Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Ministry of Justice
102 Petty France
London
SW1H 9AJ
ccmdopenjustice@justice.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 02033343555
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://ministryofjusticecommercial.bravosolution.co.uk
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
one.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
Public order and safety
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Court Reporting & Transcription (CRT) Services
Reference number
Prj_8232
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 75231100 - Law-courts-related administrative services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Ministry of Justice (hereafter the Authority) intends to run a competition for the procurement of Court Reporting and Transcription Services (CRT) on behalf of HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS).
The Authority is legally required to record Court proceedings across England and Wales and where requested, produce official transcripts from these hearings. The transcripts are used as evidence in appeals, legal publishing for public interest and form part of case law.
It is the intention that the following transcription services will be procured under a framework agreement:
1. 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.
2. Attendance-based Transcription Services (ATS) comprises stenographers or loggers attending the Court proceeding and then later producing the transcript to the contracted timescales.
3. Real-time Transcription Services (RTS) involves temporarily supplying equipment and production of near-instantaneous transcriptions of proceedings on site.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £21,475,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
Maximum number of lots that may be awarded to one tenderer: 2
The contracting authority reserves the right to award contracts combining the following lots or groups of lots:
However the Authority reserves the right to award more than two Call-Off Contracts to individual suppliers in the event there is an insufficient number of Bidders successful in respect to any one Lot i.e. If 4 Bidders are not successful for Lot 1 and/or two different Bidders are not successful for Lots 2 and 3 to enable the Lot 2 and Lot 3 Call-Off Contracts to be awarded to separate suppliers.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Off-site Transcription Services (OTS)
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 75130000 - Supporting services for the government
- 75231000 - Judicial services
- 79996100 - Records management
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
Supplier premises
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
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 three distinct areas, Crown Court transcription, HMCTS Approved Transcription Panel (ATP) and Ministry of Defence (MoD):
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.
c. MoD covers Military Courts. Audio will be recorded and the transcript requests will be issued directly from MoD personnel.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Attendance-based transcription services (ATS) Crime and Real-time transcription services (RTS)
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 75130000 - Supporting services for the government
- 75231000 - Judicial services
- 79996100 - Records management
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
ATS Crime - primarily within the Royal Courts of Justice
RTS - Various
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
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.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Attendance-based Transcription Services (ATS) – Civil, Family and Tribunals
Lot No
3
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 75130000 - Supporting services for the government
- 75231000 - Judicial services
- 79996100 - Records management
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
Various
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
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).
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
22 August 2022
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
Please note the tender response date is planned for 26th September 2022.
The MoJ reserves the right to amend or remove part or all of the information prior to full Find a Tender service (FTS) advertisement, and nothing within this notice constitutes any guarantee or binding statement on behalf of the MoJ.
Further details of the services will be set out in the procurement documents.