Award

Prison Education Service Core Education Lot 1: Avon and South Dorset Prison Group & Devon and North Dorset Prison Group

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

29 Jul 2025 at 15:45

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process led by the Ministry of Justice pertains to the award of the Prison Education Service Core Education Lot 1, covering the Avon and South Dorset Prison Group & Devon and North Dorset Prison Group. This tender falls under the services related to the detention or rehabilitation of criminals, with a contract value amounting to £55 million. Located in the South West of the United Kingdom, the procurement stage is at award status, with Milton Keynes College named as the supplier. Conducted under the Open Procedure framework of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, this process employed a selective procurement method using a call-off from an existing framework agreement. Key dates include the contract start on 1 October 2025, running through to 30 September 2032.

This tender offers substantial opportunities for businesses specializing in educational services, particularly those geared towards rehabilitation and skills training within correctional facilities. Given the contract's focus on delivering core education services and tailored learning support, institutions with expertise in curriculum development, assessment delivery, and additional learning needs support are well-suited to compete and establish a foothold in this sector. While the contract does not specifically favour SMEs or VCSEs, larger entities like Milton Keynes College have the resources and scale necessary to meet the comprehensive service requirements outlined by the Ministry of Justice. Such involvement could facilitate business growth by enhancing service capabilities and expanding institutional portfolios in education within the penal system.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Prison Education Service Core Education Lot 1: Avon and South Dorset Prison Group & Devon and North Dorset Prison Group

Notice Description

This notice is for the award of Lot 1: Avon and South Dorset Prison Group & Devon and North Dorset Prison Group. The Prisoner Education Services (PES) is a UK government initiative with three overarching strategic priorities; improving prisoner numeracy and literacy skills, incentivizing prisoners to improve their qualifications and skills to increase their prospects of finding work on release, and ensuring that Governors and their teams have the knowledge, tools, support and accountabilities that they need to make this work. PES seeks to transform learning in jails as part of a renewed push to skill up offenders and protect the public. PES Core Education will include teaching and delivery of a two-layered curriculum for independence and for opportunity which meets the needs of prisoners, as well as high quality, timely screening and assessment delivery and tailored and impactful additional learning needs support. The Ministry of Justice launched the PES Panel to reform how education is delivered across the adult prison estate in England. The first call-offs under this framework focused on Core Education Services, including teaching and delivery of a two-layered curriculum for independence (essential subjects such as English, Maths, digital skills) and curriculum for opportunity, which meets the needs of prisoners. The Core Education contracts also include high quality, timely screening and assessment delivery; tailored and impactful additional learning needs support; and (where applicable) prison library services. The contracts are split into 11 regional lots and aim to provide a consistent, high-quality education offer that supports rehabilitation, reduces reoffending, and improves employability and resettlement outcomes for prisoners. The procurement was conducted under the Open Procedure in accordance with the Light Touch Regime of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-00be7e4c-e99e-47c4-a71c-6bca165d8b2a
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/991aca16-cfba-49a0-8bcc-5479c665b8a4
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Call-off from a framework agreement
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

CPV Codes

75231200 - Services related to the detention or rehabilitation of criminals

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£55,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£55,000,000 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Jul 20256 months ago
Submission Deadline
13 Nov 2023Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
30 Jun 20257 months ago
Contract Period
30 Sep 2025 - 30 Sep 2032 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
commercial-prisoneducationservice@justice.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1H 9AJ
Post Town
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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