This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

21 Sep 2026 at 21:51

Planning

21 Sep 2026 at 11:55

Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Justice intends to procure a specialist Therapeutic Community Plus service at HMP Lancaster Farms, Lancashire, as part of the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway. The service is for men with mild to moderate learning disabilities and complex psychological and emotional needs linked to offending behaviour. It will run in a 12 to 14-bed residential therapeutic community and include clinical treatment, assessment and rehabilitation support. The provider will work with HMPPS, probation, mental health and other healthcare partners to improve psychological wellbeing, relational outcomes and pathway progression, while supporting reduced reoffending. The service includes clinical governance, performance reporting and staff capability work. Required professional input includes psychotherapy, learning disability expertise, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and creative therapy. This is a health service procurement.

This is a planned procurement and preliminary market engagement exercise, not an invitation to tender. The Ministry of Justice intends to use an open procedure for one lot. The planned contract period is 4 January 2027 to 1 October 2028, with the next notice expected by 30 November 2026. The estimated value is £332,913 excluding VAT, or £399,495 including VAT. The buyer has stated that the contract start date remains subject to operational and implementation dependencies. Organisations wishing to contribute to the engagement were expected to register interest by 1 October 2026 at 2pm. The buyer has indicated that the requirement is suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises, and that the future procurement is above the relevant threshold.

The requirement is likely to suit organisations experienced in delivering residential psychological and behavioural treatment services in custodial or secure settings. Strong candidates will be able to provide suitably qualified clinical professionals, including a Clinical Lead Psychotherapist or equivalent practitioner, a Learning Disability Specialist, and access to occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and creative therapy. Providers should be prepared to deliver the accredited TC+ programme in line with manuals and standards approved by the Correctional Services Advice and Accreditation Panel. Relevant capability includes multidisciplinary assessment and treatment, clinical oversight, service governance, outcome and performance data reporting, and coordinated working with prison, probation, mental health and healthcare services. Experience supporting people with learning disabilities, complex needs and offending-related behaviour will be particularly relevant. SMEs and VCSEs are identified as suitable participants.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Lancaster Farms - Therapeutic Community Plus Service

Notice Description

The Authority intends to procure the provision of a Therapeutic Community Plus (TC+) service at HMP Lancaster Farms as part of the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway. The service will provide a specialist residential therapeutic treatment programme for men with mild to moderate learning disabilities who present with complex psychological and emotional needs associated with offending behaviour. The service will operate within a 12 to 14 bed residential therapeutic community and be delivered in partnership with HMPPS and other relevant healthcare providers. The successful provider will be required to deliver specialist clinical services in accordance with the accredited TC+ programme manuals and standards approved by the Correctional Services Advice and Accreditation Panel (CSAAP). The service will include the provision of suitably qualified clinical professionals, including a Clinical Lead Psychotherapist (or equivalent modality), Learning Disability Specialist, and access to Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, and Creative Therapy services as required to meet participant needs. The provider will be responsible for delivering therapeutic interventions, supporting assessment and treatment activities, contributing to service governance, collecting and reporting service performance data, maintaining appropriate clinical oversight, and working collaboratively with HMPPS, probation services, mental health providers and other relevant stakeholders to support pathway progression and rehabilitation outcomes. The service will be delivered at HMP Lancaster Farms and operate in accordance with the OPD Pathway's strategic objectives to reduce reoffending, improve psychological wellbeing and relational outcomes, support staff capability, and deliver effective and high-quality treatment services. *The contract start date is currently subject to a number of operational and implementation dependencies and is therefore yet to be confirmed. However, the Authority intends to progress the procurement at pace with a view to commencing the contract as soon as practicable. Suppliers who have the capability and experience to deliver the services outlined are invited to register their interest by contacting the Offender Welfare mailbox at MoJProcurement.OffenderWelfare by 1st October 2pm. Please note that this market engagement exercise does not commit the Authority to proceed with a procurement and no contractual commitment arises from participation in this excercise.

Planning Information

If your organisation believes it has the capability, capacity, and relevant experience to deliver this requirement, please express your interest by contacting the Offender Welfare mailbox at MoJProcurement.OffenderWelfare

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077644
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089385-2026
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
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

85100000 - Health services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£332,913 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Sep 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Nov 20263 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
4 Jan 2027 - 1 Oct 2028 1-2 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
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
Postcode Area
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
TLD44 Lancaster and Wyre

Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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