Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Ministry of Justice
102 Petty France
London
SW1H 9AJ
Commercial-prisoneducationservice@justice.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 02033343555
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Prison Education Service Core Education Lot 5
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 75231200 - Services related to the detention or rehabilitation of criminals
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
This notice is for the award of Lot 5: East Midlands Group & North Midlands Group
The Prisoner Education Services (PES) is a UK government initiative with three overarching strategic priorities; improving prisoner numeracy and literacy skills, incentivizing prisoners to improve their qualifications and skills to increase their prospects of finding work on release, and ensuring that Governors and their teams have the knowledge, tools, support and accountabilities that they need to make this work. PES seeks to transform learning in jails as part of a renewed push to skill up offenders and protect the public.
PES Core Education will include teaching and delivery of a two-layered curriculum for independence and for opportunity which meets the needs of prisoners, as well as high quality, timely screening and assessment delivery and tailored and impactful additional learning needs support.
The Ministry of Justice launched the PES Panel to reform how education is delivered across the adult prison estate in England. The first call-offs under this framework focused on Core Education Services, including teaching and delivery of a two-layered curriculum for independence (essential subjects such as English, Maths, digital skills) and curriculum for opportunity, which meets the needs of prisoners.
The Core Education contracts also include high quality, timely screening and assessment delivery; tailored and impactful additional learning needs support; and (where applicable) prison library services. The contracts are split into 11 regional lots and aim to provide a consistent, high-quality education offer that supports rehabilitation, reduces reoffending, and improves employability and resettlement outcomes for prisoners.
The procurement was conducted under the Open Procedure in accordance with the Light Touch Regime of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £94,000,000
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot No
5
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 75231200 - Services related to the detention or rehabilitation of criminals
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Ministry of Justice launched the PES Panel to reform how education is delivered across the adult prison estate in England. The first call-offs under this framework focused on Core Education Services, including teaching and delivery of a two-layered curriculum for independence (essential subjects such as English, maths, digital skills) and for opportunity which meets the needs of prisoners. The Core Education contracts also include high quality, timely screening and assessment delivery, tailored and impactful additional learning needs support, and (where applicable) prison library services. The contracts are split into 11 regional lots and aim to provide a consistent, high-quality education offer that supports rehabilitation, reduces reoffending, and improves employability and resettlement outcomes for prisoners.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Engagement / Weighting: 5%
Quality criterion - Name: Assessing Prisoner Needs / Weighting: 5%
Quality criterion - Name: Curriculum for Independence / Weighting: 10%
Quality criterion - Name: Curriculum for Opportunity / Weighting: 10%
Quality criterion - Name: Library Service / Weighting: 5%
Quality criterion - Name: Workforce - Recruitment, Retention & Quality / Weighting: 10%
Quality criterion - Name: Workforce - Headcount & Structures / Weighting: 10%
Quality criterion - Name: Supporting Additional Learning Needs / Weighting: 5%
Quality criterion - Name: Digital eLearning Content / Weighting: 5%
Quality criterion - Name: Collaborative Working Local/Regional / Weighting: 5%
Cost criterion - Name: Tackling Economic Inequality / Weighting: 5%
Cost criterion - Name: Wellbeing / Weighting: 5%
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Competitive procedure with negotiation
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2023/S 000-027125
Section five. Award of contract
Lot No
5
Title
Prison Education Service Core Education Lot 5
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
13 November 2023
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 2
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
PeoplePlus Group Ltd
The Quorum, Bond Street South
Bristol
BS1 3AE
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £94,000,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
Linked to the following Contracts Finder notice with redacted contract: https://ministryofjusticecommercial.bravosolution.co.uk/go/16799629019856ECA188
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court
Royal Courts of Justice, Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom