Scope
Reference
DN804773
Description
We anticipate this service will be delivered through a prime commissioner model. It is anticipated that the prime will sub-commission services from a diverse, skilled supply chain connected to our local communities in order to deliver a sequenced comprehensive support package.
The GM Rehabilitation Services will be part of the wider Whole System Approach to Diversion which aims to support people in contact with the justice system to be able to comply with any requirements, move away from an offending life style and successfully exit the system.
GMCA is commissioning this service to support males and females aged 18 and over in prison and in the community to:
• Deliver a support service to address the needs of those Service Users who will be on the probation caseload in Greater Manchester or based within Greater Manchester Prison establishments. Additionally, it will also support women who are at risk of entering the justice system and support may continue beyond contact with the probation service.
• Achieve and maintain sustainable outcomes in relation to unmet need including housing, employment, financial management and wellbeing.
• Build supportive relationships and social networks. This might include family relationships, friends, community groups and peer communities.
• Connect to a range of community-based activities and resources that matter to Service Users. This will include employment, education, volunteering, or constructive leisure activities.
• Support towards recovery from drug or alcohol use (non-clinical interventions) and gambling where relevant.
The Lead Provider shall act as a single point of assessment that offers a comprehensive needs-led service that provides the right support offer, at the right time to address a wide range of interdependent unmet rehabilitative needs; and helps the Service User build the self-belief, hope, skills and abilities to sustain these in the long-term.
The service will support those in prison, from the point of reception onwards, to help them make a successful transition to the community and will support those in the community to live lives free from crime, addictive behaviour and reduce harm.
This will include a 'Community Links' support service that will use strengths-based and local community-focused delivery models to support social integration. It will offer practical and emotional support that will help Service Users to build and sustain relationships and/or new lifestyles in the community that provide hope and meaningful alternatives to criminal activity, drug and alcohol use, gambling and other addictive behaviour.
In addition, specific sequenced support for Housing, Adult Skills and Employment Support, Finance, Benefit and Debt (FBD) and other unmet need will be provided by experts.
The service should offer agile peer support from people who have experience of being in the criminal justice system and / or addictive behaviours.
These aspects will be detailed further throughout the Specification / Contract Schedule and in related procurement documents.
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 October 2027 to 31 March 2032
- Possible extension to 31 March 2035
- 7 years, 6 months
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 75231200 - Services related to the detention or rehabilitation of criminals
- 75231240 - Probation services
- 80400000 - Adult and other education services
- 85320000 - Social services
Contract locations
- UKD3 - Greater Manchester
Engagement
Engagement deadline
4 February 2026
Engagement process description
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is undertaking market engagement in relation to the procurement of GMCA1401 - Greater Manchester Rehabilitation Services. Further details on this opportunity, including how to register for the online market engagement event, are set out below.
Date & Time: Wednesday 4th February 2026, 1.30 - 3pm
Location: This event will be held on Microsoft Teams.
Event registration: Please use this link to register for this event - https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/bcc5670f-13b1-4f1d-9814-753a6a975f26@e8d8036a-b5f9-4f3f-9d36-d7cd740299bb
Overview of Procurement
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) intends to procure a Lead Provider to deliver the Greater Manchester Rehabilitation Services from 1st October 2027, operating under a prime commissioner model. We anticipate that this service will be delivered through a prime commissioner model and that the prime will sub-commission services from a diverse, skilled supply chain connected to our local communities in order to deliver a sequenced comprehensive support package.
The Greater Manchester Rehabilitation Services form a core part of the wider Whole System Approach to Diversion, which aims to help people in contact with the justice system to comply with requirements, move away from offending behaviour, and successfully exit the system.
The service will support men and women aged 18+ in both custodial and community settings, with the aim to:
• Provide tailored support for individuals on the Greater Manchester probation caseload or within Greater Manchester prison establishments. Support will also extend to women at risk of entering the justice system, and may continue beyond contact with probation services.
• Enable individuals to achieve and sustain improvements in areas such as housing, employment, financial stability, and wellbeing.
• Develop supportive relationships, networks, and social connections-including family, friends, community groups, and peer support networks.
• Build links to meaningful community-based opportunities including education, employment, volunteering, and constructive leisure activities.
• Support recovery from drug or alcohol misuse (non-clinical) and gambling where relevant.
The Lead Provider will act as a single point of assessment, delivering a needs-led, comprehensive service that ensures people receive the right support at the right time. The model is designed to address a wide range of interdependent rehabilitative needs while helping individuals build the skills, confidence, and resilience needed for long-term change.
Support will be available from the point of prison reception to aid successful transition into the community, and for individuals in the community seeking to live crime-free lives and reduce harmful or addictive behaviours.
This will include a Community Links support offer, focused on strengths-based and community-centred approaches to promote social integration. Practical and emotional support will help individuals develop and sustain positive relationships and lifestyles that offer meaningful alternatives to offending, substance use, gambling, and other harmful behaviours.
Specialist sequenced support will also be provided in areas such as housing, adult skills and employment, finance/benefits/debt, and other identified needs. Peer support from individuals with lived experience of the criminal justice system and/or addiction is expected to be an integral component of the service.
Overview of Market Engagement
This session will give interested providers the opportunity to understand the service specification and procurement process in more detail. Further information on the strategic and operational context, expected outcomes, and estimated contract value will be shared during the session.
The session is intended to be interactive, providing space for providers to share feedback and contribute to shaping the development of the procurement. A follow-up, in-person engagement event is planned for late February 2026.
GMCA anticipates that the tender opportunity will be published in June 2026, with all procurement documentation available via The Chest.
GMCA Privacy Statement
When registering for this event, GMCA will receive your name, email address, organisation, and job role. This information will be used to record attendance and send communications regarding any future events or updates relevant to this procurement exercise.
Should you wish to 'opt out' of receiving any future communications from GMCA regarding this procurement opportunity, please email eleanor.walsh@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk.
Please note that this will be a virtual Microsoft Teams event. Contact details associated with your registration may be visible to other attendees as part of the meeting invitation and during the event.
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
29 June 2026
Contracting authority
Greater Manchester Combined Authority
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PXBN-3793-LCTQ
56 Oxford Street
Manchester
M1 6EU
United Kingdom
Region: UKD33 - Manchester
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government