information: 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 , which provides 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 supplier to provide support to witnesses, guided by the following principles, reflecting our vision for the service:

• oTo 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.

• oTo provide the service flexibility to be able to respond to potential future challenges, including pandemic-like scenarios, use of Nightingale courts, Extended Operating Hours and supporting witnesses in giving remote and pre-recorded evidence.

• oTo improve the service at a detailed level, learning lessons from current delivery and being 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.

• oTo create opportunities within the service design to test ambitious options for future improvement of the service, including through digital support.

Indicative project milestones include:

The scope of the service is being finalised, including through feedback from the market, and will be confirmed in the Contract notice .

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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 BY 14 October 2021

We have set up an e-Sourcing event to facilitate market engagement activities and share some documentation ahead of this event.

To register, you must have a valid DUNS number for the organisation which you are registering and who will be entering into a contract if invited. Once registered, organisations wishing to participate in the event must send an email to: VW.National.Services@justice.gov.uk You will receive an email acknowledgment of your interest.