Planning

Escorting and Related Services

HOME OFFICE

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Planning

02 Jun 2026 at 10:54

PlanningUpdate

02 Jun 2026 at 10:53

Planning

05 Feb 2026 at 16:01

Planning

18 Jul 2025 at 14:09

Summary of the contracting process

The Home Office, a central government public authority in the United Kingdom, has initiated a planned procurement process for "Escorting and Related Services," encompassing both in-country and overseas operations. This procurement focuses on escorting detained individuals and managing Short-Term Holding Facilities in the UK and Northern France. The procurement is currently in the planning stage, with preliminary market engagement scheduled to conclude by 23rd June 2026. Prospective suppliers must register on the Home Office eSourcing Portal to participate in the market engagement process. The procurement stage is tagged as "planned," with a future notice expected by 9th November 2026, indicating a flexible, competitive open procedure in place.

This procurement presents significant business growth opportunities, especially for organisations specialising in security services, fleet management, transportation, catering, and training. Businesses with expertise in these areas, particularly those capable of operating within the constraints of a public authority framework, could greatly benefit from this contract. The procurement is particularly suitable for SMEs due to its open and competitive nature, with the contract period tentatively starting from 1st May 2029 and extending until 30th April 2039. The inclusion of management services and welfare provisions opens avenues for businesses to explore innovative and efficient service delivery models, ensuring compliance with government standards while meeting the specific requirements of the Escorting Services contract.

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Notice Title

Escorting and Related Services

Notice Description

The Home Office is seeking to engage with suppliers who are interested in becoming the commercial partners (Prime Contractor) responsible for delivering the Escorting Services contract, which provides the in-country and overseas escorting of detained persons and management of Short-Term Holding Facilities (STHF), across the UK and Northern France. Background: The Home Office is responsible for detaining and enforcing the removal of people from the UK who have no legal basis to remain here. The Escorting Services contract is fundamental to delivering this through the movement of people within the UK, which supports the functioning of the immigration detention / removal estate; the removal of people from the UK, which is predominately via air travel and a mix of escorted (to destination) and unescorted (not escorted to destination). The contract also includes the operation, management and maintenance of Residential Short-Term Holding Facilities and the operation and management of Non-Residential Short-Term Holding Facilities at air/seaports and Immigration Enforcement reporting centres (STHFs). STHFs support the wider immigration detention / removal estate, enforcement activity within the community and protection of the UK border. Requirement (please note not exhaustive and subject to change): Management Services - includes operational control centre, performance monitoring and reporting, audit arrangement, and complaint procedures. Core Services - includes welfare, care of children, risk assessments, use of force, staffing & personnel and training. In-Country Escorting - 24/7 escorting between locations within the UK. Includes prisons, police stations, hospitals (inc bed watches), STHFs, Immigration Removal Centres. Also includes escort to aircraft for purpose of removal (unescorted) and provision of medical escorts. Overseas Escorting - 24/7 escorting from place of detention within the UK to designated overseas destination, primarily via air travel with a mix between scheduled and charter flights. Also includes provision of medical escorts and interfacing with the authorities travel service provider. Non-Residential STHF - the operation and management of designated holding rooms across all parts of the UK. There are currently 28 of these facilities which operate up to 24/7 and can hold people up to 24 hours and beyond in certain circumstances. Residential STHF - the operation, management and maintenance of RSTHF across all parts of the UK. There are currently 3 of these facilities which operate 24/7 and can hold people up to 7 days in certain circumstances. Juxtaposed Controls (Northern France) 24/7 escorting services with the UK control zones (Calais, Coquelles, and Dunkerque) and operation and management of 5 (currently) holding rooms at these French ports.

Planning Information

This Preliminary Market Engagement exercise seeks to inform the Authority's understanding of the market in relation to the proposed Escorting and Related Services contract. In particular, the engagement intends on gathering non-binding, high-level insights on potential delivery approaches, suggested commercial models and key cost drivers that may influence value for money during the contract lifecycle. Responses will be used solely to support the procurement strategy development. This engagement does not constitute a request for pricing, quotations and/or tenders and participation will not place any advantage or disadvantage in any subsequent procurement process. All information provided will be treated as indicative and non-contractual. A questionnaire shall be sent to prospective suppliers following the execution of a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). Supplier will have until the 23rd June 2026 to complete the questionnaire and upload their response to the Home Office's Jaggaer e-sourcing portal. Please note: To express your interest in the Market Engagement process, your organisation must be registered on the Home Office eSourcing Portal. If you have not yet registered, this can be done online at https://homeoffice.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html To register, you must have a valid DUNS number for the organisations which you are registering and who will be entering into a contract if invited to do so. Once registered, please search for the following project information: project_19029 - Escorting and Related Services pqq_763 - NDA - Preliminary Market Engagement: Delivery and Commercial Models for Escorting and Related Services

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-056241
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/051813-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

50 - Repair and maintenance services

55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

80 - Education and training services


CPV Codes

50111100 - Vehicle-fleet management services

55500000 - Canteen and catering services

60130000 - Special-purpose road passenger-transport services

79710000 - Security services

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,201,000,000 £1B-£10B
Lots Value
£1,201,000,000 £1B-£10B
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Jun 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
5 Mar 202710 months to go
Future Notice Date
9 Nov 20266 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Apr 2029 - 30 Apr 2039 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
HOME OFFICE
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
SW1P 4DF
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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