https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004047-2026
Contract
Language Services Lot 1
Ministry of Justice
F03: Contract award notice
Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-004047
Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-04a54f (view related notices)
Published 16 January 2026, 4:05pm
Section I: Contracting authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Ministry of Justice
102 Petty France
London
SW1H 9AJ
Email Elise.Ballantyne@justice.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
I.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.4) Type of the contracting authorityI.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Language Services Lot 1
II.1.2) Main CPV code
79540000 - Interpretation services
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The provision of spoken language interpreting including face to face, telephone and video interpreting services. The interpreter in all cases must convert the spoken language from one language to another enabling listeners and speakers to understand each other.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £208,700,000
II.2) Description
II.2.1) Title
Primary Spoken Interpreting
Lot No 1
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
79540000 - Interpretation services
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
UK - United Kingdom
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has entered into contracts for the delivery of Language Services. The contracts are split into 4 Lots, the scope of services includes face to face, telephone and video interpreting services for spoken languages, BSL, visual and tactile communication and quality and assurance of all language services.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Mobilisation and Transition / Weighting: 7.5%
Quality criterion - Name: Booking Service – Development, Implementation and Maintenance / Weighting: 15%
Quality criterion - Name: Delivery of Bookings / Weighting: 15%
Quality criterion - Name: Staff recruitment, retention and performance / Weighting: 3.75%
Quality criterion - Name: Supplier Telephone Helpdesk / Weighting: 7.5%
Quality criterion - Name: Complaints and Feedback / Weighting: 7.5%
Quality criterion - Name: Stakeholder engagement and Continuous Improvement / Weighting: 3.75%
Quality criterion - Name: Interpreter Recruitment / Weighting: 15%
Quality criterion - Name: Training and Quality Management / Weighting: 7.5%
Quality criterion - Name: Fraud, Corruption and Bribery / Weighting: 3.75%
Price - Weighting: Price Per Quality Point
II.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
II.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
II.2.14) Additional information
Additional Quality Criteria;
Information Security - 3.75%
Social Value - 10%
Section IV. Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2024/S 000-031661
Section V. Award of contract
Lot No1
Title
Primary Spoken Interpreting
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
V.2) Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
17 December 2025
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 3
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
thebigword Group Holdings Limited
Leeds
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
No
V.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £208,700,000
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/005959-2026
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/005961-2026
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/005963-2026
