Notice Information
Notice Title
HMPPS Prisoner's Family Helpline 2026 - 2029
Notice Description
The Prisoner's Family Helpline provides advice and information on all aspects of the Criminal Justice System from what happens on arrest, visiting a prison, to preparing for release. In addition to practical support, the helpline is there to offer emotional support and often advocate on behalf of the prisoner's families and significant others. Between January and March 2024 in England and Wales, 17,600 people were committed to custody and many more to non-custodial sentences in the community. In custody, many may leave children, partners, parents, other family members and significant others to manage alone. Families and significant others of offenders may find themselves marginalised by their communities with no official support agency catering for their needs. Many families do not access any available support services for a variety of reasons, such as the stigma of imprisonment or pride, and therefore they find themselves struggling to cope. Forty-four percent of adults who leave prison are reconvicted within one year of release and around half of those convicted are sentenced to serve six months or less. Research has shown that prisoners who receive visits during their time in custody are around 39% less likely to re-offend than those who do not receive any. It is further estimated that around 43% of prisoners lose contact with their families during this time. HMPPS recognises the significant role that families can play in supporting an offender and wish to improve these outcomes by supporting families and significant others where possible. The helpline is one of these ways. Importantly, 26% of prisoners are from ethnically diverse communities. Representation from those communities and an understanding of their various cultural needs must be met. Scope of contract The Prisoner's Family Helpline will provide, but not be limited to: * Practical information and guidance on all aspects of the Criminal Justice System, including arrest, detention, and trial at court. * How to organise and cope with a prison visit. * Information on how a prison works. * Information on benefits and financial help, etc. * Emotional support. * How to cope with stress. * How to cope with disruption to life. * Help with parenting and relationship issues. * How to cope with imprisonment. * Good quality information to interested parties, including professionals such as teachers, social workers, healthcare workers etc. engaging with working with families and significant others of prisoners. * Refer, as appropriate, to services that meet the cultural needs of callers, such as Gypsy Roma Traveller communities.
Lot Information
Lot 1
Renewal: The Buyer may extend the Contract for a period of up to 12 months by giving not less than 3 months in writing to the Supplier prior to the Expiry Date. The Conditions of the Contract shall apply throughout any such extended period.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-05d1a1
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004198-2026
- Current Stage
- Award
- All Stages
- Tender, Award
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- UK6 - Contract Award Notice
- Procurement Type
- Standard
- Procurement Category
- Services
- Procurement Method
- Open
- Procurement Method Details
- Open procedure
- Tender Suitability
- SME, VCSE
- Awardee Scale
- SME
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
75 - Administration, defence and social security services
-
- CPV Codes
72253000 - Helpdesk and support services
75231230 - Prison services
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- £495,000 £100K-£500K
- Lots Value
- £495,000 £100K-£500K
- Awards Value
- £659,428 £500K-£1M
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 19 Jan 20261 months ago
- Submission Deadline
- 20 Nov 2025Expired
- Future Notice Date
- Not specified
- Award Date
- 16 Jan 20261 months ago
- Contract Period
- 31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 3-4 years
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Complete
- Lots Status
- Complete
- Awards Status
- Pending
- Contracts Status
- Not Specified
Buyer & Supplier
Contracting Authority (Buyer)
- Main Buyer
- MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
- Contact Name
- Not specified
- Contact Email
- mojcommercialreset@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
- Not specified
-
- Local Authority
- Westminster
- Electoral Ward
- St James's
- Westminster Constituency
- Cities of London and Westminster
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004198-2026
19th January 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067492-2025
22nd October 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
View full OCDS Record for this contracting process
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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