Planning

Understanding workload, workflow and productivity for HM Probation

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

01 Dec 2025 at 15:19

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) in the United Kingdom is currently in the planning stage of a procurement process titled "Understanding workload, workflow and productivity for HM Probation." This initiative falls under the services main procurement category and is particularly focused on IT software development services. The preliminary market engagement notice was released on 1st December 2025, and the RFI process, available on the MoJ e-Sourcing portal, commenced on 4th December 2025. The relevant deadlines include the clarification period ending on 16th December 2025 and the submission of RFI responses by 19th December 2025. Located in London, the Ministry's procurement seeks to address high workloads within His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service. The MoJ is engaging suppliers to improve understanding and management of workload and productivity, following findings of substantial workload challenges faced by the Probation Service.

This tender offers significant opportunities for both SMEs and VCSEs, particularly those specialising in IT software development, to provide innovative solutions that could address systemic challenges in the probation sector. With the potential contract set to run from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2027, businesses capable of offering robust workload and workflow management solutions are well-suited to compete. Engaging in this RFI could present a unique opportunity to collaborate with a central government department, providing both visibility and potential growth within the public sector by showcasing expertise in productivity solutions. The procurement method mainly involves gathering insights through a Request for Information (RFI) to gauge market conditions and align future invitations to tender with the available market solutions.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Understanding workload, workflow and productivity for HM Probation

Notice Description

1. Purpose of the Notice This UK2 Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) Notice is issued in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. The purpose of this notice is to inform the market of a MoJ Request for Information (RFI) and to engage with suppliers to obtain feedback and insights on the potential requirement for a workload, workflow and productivity solution. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is a major government department, at the heart of the justice system. The MoJ works to protect and advance the principles of justice; our vision is to deliver a world-class justice system that works for everyone in society. His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is an executive agency, sponsored by the MoJ and carries out sentences given by the courts, in custody and in the community, and rehabilitates people in its care through education and employment. High workload remains a stubborn and persistent issue within Probation. A National Audit Office report https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/building-an-effective-and-resilient-probation-service.pdf reviewed the resilience of Probation Services in England and Wales earlier in 2025 and identified: - 10 of 12 regions were exceeding 100% average workload for Probation Officers; - 46 of 108 delivery units were operating in red or amber delivery status (set up to manage high workloads), and so were not delivering all mandated sentence management activities; and - There was a 3150 FTE shortfall in staff working within sentence management. This sets a challenging context for Probation, and the need for us to better understand and manage workload, workflow and productivity. Ahead of budget allocations for 2026/27, the MoJ is keen to obtain feedback and insights on the potential requirement for a workload, workflow and productivity solution for HMPPS. This Request for Information (RFI) is a preliminary market engagement exercise to seek information relating to this requirement, and to gain a better understanding of the types and availability of products and services, as well as the commercial terms on which to acquire them. 2. Access and Communication This RFI is being conducted through the MoJ e-Sourcing portal and all communications between MoJ and Suppliers during this RFI process must strictly be made using the MoJ e-Sourcing portal. - Suppliers must create an account on the e-sourcing portal found via the link here: https://ministryofjusticecommercial.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html - Suppliers can access the RFI from 4th December (the 'RfI Opens' date) via PQQ_545. - The PQQ will hold the following RFI documents and information which consists of: *Attachment 1 RFI Instructions *Attachment 2 RFI Background and Scope *Attachment 3 RFI Questionnaire *Clarification questions and answers document (shared using the messaging facility) -Suppliers will respond to the RFI by uploading the completed Attachment 3 RFI Questionnaire to Technical Envelope, Question 1.1 'RFI Questionnaire'. 3. Timescales These are our intended RFI timescales. We will inform you if and when timelines change. 1st December 2025 - UK2 Preliminary Market Engagement Notice released and supplier e-sourcing system registration 4th December 2025 - RFI opens and Clarification period starts 16th December 2025, 17:00 - Clarification period ends 17th December 2025, 17:00 - Deadline for the publication of responses to RFI Clarification questions 19th December 2025, 17:00 - Deadline for submission of RFI Responses December to January 2025 - Confirm the next steps to Suppliers including potential opportunity for demonstrations 4. Disclaimer Nothing shall constitute a commitment to ordering or award unless the MoJ publishes an Invitation to Tender that results in the award of a Contract. The contents of the Preliminary Market Engagement are not binding and may be subject to change or cancellation.

Planning Information

Access and Communication This RFI is being conducted through the MoJ e-Sourcing portal and all communications between MoJ and Suppliers during this RFI process must strictly be made using the MoJ e-Sourcing portal. - Suppliers must create an account on the e-sourcing portal found via the link here: https://ministryofjusticecommercial.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html - Suppliers can access the RFI from 4th December (the ‘RfI Opens’ date) via PQQ_545. - The PQQ will hold the following RFI documents and information which consists of: *Attachment 1 RFI Instructions *Attachment 2 RFI Background and Scope *Attachment 3 RFI Questionnaire *Clarification questions and answers document (shared using the messaging facility) -Suppliers will respond to the RFI by uploading the completed Attachment 3 RFI Questionnaire to Technical Envelope, Question 1.1 ‘RFI Questionnaire’. Timescales These are our intended RFI timescales. We will inform you if and when timelines change. 1st December 2025 - UK2 Preliminary Market Engagement Notice released and supplier e-sourcing system registration 4th December 2025 - RFI opens and Clarification period starts 16th December 2025, 17:00 - Clarification period ends 17th December 2025, 17:00 - Deadline for the publication of responses to RFI Clarification questions 19th December 2025, 17:00 - Deadline for submission of RFI Responses December to January 2025 - Confirm the next steps to Suppliers including potential opportunity for demonstrations

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05ec21
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078568-2025
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
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

CPV Codes

72212517 - IT software development services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 Dec 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
2 Mar 20261 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 months
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
Shannon Wood
Contact Email
shannon.wood1@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

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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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