Scope
Reference
prj_14329
Description
A paper based assessment tool for accurately measuring the decoding ability of prisoners, supporting targeted literacy interventions and contributing to educational planning and rehabilitation efforts.
Objectives:
• Provide a standardised and reliable measure of prisoners' decoding ability
• Enable prison staff and education teams to identify literacy needs quickly and effectively
• Support rehabilitation pathways and progression in English provision within prisons
• Produce consistent, comparable data that can be aggregated at establishment and system level
Contract 1. PES Screening and Assessment - Lot 2 Reading Tool - Paper Based
Supplier
Contract value
- £49,238 excluding VAT
- £59,086 including VAT
Below the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
30 September 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2027
- 2 years
Main procurement category
Services
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
The provision of Training and Development activities is priced at a day rate. These are optional activities and will be commissioned on a project basis, no volumes for these activities are assured.
CPV classifications
- 80400000 - Adult and other education services
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Direct award justification
- Single supplier - intellectual property or exclusive rights
- User choice contract
Under the new Prison Education Services (PES), the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is required to provide a digital platform for the Screening and Assessment (S&A) of prisoners in functional skills, reading, and additional learning needs. However, following two recent unsuccessful procurement exercises for the reading element, the Authority is currently unable to fulfil this obligation. As an interim measure, a paper-based solution will be implemented for reading-related screening and assessments.
The evaluation tool to be provided is via sites licensed on an individual site license basis based upon the number of prisoners having assessments undertaken within a set period.
The contracting authority (MoJ) is invoking the single-supplier direct award provisions under paragraphs 5 and 6 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023:
• paragraph 5 (a) due to a particular supplier having intellectual property rights or other exclusive rights, only that supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b) there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works
This justification also applies due to:
• The MoJ does not have any express rights to transfer or licence the intellectual property rights to any other supplier
• No reasonable alternatives
Supplier
Powell Phonics Ltd
2 Pavilion Court, 600 Pavilion Drive,
Northampton,
NN4 7SL
United Kingdom
Email: kirstypowell181@gmail.com
Website: http://www.powellphonicschecker.com
Region: UKF24 - West Northamptonshire
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1. PES Screening and Assessment - Lot 2 Reading Tool - Paper Based
Contracting authority
Ministry of Justice
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PDNN-2773-HVYN
102 Petty France
London
SW1H 9AJ
United Kingdom
Contact name: Screening and Assessment Lot 2 Reading Paper Tool
Email: pes-screeningandassessment@justice.gov.uk
Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/procurement
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Organisation type: Public authority - central government