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HMP Rye Hill - Planned procurement notice

Tender Overview

ORGANIZATION

Ministry of Justice

LOCATION

Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire, United Kingdom

VALUE

£400,000,000

DEADLINE

April 05, 2027 at 00:00

CATEGORY

Other

CPV CODE

75231230

REFERENCE

001183-2026

Project Timeline

Contact Information

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Original Tender Description

The Authority is seeking to establish a new contract for Prison Operator Services at HMP Rye Hill. The anticipated contract duration is 12 years from the operational services commencement date, with an option to extend by up to 3 years in 1-year increments, making the maximum term 15 years. The procurement for HMP Rye Hill will be conducted under the Competitive Flexible Procedure (Light Touch Regime) under 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. HMP Rye Hill is a male Category C Private Finance Initiative (PFI) located in Northamptonshire, England, with a current operational maximum capacity of 1,122. An indicative timetable for the procurement is outlined below. Please note these dates may be subject to change: • Publication of Tender Notice and Procurement Documentation – 15/06/2026 • Deadline for Submission of PSQ and COP Responses – Midday 26/06/2026 • Authority issue PSQ and COP Notification Letters – 10/07/2026 • Bidder Engagement and Dialogue - 13/07/2026 to 31/08/2026 • Publication of ISFT Documentation – 07/09/2026 • Deadline for Submission of Tender Responses – 25/09/2026 • Contract Award – 05/04/2027 This notice is for information only and the Authority reserves the right to not proceed to tender. Additionally, the Authority reserves the right to discontinue the tender process at any stage and not to award the Contract. The information contained in this notice, including information relating to the nature and scope of the requirements, the estimated value, the service classification of this requirement or the list of CPV codes, is only indicative of current thinking and is neither exhaustive nor binding, and the Authority reserves the right at its absolute discretion to amend it at the time of issue or any further notices or at any other time. The publication of this notice in no way obliges the Authority to commence any competitive tender process. Any contracts are subject to the relevant legal and Cabinet Office controls and policies.
⚠️

MANDATORY EXCLUSION GROUNDS

  • Bidders must not be subject to any mandatory exclusion grounds as defined under the Procurement Act 2023 and relevant legal and Cabinet Office controls and policies. (Specific grounds will be detailed in the full procurement documentation).

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

  • Be a legal entity (public, voluntary, or private sector) capable of operating prison services.
  • Be eligible to participate in a procurement conducted under the Competitive Flexible Procedure (Light Touch Regime) of the Procurement Act 2023.
  • Be capable of operating a male Category C Private Finance Initiative (PFI) prison in Northamptonshire, England.
🔧

TECHNICAL CAPABILITY REQUIREMENTS

  • Demonstrate capability to provide comprehensive Prison Operator Services.
  • Possess the operational expertise to manage a male Category C prison with a maximum capacity of 1,122 inmates.
  • Demonstrate capacity for long-term operational service delivery for a contract duration of 12-15 years.
  • Demonstrate understanding and capability to operate within a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) framework.
💰

FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Possess the financial capacity to undertake a contract with an estimated value of 400,000,000.0 EUR (or £400M). (Specific financial thresholds will be detailed in future procurement documentation).
📋

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

  • Submit PSQ (Pre-Qualification Questionnaire) and COP (Capability and Operational Plan) responses by Midday 26/06/2026.
  • Submit full Tender Responses by 25/09/2026.
  • Participate in Bidder Engagement and Dialogue sessions between 13/07/2026 and 31/08/2026 if selected.
  • Adhere to the Competitive Flexible Procedure (Light Touch Regime) requirements as outlined in the Procurement Act 2023 and subsequent procurement documentation.
  • Monitor for the publication of the full Tender Notice and Procurement Documentation on 15/06/2026.
  • Monitor for the publication of ISFT (Invitation to Submit Final Tenders) Documentation on 07/09/2026.

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PDF
Official PDF Version
PDF001183-2026_official.pdf
Summary:
This is an informational notice from the Ministry of Justice announcing a planned procurement for a 12-15 year contract for Prison Operator Services at HMP Rye Hill, valued at £400M, with an indicative timetable for a Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023.

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69
Good

Tender Quality Score

This planned procurement notice provides a clear overview of a significant upcoming tender for prison operator services, but raises concerns regarding the indicative short submission deadlines and a complete absence of sustainability considerations.

Score Breakdown

Legal Compliance75/100

The tender clearly defines the procedure type and CPV codes, indicating adherence to the Procurement Act 2023. However, the indicative timetable's very short 10-day period for full tender submission after ISFT publication, and 11 days for PSQ/COP, are significant concerns for legal compliance regarding sufficient time for bidders, even under a flexible regime.

Indicative timetable shows a very short 10-day period for full tender submission after ISFT publication, which is highly problematic for a complex £400M contract.
The 11-day PSQ and COP response time is also tight for a contract of this magnitude.
Clarity80/100

For a planned notice, the description of services, context, and high-level requirements is clear and unambiguous. The lack of detailed evaluation criteria and performance conditions is expected at this preliminary stage.

Detailed evaluation criteria and specific performance conditions are not yet provided, which is typical for a planned notice.
Completeness70/100

The notice provides all essential preliminary information, including title, reference, organization, estimated value, duration, and indicative timeline. High-level requirements are outlined, but full tender documents and detailed criteria are not yet available, which is normal for a 'planning' status.

Full tender documentation, detailed requirements, and specific evaluation criteria are not yet available.
Fairness60/100

The indicative deadlines for PSQ/COP and full tender submission are extremely tight for a contract of this scale and complexity, potentially limiting fair competition and equal access for all capable bidders. The absence of explicit e-submission details is also a concern.

Indicative deadlines for PSQ/COP and full tender submission are very short, potentially limiting bidder participation.
No explicit mention of electronic submission for equal access.
Practicality65/100

Key information such as contract start date and duration is clearly specified. However, the lack of explicit mention of electronic submission support and a direct document URL are practical drawbacks in modern procurement.

No explicit mention of electronic submission support.
No direct document URL provided.
Data Consistency90/100

All provided data points are consistent and logically ordered, particularly the indicative timeline. Minor omissions like 'Liable Person' are common for planned notices and do not impact overall consistency.

Sustainability20/100

There is a complete absence of any mention of green procurement, social aspects, or innovation focus, which are critical considerations for a high-value, long-term public contract in contemporary procurement practices.

Complete absence of sustainability, social, or innovation considerations.

Strengths

Clear description of services and context for a planned notice.
High estimated value and long contract duration clearly stated.
Appropriate CPV code and NUTS code assigned.
Indicative timeline provided, offering foresight to potential bidders.
Transparency regarding 'planning' status and non-binding nature of the notice.

Concerns

Very short indicative deadlines for PSQ/COP and full tender submission.
Complete absence of sustainability, social, or innovation criteria.
Lack of explicit mention of electronic submission support.
Evaluation criteria and detailed performance conditions are not yet specified.

Recommendations

1. Significantly extend the indicative deadlines for PSQ/COP and full tender submission to ensure fair competition and adequate preparation time.
2. Clearly state whether electronic submission will be supported and provide relevant platform details in the full tender documentation.
3. Integrate sustainability, social value, and innovation criteria into the full tender documentation, aligning with modern procurement best practices.

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B
Tender Quality Score
69/ 100 · Good

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