Provision of a Judicial Pension Schemes Administration

Description

This Prior Information Notice is to alert the market that the Ministry of Justice is considering the placement of a contract for the administration of the Judicial Pension Schemes (JPS). Lot 1: These services are currently outsourced, and the department is considering options for future administration, and wishes to engage with the market to inform its decision on the nature and extent of any future outsourcing. The JPS provides benefits to the majority of judges in the United Kingdom and consists of a number of legacy schemes and one open pension scheme. Most of the serving judiciary are now members of the JPS 2022, which is a career average revalued earnings scheme that came into effect in April 2022 for the accrual of benefits after this date. All the schemes are defined benefit schemes, some of which are, for tax purposes, unregistered schemes. The schemes provide contingent dependants’ benefits as well as ill health and death benefits. The scheme membership as at 31 March 2022 prior to the introduction of JPS 2022 (when members moved to the new scheme) was: JUPRA schemes (salaried) Active: 18 Active Salary Link: 1,162 Deferred: 42 Pensioners: 2,290 Total: 4,012 JPS 2015 (salaried and fee-paid) Active: 1 Active Salary Link : 5,053 Deferred : 149 Pensioners : 68 Total : 5,271 Fee-Paid Judicial Pension Scheme 2017 Active : 10 Active Salary Link: 3,721 Deferred : 268 Pensioners : 1,939 Total : 5,938 The schemes are complex with high levels of member engagement and are an important element in the recruitment and retention of judges. The department’s aim is to have an administration service that provides: • an accurate, professional and timely service that meets customers’ needs, including timely and accurate responses to member queries • performance management arrangements that drive the right behaviour to deliver customers’ needs • effective and efficient data interfaces, especially with the payroll providers to ensure data between systems links together to create a consistent service for members • up-to-date integrated technology, with high volumes of automation • continuous improvement and innovation • bulk activity routinely delivered via a member portal • an automated service that reduces costs in the long-term The department is currently addressing the impact on the schemes of various litigation cases, in particular McCloud, O'Brien 2 and Miller, but expects that delivery of the remedies in respect of these cases will have concluded before the commencement of any future contract.