Planning

Rehabilitative Services for women in prison or the community

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

11 Mar 2026 at 11:15

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

20 May 2025 at 07:18

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

16 Apr 2025 at 18:03

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

On 11th March 2026, the Ministry of Justice outlined plans for the procurement of rehabilitative services targeted at women within the prison system and the community across England (except Greater Manchester) and Wales. This initiative is part of a significant effort to transform women's rehabilitative services, aiming to address their needs and support desistance from offending. The procurement process is currently at the planning stage, with various market engagement events scheduled to take place in 2026. Key dates include the release of procurement process updates on 26th March, and a final engagement event on 19th November. These activities encourage collaboration and transparency in developing the services, aiming for a contract activation in January 2028, following an anticipated award in August 2027. The services fall under the probation services category with a gross value estimation of £250.8 million, focusing primarily on services procurement.

The planned tender presents numerous business growth opportunities, particularly for organisations specialising in probation services, health, social welfare, and community support. The Ministry of Justice is calling for active engagement from providers to shape the service offerings through feedback and collaboration, making it an ideal opportunity for businesses with innovative solutions in rehabilitative programmes, substance misuse recovery, and community integration. The contracts are designed to be flexible and responsive, emphasising partnership working as a core element, benefiting voluntary, charitable and social enterprises that can provide trauma-responsive, woman-centred solutions. Providers will have the chance to contribute to significant social impact by enhancing capabilities to create lasting positive changes within the community. The procurement process allows businesses to forge lasting partnerships and improve their reach and effectiveness in delivering public services.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Rehabilitative Services for women in prison or the community

Notice Description

The Authority is seeking to procure the second generation of rehabilitative services for women in prison or the community to help them address rehabilitative needs and to desist from offending, across England (other than Greater Manchester, where a procurement for similar services will be led by GM Combined Authority) and Wales. There is an indicative competition launch date of October 2026, an indicative award date of August 2027 and an indicative go-live date of January 2028. Please note that all key decisions including budgets and contract length are yet to be approved through internal governance. Based on our current thinking, the women's services will provide a combined, woman-centred, trauma-responsive service to help women: * Build a pro-social identity including supportive relationships, social and community networks and, where appropriate, contact with family and children. * Build strengths and skills to set goals and become self-sufficient. * Progress towards recovery from substance misuse, mental health challenges and abuse. * Achieve and maintain sustainable outcomes in relation to housing, employment and financial management. Together and within the contract, we aim to create responsive, flexible solutions and foster lasting, positive impacts. Partnership-working will be at the core of these contracts to significantly enhance the capabilities and reach of the involved entities. Please note that there are several topics that are currently being reviewed as part of the scoping these include the procurement route to market and the length of the future service.

Planning Information

Upcoming Market Engagement Events – Women’s Rehabilitative Services Recommissioning Get Ready to Shape the Future! We’re thrilled to announce a series of Market Engagement Events designed to transform rehabilitative services for women in prison and the community. This is your opportunity to get involved, stay informed, and help shape the new service! Why Attend? These events are all about actively engaging with potential providers to gather valuable feedback and insights, updating on feedback gathered and informing of key decisions made. Our goal is to ensure transparency and foster confidence in the services we’re developing, laying the groundwork for strong, ongoing partnerships throughout the contracts’ lifespan. Your input is crucial in shaping the future of rehabilitative services and ensuring we meet the needs of those we aim to support. Join Us! We look forward to your participation and collaboration as we work together to create impactful services. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage, collaborate, and shape the future! What’s Happening and When? Women’s Service Design – Initial Thinking • 22nd May 2025 (Microsoft Teams) - Completed • 12th November 2025 - Virtual Women’s Community Support Market Engagement Event – Completed • 26th February – Market Engagement Plan for 2026 - Completed • 26th March – Documents to be issued giving updates on the Procurement Process, Contract Length, Geographies, Lots and Values, Insurance Requirements and Partnership Working • 14th/16th April – Market Engagement event detailing our high-level Specification, Supply Chains and an update on Co-Commissioning • 4th June – Documents to be issued giving updates on TUPE, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and Mobilisation • 16th, 17th and 18th June – Potential Lead Bidder events where suppliers intending to bid as Lead Bidders can present their organisations to the market • 10th September – Market Engagement event detailing our initial intentions for Performance Measures, Payment Mechanism, Records, Reports and Audits, Improvements and Rectifications and a high-level Contract Overview • w/c 28th September – Regional events, where regions can discuss their requirements and, where appropriate, co-commissioning information • 19th November – Final Market Engagement event discussing the latest Specification, Performance Measures, Contract Schedules, Reconciliation, Digital and Distance Travelled updates, finalised Timeframes and a reminder of the Written Responses and Tender Submission Process Additional event information will be updated once agreed. How to Register Complete our Microsoft Registration Form to be added to our mailing list to receive registration links for each event via email: https://forms.office.com/e/bQqmSxuUPq Don’t miss this chance to engage, collaborate, and shape the future!

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-050468
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021687-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

CPV Codes

75231240 - Probation services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£209,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 Mar 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Nov 20268 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
3 Jan 2028 - 1 Mar 2033 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

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
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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