Prison Operator Services Framework 2 (POSF2)

This notice launches the procurement competition to establish the second generation of the Prison Operator Services Framework (POSF2), under the Light Touch Open Framework of the Procurement Act 2023. BACKGROUND The first generation of the Prison Operator Services Framework (POSF1) was established in July 2019 and expired in July 2025. Under this procurement, the Ministry of Justice (the Authority) is seeking to establish the second generation of the Prison Operator Services Framework (POSF2) which will established as an open framework in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. The Authority has tendered the operation of prisons to the private sector since the early 1990s and has long advocated a mixed approach to prison operation that includes public, voluntary and private sector involvement. SCOPE OF SERVICES The purpose of POSF2 is to establish a new multi-supplier open framework of suppliers that have the capacity and capability to design custodial services for a pipeline of up to 11 new or existing privately managed prisons in England and Wales. Subsequent Mini-Competitions will be run in accordance with the Call-Off Procedure set out within Schedule 2 of the Framework Agreement. Any subsequent Mini-Competition will allow Bidders to compete to deliver custodial services for each prison that falls within the scope of POSF2. PROCUREMENT DOCUMENTATION Details of the procurement can be found in the ITT documents which are structured into three volumes and are located in Ministry of Justice's e-Sourcing Portal (Jaggaer). Volume 1: Introduction, Instructions, and Procurement Process - providing information on the background to the procurement and instructions on how the procurement will be conducted, including planned stages and indicative timelines. Volume 2: Response Criteria and Assessment Methodology - providing details of the Response Criteria Bidders are required to address in their Tenders, together with guidance on completion of Bidder responses against each criterion and details of the assessment methodology by which all Tenders will be evaluated against. Volume 3: Framework Agreement – providing the Framework Agreement to be entered into with each successful Bidder as well as the Model Call-Off Contract that will form the basis of Prison Operator Services delivery for any Mini-Competition run in accordance with the Call-Off Procedure. CONTRACT DURATION POSF2 will be a Light Touch Open Framework under the Procurement Act 2023 with a maximum term of 8 years. POSF2 will be reopened and re-awarded at least twice during its term for additional suppliers to bid for a place on POSF2. In accordance with the Procurement Act 2023, POSF2 will be reopened and re-awarded by the end of year 3 of the first framework in the scheme, and then again within 5 years of the second framework in the scheme being established. Bidders who are successfully admitted onto POSF2 at any stage will remain on the Open Framework for its the remainder of its term and therefore will not need to resubmit a new Tender at each reopening, unless the Bidder would like to change their response to one or more of the Optional Evaluation Questions.