The UK’s Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has embarked on a significant modernization journey by announcing a £30 million-plus contract to develop a new email platform, the Cross Justice Secure Mail (CJSM) system, by 2026. This development is aimed at replacing the aging Criminal Justice Secure eMail (CJSM) platform, which has served the UK’s justice system for over two decades. The current system, supporting nearly half a million users, is a critical component in the secure communication of official information among numerous assured public and private sector organizations.
Replacing the Legacy System
Necessity of the CJSM System
The existing Criminal Justice Secure eMail platform plays a pivotal role in facilitating communication within the UK’s justice system, supporting over 10,000 organizations and 12,000 domains that collectively send more than 50 million sensitive messages annually. This secure communication is vital for entities like the Crown Prosecution Service, police, legal representatives, and victim support organizations. The CJSM system needs to address the limitations of the aging infrastructure by incorporating advanced features that cater to modern-day requirements.
The new email infrastructure will be required to offer an array of advanced features. Among these are a cloud gateway compatible with widely used platforms like Office 365 and G Suite, ensuring a seamless transition and interoperability. Additionally, the platform must integrate hosted webmail solutions for certain organizations and include robust security measures like multi-factor authentication. This modernization effort is not just about offering new features but ensuring that various discreet organizations can manage their staff connections efficiently and implement stringent verification procedures for all users.
Comprehensive Feature Set
The Ministry of Justice has outlined a comprehensive set of requirements for the new email platform. This includes an accessible user directory that simplifies the management and retrieval of contact information within the system. Service resilience is another critical aspect, with a specific requirement for a disaster recovery solution that ensures continuity in case of any unexpected disruptions. Alongside these, the platform will necessitate a dedicated service desk for support, online training facilities to help users adapt to the new system, and secure online document storage to protect sensitive information.
To keep pace with technological advancements, the platform must also incorporate a mechanism for continuous improvement, allowing it to evolve in response to market changes. This will ensure that the system remains up-to-date with the latest security protocols and operational enhancements. Moreover, the new system should be able to connect with other government services, such as GOV.UK Notify, emphasizing the need for an integrated approach to public sector communication infrastructure.
Contract and Modernization Efforts
Bidding and Selection Process
The contract, valued at around £31.2 million including VAT, has an initial term of six years, with potential extensions every two years. The Ministry of Justice has set a deadline of December 13 for bid submissions, after which up to five prospective providers will be shortlisted. These shortlisted providers will enter into a competitive process to refine their proposals, with the final contract expected to be awarded by late 2025. This timeline underscores the urgency and importance of replacing the outdated infrastructure to maintain the effectiveness and security of communications within the justice system.
The procurement process reflects the UK’s commitment to transparency and fairness, ensuring that the best value and solution are selected from the market. Interested suppliers will need to demonstrate their capability to not only deliver the required features but also provide a cohesive and resilient system that aligns with the Ministry’s strategic goals. Throughout the competition phase, these providers will be expected to showcase their technical expertise, experience in similar projects, and ability to meet the MoJ’s comprehensive requirements.
Broader Trends in Public Sector Modernization
The UK’s Ministry of Justice is undertaking a major modernization effort with a contract exceeding £30 million to create a new email platform, known as the Cross Justice Secure Mail (CJSM) system, which is expected to be operational by 2026. This initiative is set to replace the aging Criminal Justice Secure eMail platform that has been a cornerstone of the UK’s justice system for over two decades. The current CJSM system supports nearly 500,000 users and is crucial for securely transmitting official information among a wide range of public and private sector organizations. The updated platform aims to enhance the security and efficiency of these communications, ensuring that the justice system remains modern and capable of handling contemporary digital communication demands. This move reflects the MoJ’s commitment to maintaining robust, reliable, and secure communication channels within the justice system.
