Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Ministry of Justice
102 Petty France
London
SW1H 9AJ
Contact
Jenny Jackson
Telephone
+44 02033343555
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
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
Market Engagement - HMCTS Video Hearing Service
Reference number
9663
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 72212515 - Video conferencing software development services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Ministry of Justice (hereafter the Authority) on behalf of HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) seeks to obtain views from the supply chain to support the development of the procurement strategy for the video hearing project. The video hearing project enables remote attendance at court and tribunal hearings at judicial discretion. It is anticipated that this service will be available at all courts and tribunals (approximately 340) across England and Wales and potentially some tribunals in Scotland. This could result in a peak of up to 1500 hearings taking place using video services at any one time
The project is a significant aspect of the Authority’s Covid response and ongoing recovery. Conducting remote (and hybrid) hearings is now an integral part of access to justice and managing the judicial process and this needs to be further developed and enhanced.
This notice is not a call for competition but serves as an advertisement of a market engagement presentation and the subsequent release of a market engagement questionnaire.
Any comments, indications of interest, participation, or non-participation by any organisation at this stage will not influence the process, selection or award decision for any future possible procurement, nor will it be taken as the organisations confirmed position.
The market engagement presentation is scheduled to take place on Microsoft Teams at 10.30 am on the 14 December 2022 and will last approximately 1 hour.
To participate in this market engagement event please notify your interest by sending an email to vhprocurement@justice.gov.uk. In the email, please state the name of your organisation and the name and email address of each attendee who the invite should be sent to. Organisations are limited to four attendees.
A copy of the material used in the market engagement presentation and the market engagement questionnaire will be forwarded to you by email after the market engagement presentation.
If you are unable to attend the market engagement presentation but would like to receive the market engagement presentation and the market engagement questionnaire, please advise to the email address above.
Note that the deadline for the return of the market engagement questionnaire is the 6 January 2023.
There is no guarantee that this market engagement exercise will progress into a procurement event and participation (or non- participation) in the market engagement will have no influence on any assessment of the organisation in any subsequent procurement exercise relating to the video hearing service.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £20,000,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 48000000 - Software package and information systems
- 48515000 - Video conferencing software package
- 72212515 - Video conferencing software development services
- 72220000 - Systems and technical consultancy services
- 72230000 - Custom software development services
- 72250000 - System and support services
- 72260000 - Software-related services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
In 2017, HMCTS commenced a project to develop a Video Hearings Service which focussed on the development of a bespoke solution to meet the needs of court and tribunal users and to support remote participation. The Video Hearings Service has been designed to reflect the formality and gravitas of court and tribunal hearings, to replicate the in-court experience and to align with HMCTS’ strategic vision. In 2019 the Authority started to pilot the Video Hearings Service and it is now live in a small number of sites across three jurisdictions. HMCTS is seeking a partner to provide a video engine together with the capability to interface with the bespoke 'front end' design already developed. The final scope of this exercise and the procurement route are subject to approvals and will be informed by the outcome of this market engagement exercise.
two.2.14) Additional information
Anticipated contract value £20m
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
31 March 2023
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: No
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
This notice relates to an engagement opportunity and is not a call for competition or an invitation to take part in pre-qualification proceedings.
We reserve the right to supplement and vary the conduct of the market engagement process. Where we do this, we will act transparently and treat all suppliers who have expressed an interest equally.
Please note that the MoJ and its advisors give no warranty in respect of the accuracy, permanence or completeness of any information provided. Reliance on, or use of, any such information is entirely at the risk of the person so doing and, save in the case of fraud, under no circumstances will the MoJ or any of its advisors be liable for or accept any responsibility for any cost, expense or liability incurred by any person relying upon or using such information.