Market Engagement for HMP Dovegate and HMP Doncaster Competitions

This Dual Prior Information Notice (PIN) is for the purpose of informing the market of the potential timing for market engagement and re-procurement of the contracts to deliver Prison Operator Services at HMP Dovegate and HMP Doncaster, which are currently two privately run prisons (the “Prisons”).

The Ministry of Justice (the “Authority”) is not yet able to confirm whether the Prisons will continue to be run in the private sector. However, in the event this is the case, the Authority, will seek the market’s support in developing its strategy for the future of Prison Operator Services at the prisons through market engagement.

In the event the prisons are to continue to operate in the private sector, it is anticipated that market engagement activity would commence during Summer 2024, ahead of an estimated procurement launch date in October 2024 (subject to change).

If procurement activity for the private sector prison operator contracts does take place, it is anticipated there would be overlap with procurement activity due to take place for the Generation Two Prison Operator Services Framework Agreement (see Notice reference: 2024/S 000-000092).

Background

Prison Operator Services (also referred to as "prison management" in global markets) involves the provision of Operational Custodial Services and Facilities Management (FM) of prisons in England and Wales.

Specifically, a Prison Operator Contract covers delivery of all operational custodial services (including but not limited to education, rehabilitation, training, work, security, resettlement) and FM services (hard and soft) that are required for a prison to hold prisoners, both safely and securely, while providing transformative services that reduce reoffending and maintain the prison to a high standard.

The Authority has procured contracts for the operation of prisons to the private sector since the early 1990s and has long advocated a shared approach to prison operation that includes a mix of public, voluntary and private sector involvement.

HMP Dovegate is a male Category B Resettlement prison located near Uttoxeter in Staffordshire. Accommodation at the prison is divided into the main prison (960 places) and the Democratic Therapeutic Community (200 places). In 2009 the addition of a further accommodation block and other facilities, saw the prison capacity increase to a maximum of 1,160 places

HMP and YOI Doncaster is a Category B Reception and Resettlement prison situated in South Yorkshire. Doncaster houses a male population of up to 1,145 individuals approximately 200 of whom are young offenders aged 18-20.

Any procurement activity that does occur for these Prison Operator Services would fall outside the remit of the Authority’s current Prison Operator Services Framework (tender_176857/816223) and would not be captured under the Generation Two Prison Operator Services Framework (Notice reference: 2024/S 000-000092), therefore the procurement process to run the Prisons would be managed as separate competitions through the Light Touch Regime. As changes are expected to the current UK Procurement Regulations, the Authority will keep interested parties informed of the intended procurement procedure to be used for both competitions through the publication of additional Prior Information Notices.