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HMP Southwest Buddy Scheme

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

08 Sep 2026 at 14:14

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

06 Aug 2026 at 16:17

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

06 Aug 2026 at 15:54

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust procured the HMP Southwest Buddy Scheme, a specialist guidance and support service in the prison estate. The requirement has two connected elements: training and continuing professional development for buddies, alongside development of the wider programme; and the day-to-day management of buddies. The healthcare provider owns the training and programme development, while day-to-day management is shared between HM Prison and Probation Service and the health and social care team. The service is therefore suited to organisations able to work in custodial settings and coordinate closely with healthcare, prison and social care stakeholders. Recoop is the appointed service provider. The work is classified as guidance services and is delivered across the HMP Southwest prison estate.

The procurement is complete and the contract has been awarded to Recoop. Oxleas made a direct award under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023, citing technical reasons and the need to preserve established operational arrangements, pathways, procedures, systems and stakeholder relationships. The award date was 6 August 2026; the contract was signed on 20 August 2026. The active contract runs from 1 September 2026 to 30 November 2029 and is valued at £154,000 gross. It is a single-lot requirement. The award was above the relevant threshold. The contract is monitored through service requirements, quarterly activity and performance reports, stakeholder feedback, safeguarding and incident information, and contract management meetings.

For a future requirement of this kind, credible suppliers would need to combine buddy training and continuing professional development with practical programme development and day-to-day operational management. They would need to work safely within prison access and security arrangements, manage referrals and the availability of suitable participants, and coordinate with healthcare, HM Prison and Probation Service, health and social care teams and other stakeholders. The buyer’s approach points to the importance of continuity, compatibility with established pathways and procedures, and person-centred delivery rather than a generic training offer. Evidence of reliable safeguarding, incident management, stakeholder engagement, regular performance reporting and structured contract management would help demonstrate the operational capability needed for this specialist prison-based service.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

HMP Southwest Buddy Scheme

Notice Description

The buddy scheme is split into two different elements. The first being the training and continued professional development of the buddies and the programme across the prison estate. This responsibility will be owned and developed by the healthcare provider. The second element to the service is the day to day management of the buddies which will be a dual responsibility between HMPPS and the health and social care team

Procurement Information

The Contracting Authority considers that a direct award is justified under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 due to technical reasons connected with the delivery of the requirement. The requirement necessitates continuity of established operational arrangements, processes and service delivery methodologies that are integral to the effective and safe provision of the service. The technical characteristics of the requirement are such that maintaining compatibility with existing pathways, procedures, equipment, systems and stakeholder arrangements is essential to ensuring uninterrupted service delivery. Introducing alternative arrangements at this stage would require significant changes to established operational processes, retraining of staff, amendments to documented procedures, and the implementation of new interfaces and working practices. This would create a material risk of disruption to service delivery and could adversely affect quality, performance and continuity of care. A direct award represents the most proportionate approach to maintaining operational stability, preserving continuity of service and ensuring the ongoing delivery of services to the required standard whilst meeting the Authority's objectives.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06de39
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084927-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85312310 - Guidance services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£154,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£154,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
6 Aug 20262 months ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 30 Nov 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active, Pending
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
DARTFORD
Postcode
DA2 7WG
Postcode Area
Dartford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ43 Kent Thames Gateway
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Dartford
Electoral Ward
Maypole & Leyton Cross
Westminster Constituency
Dartford

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

RECOOP

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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