{ "uri": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/api/1.0/ocdsRecordPackages/ocds-h6vhtk-066032", "publisher": { "name": "Cabinet Office", "scheme": "GB-GOR", "uid": "D2", "uri": "https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/cabinet-office" }, "publishedDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:11+01:00", "license": "http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/", "publicationPolicy": "https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/open-contracting", "version": "1.1", "extensions": [ "https://standard.open-contracting.org/profiles/eu/latest/en/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_amendment_rationale_classifications_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_budget_breakdown_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_contract_completion_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_documentation_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_pagination_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_suitability_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/portaledcahn/ocds_Links_extension/main/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cabinetoffice/ocds_uk_extension/main/extension.json" ], "packages": [ "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/api/1.0/ocdsRecordPackages/ocds-h6vhtk-066032" ], "records": [ { "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-066032", "releases": [ { "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-066032", "id": "018661-2026", "tag": [ "planning" ], "date": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "initiationType": "tender", "planning": { "documents": [ { "id": "018661-2026", "documentType": "plannedProcurementNotice", "noticeType": "UK1", "description": "Pipeline notice on Find a Tender", "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018661-2026", "datePublished": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "format": "text/html" } ] }, "parties": [ { "name": "Ministry of Justice", "id": "GB-PPON-PDNN-2773-HVYN", "identifier": { "scheme": "GB-PPON", "id": "PDNN-2773-HVYN" }, "address": { "streetAddress": "102 Petty France", "locality": "London", "postalCode": "SW1H 9AJ", "country": "GB", "countryName": "United Kingdom", "region": "UKI32" }, "contactPoint": { "name": "Graham Cox", "email": "vvn.cmo@justice.gov.uk" }, "roles": [ "buyer" ], "details": { "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/procurement", "classifications": [ { "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE", "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment", "description": "Public authority - central government" } ] } } ], "buyer": { "id": "GB-PPON-PDNN-2773-HVYN", "name": "Ministry of Justice" }, "tender": { "id": "prj_14443", "legalBasis": { "id": "2023/54", "scheme": "UKPGA", "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents" }, "title": "Prisoner Telephony Services – Bridging Agreement", "description": "The proposed contract, known as the Bridging Agreement, is to continue the existing prisoner telephony service (PTS) with British Telecommunications plc (BT) procured under a concession contract dated 30 August 2022 (the Current PTS Contract) which continued on similar terms the ‘PIN phone’ service which has been in operation for several years. Under the Bridging Agreement, BT will provide substantially the same services on substantially the same terms as the Current PTS Contract together with exit services. \nThe Bridging Agreement will be drafted as an extension/contract change notice to the Current PTS Contract. It will bridge the period for which the PTS is required, which is between 1 June 2027 (the Current PTS Contract expires 31 May 2027) up to 30 November 2031. This is the period required to enable governing, procuring, mobilising, testing and transitioning to the next generation communications service, called the Prisoner Integrated Communications Service (PICS). \nThe Bridging Agreement is permitted to be procured as a direct award concession contract under section 41 and schedule 5 paragraphs 5 and 6 of the Procurement Act 2023 in the alternative: \n5 (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 \n(b)there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works \nand in the alternative: \n6 (a)due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and(b)there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. \nA transparency notice is being published separately for the Bridging Agreement. \nFor background information: The Authority has conducted several forms of preliminary market engagement for the PICS contracts which will replace the Bridging Agreement. Following that market engagement, the Authority has been developing plans for the replacement solution. The Authority intends to provide details of its procurement plans for PICS via pipeline notice(s) and further market engagement as the PICS project progresses through the Authority's governance. The procurement for the first PICS contract (which will replace the Bridging Agreement) is estimated to commence in 2027. \nTo obtain information from the preliminary market engagement which has occurred already and to register for updates for PICS, please contact vvn.cmo@justice.gov.uk", "items": [ { "id": "1", "additionalClassifications": [ { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "64200000", "description": "Telecommunications services" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32412100", "description": "Telecommunications network" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32500000", "description": "Telecommunications equipment and supplies" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32551400", "description": "Telephone network" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32550000", "description": "Telephone equipment" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32552130", "description": "Public telephones" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32410000", "description": "Local area network" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "72710000", "description": "Local area network services" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "45232300", "description": "Construction and ancillary works for telephone and communication lines" } ], "deliveryAddresses": [ { "region": "UK", "country": "GB", "countryName": "United Kingdom" } ], "relatedLot": "1" } ], "value": { "amountGross": 113540000, "amount": 94620000, "currency": "GBP" }, "procurementMethod": "direct", "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award", "mainProcurementCategory": "services", "specialRegime": [ "concession" ], "aboveThreshold": true, "lots": [ { "id": "1", "contractPeriod": { "startDate": "2027-06-01T00:00:00+01:00", "endDate": "2031-11-30T23:59:59+00:00" }, "status": "planned" } ], "communication": { "futureNoticeDate": "2026-03-02T23:59:59+00:00" }, "status": "planned" }, "language": "en", "extensions": [ "https://standard.open-contracting.org/profiles/eu/latest/en/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_amendment_rationale_classifications_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_budget_breakdown_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_contract_completion_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_documentation_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_pagination_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_suitability_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/portaledcahn/ocds_Links_extension/main/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cabinetoffice/ocds_uk_extension/main/extension.json" ] }, { "id": "018668-2026", "tag": [ "award", "contract" ], "date": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "initiationType": "tender", "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-066032", "parties": [ { "name": "Ministry of Justice", "id": "GB-PPON-PDNN-2773-HVYN", "identifier": { "scheme": "GB-PPON", "id": "PDNN-2773-HVYN" }, "address": { "streetAddress": "102 Petty France", "locality": "London", "postalCode": "SW1H 9AJ", "country": "GB", "countryName": "United Kingdom", "region": "UKI32" }, "contactPoint": { "name": "Graham Cox", "email": "vvn.cmo@justice.gov.uk" }, "roles": [ "buyer" ], "details": { "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/procurement", "classifications": [ { "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE", "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment", "description": "Public authority - central government" } ] } }, { "name": "British Telecommunications plc", "id": "GB-COH-01800000", "identifier": { "scheme": "GB-COH", "id": "01800000" }, "address": { "streetAddress": "One Braham, 1 Braham Street", "locality": "London", "postalCode": "E1 8EE", "country": "GB", "countryName": "United Kingdom", "region": "UKI42" }, "contactPoint": { "email": "ccsframeworks@bt.com" }, "roles": [ "supplier" ], "details": { "url": "http://www.BT.com", "scale": "large", "vcse": false } } ], "buyer": { "id": "GB-PPON-PDNN-2773-HVYN", "name": "Ministry of Justice" }, "tender": { "id": "prj_14443", "legalBasis": { "id": "2023/54", "scheme": "UKPGA", "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents" }, "title": "Prisoner Telephony Services – Bridging Agreement", "description": "This direct award procurement is a concession contract to continue the existing prisoner telephony service for the prisons in England and Wales which are run by HM Prison and Probation Service.", "status": "complete", "procurementMethod": "direct", "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award", "procurementMethodRationale": "The prisoner telephony service (PTS) is currently provided by British Telecommunications plc (BT) in the prisons in England and Wales which are run by HM Prison and Probation Service and has been for several years. The ability for prisoners to maintain relationships with family and friends is critical as it contributes to prisoners’ wellbeing, order and discipline, rehabilitation, and a reduction in the likelihood of reoffending. The main communication channel in use currently is voice calls. Voice calls are provided by the PTS. PTS is a critical service which allows prisoners to make phone calls to approved contact numbers using a unique Personal Identification Number (PIN). The PTS includes the use of in-cell phones, wing phones, mobile PIN phones and staff to cell phones. \nThe proposed direct award, known as the Bridging Agreement, is being entered into in 2026 and will bridge the period for which the PTS is required, which is between 1 June 2027 (the current contract expires on 31 May 2027) up to 30 November 2031. This is the period required to enable governing, procuring, mobilising, testing and transitioning to the replacement next generation communications service called the Prisoner Integrated Communications Service (PICS). Under the Bridging Agreement, BT will continue to provide the PTS on substantially the same terms as the current PTS contract together with exit services to transition to PICS. PTS is procured as a concession contract as it is predominately funded from the income generated by prisoners who purchase phone credit from BT. \nThe Bridging Agreement will be drafted as an extension/contract change notice to the current PTS contract. \nThe contracting authority (MOJ) is relying on the single supplier direct award justifications under section 41 and schedule 5 paragraphs 5 and/or 6 of the Procurement Act 2023 in the alternative: \nparagraph 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. \nand in the alternative: \nparagraph 6 (a)due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b)there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. \nThe explanations for why the justifications apply are as follows. \nIntellectual property rights - paragraph 5. \nThis justification applies because due to the intellectual property clauses in the current PTS contract and the Bridging Agreement only BT has the intellectual property rights needed to be able to provide the services. \nNo reasonable alternatives \nIn the absence of the intellectual property rights that would be needed for an alternative supplier to be able to provide the services, the only reasonable potential alternative would be for MOJ to procure another supplier/s to develop a replacement solution that meets MOJ’s requirements – whether building from scratch or configuring a Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) solution. Any replacement supplier/s would then need time for mobilising, testing and transitioning to that replacement solution after it had been appropriately governed and procured by MOJ. There is not sufficient time to do all these activities which would be necessary to transition to a replacement solution by the date the services are required, which is 1 June 2027. This is evidenced by the number of years it is taking to replace the PTS and transition to the next generation replacement service, PICS. PICS is being designed for use in the prisons in England and Wales which are run by HM Prisons and Probation Service and will be rolled out incrementally over time to eventually end use of the PTS service. MOJ is approximately two years into the PICS project. The direct award for the Bridging Agreement is for the period required to facilitate MOJ procuring, governing, testing, mobilising and transitioning from PTS to PICS.  \nTherefore, there are no reasonable alternatives. \nThe second justification is absence of competition for technical reasons - paragraph 6 \nThere is an absence of competition for technical reasons which are based on the same arguments as for the intellectual property rights justification under paragraph 5, which are stated above. The PTS is bespoke and an alternative supplier would not be able to walk in and take over the services on the date from which they are required due to the intellectual property rights of BT. Instead, there would have to be an appropriately governed procurement/s and then the selected supplier/s would have to mobilise, test and then transition to that service and as stated in the justification under paragraph 5 above, this is not possible to do by the time the services are required on 1 June 2027. \nNo reasonable alternatives \nThe same justifications, stated above, for why there are no reasonable alternatives for paragraph 5 intellectual property rights, apply to the justification for paragraph 6. Therefore, there are no reasonable alternatives. \nFor background information, MOJ has conducted several forms of preliminary market engagement for PICS to replace the Bridging Agreement. Following that market engagement, MOJ has been developing plans for the future. MOJ intends to provide details of its procurement plans for PICS via pipeline notice(s) and further market engagement as the PICS project progresses through MOJ’s governance. The procurement for the first PICS contract is estimated to commence in 2027. \n To obtain information from the preliminary market engagement which has occurred already and to register for updates for PICS, please contact vvn.cmo@justice.gov.uk", "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [ { "id": "singleSuppliersIntellectualPropertyExclusiveRights" }, { "id": "singleSuppliersTechnicalReasons" } ], "specialRegime": [ "concession" ], "lots": [ { "id": "1", "status": "complete" } ], "documents": [ { "id": "conflictOfInterest", "documentType": "conflictOfInterest", "description": "Not published" } ] }, "awards": [ { "id": "1", "status": "pending", "value": { "amountGross": 113540000, "amount": 94620000, "currency": "GBP" }, "mainProcurementCategory": "services", "aboveThreshold": true, "suppliers": [ { "id": "GB-COH-01800000", "name": "British Telecommunications plc" } ], "items": [ { "id": "1", "additionalClassifications": [ { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "64200000", "description": "Telecommunications services" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32500000", "description": "Telecommunications equipment and supplies" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32551400", "description": "Telephone network" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32550000", "description": "Telephone equipment" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32552130", "description": "Public telephones" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32410000", "description": "Local area network" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "72710000", "description": "Local area network services" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "45232300", "description": "Construction and ancillary works for telephone and communication lines" } ], "deliveryAddresses": [ { "region": "UK", "country": "GB", "countryName": "United Kingdom" } ], "relatedLot": "1" } ], "contractPeriod": { "startDate": "2027-06-01T00:00:00+01:00", "endDate": "2031-11-30T23:59:59+00:00" }, "relatedLots": [ "1" ], "documents": [ { "id": "018668-2026", "documentType": "awardNotice", "noticeType": "UK5", "description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender", "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018668-2026", "datePublished": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "format": "text/html" } ], "milestones": [ { "id": "1", "type": "futureSignatureDate", "dueDate": "2026-03-23T23:59:59+00:00", "status": "scheduled" } ] } ], "language": "en", "extensions": [ "https://standard.open-contracting.org/profiles/eu/latest/en/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_amendment_rationale_classifications_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_budget_breakdown_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_contract_completion_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_documentation_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_pagination_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_suitability_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/portaledcahn/ocds_Links_extension/main/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cabinetoffice/ocds_uk_extension/main/extension.json" ] }, { "buyerID": [], "id": "085787-2026", "tag": [ "award", "contract" ], "date": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "initiationType": "tender", "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-066032", "parties": [ { "name": "Ministry of Justice", "id": "GB-PPON-PDNN-2773-HVYN", "identifier": { "scheme": "GB-PPON", "id": "PDNN-2773-HVYN" }, "address": { "streetAddress": "102 Petty France", "locality": "London", "postalCode": "SW1H 9AJ", "country": "GB", "countryName": "United Kingdom", "region": "UKI32" }, "contactPoint": { "name": "Graham Cox", "email": "vvn.cmo@justice.gov.uk" }, "roles": [ "buyer" ], "details": { "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/procurement", "classifications": [ { "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE", "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment", "description": "Public authority - central government" } ] } }, { "name": "British Telecommunications Limited", "id": "GB-PPON-PRYC-1538-TGMN", "identifier": { "scheme": "GB-PPON", "id": "PRYC-1538-TGMN" }, "additionalIdentifiers": [ { "scheme": "GB-COH", "id": "01800000" } ], "address": { "streetAddress": "1 Braham Street", "locality": "London", "postalCode": "E1 8EE", "country": "GB", "countryName": "United Kingdom", "region": "UKI42" }, "contactPoint": { "email": "ccsframeworks@bt.com" }, "roles": [ "supplier" ], "details": { "url": "http://www.BT.com", "scale": "large", "vcse": false, "publicServiceMissionOrganization": false, "shelteredWorkshop": false }, "control": { "description": "CHARNLEY, Helen, \nCorrespondence address: 1 Braham Street, London, United Kingdom, E1 8EE \nDate of birth: October 1968 \nNationality: British \nCountry of residence: United Kingdom \n HARRIS, Neil Richard \nCorrespondence address:1 Braham Street, London, United Kingdom, E1 8EE \nDate of birth: November 1968 \nNationality: British \nCountry of residence: United Kingdom \nHEATON, Edward John \nCorrespondence address: 1 Braham Street, London, United Kingdom, E1 8EE \nDate of birth: November 1982 \nNationality: British \nCountry of residence: United Kingdom \nRIDER, Daniel Thomas \nCorrespondence address: 1 Braham Street, London, United Kingdom, E1 8EE \nDate of birth : January 1980 \nNationality ; British \nCountry of residence: England" } } ], "buyer": { "id": "GB-PPON-PDNN-2773-HVYN", "name": "Ministry of Justice" }, "tender": { "id": "prj_14443", "legalBasis": { "id": "2023/54", "scheme": "UKPGA", "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents" }, "title": "Prisoner Telephony Services – Bridging Agreement", "description": "This direct award procurement is a concession contract to continue the existing prisoner telephony service for the prisons in England and Wales which are run by HM Prison and Probation Service. The Bridging Agreement is drafted as an extension/contract change notice to the current PTS contract. \nThe prisoner telephony service (PTS) is currently provided by British Telecommunications Limited (company number 01800000) (BT) in the prisons in England and Wales which are run by HM Prison and Probation Service and has been for several years. The ability for prisoners to maintain relationships with family and friends is critical as it contributes to prisoners’ wellbeing, order and discipline, rehabilitation, and a reduction in the likelihood of reoffending. The main communication channel in use currently is voice calls, provided by the PTS. PTS is a critical service which allows prisoners to make phone calls to approved contact numbers using a unique personal identification number (PIN). The PTS scope includes use of in-cell phones, wing phones, mobile PIN phones and staff to cell phones. \nThis direct award, known as the Bridging Agreement, will bridge the period between 1 June 2027 (the current contract expires on 31 May 2027) up to 30 November 2031, which is the period required to enable governing, procuring, mobilising, testing and transitioning to the replacement next generation communications service called the Prisoner Integrated Communications Service (PICS). Under the Bridging Agreement, BT will continue to provide the PTS on substantially the same terms as the current PTS contract together with exit services to transition to PICS. PTS is procured as a concession contract as it is predominately funded from the income generated by prisoners who purchase phone credit from BT. \nThe contracting authority (MOJ) is relying on the single supplier direct award justifications under section 41 and schedule 5 paragraphs 5 and/or 6 of the Procurement Act 2023 in the alternative: \n-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. \nand in the alternative: \n-paragraph 6 (a)due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b)there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. \nThe explanations for why the justifications apply are as follows: \nIntellectual property rights - paragraph 5. \nThis justification applies because only BT has the intellectual property rights needed to be able to provide the services. This is a consequence of the intellectual property clauses in the current PTS contract and the Bridging Agreement. \nNo reasonable alternatives \nIn the absence of the intellectual property rights that would be needed for an alternative supplier to be able to provide the services, the only reasonable potential alternative would be for MOJ to procure another supplier/s to develop a replacement solution that meets MOJ’s requirements – whether building from scratch or configuring a commercial-off-the-shelf solution. Any replacement supplier/s would then need time for mobilising, testing and transitioning to that replacement solution after it had been appropriately governed and procured by MOJ. There is not sufficient time to do all these activities which would be necessary to transition to a replacement solution by the date the services are required, which is 1 June 2027. This is evidenced by the number of years it is taking to replace the PTS and transition to the next generation replacement service, PICS. PICS is being designed for use in the prisons in England and Wales which are run by HM Prisons and Probation Service and will be rolled out incrementally over time to eventually end use of the PTS service. MOJ is approximately two years into the PICS project. The direct award for the Bridging Agreement is for the period required to facilitate MOJ procuring, governing, testing, mobilising and transitioning from PTS to PICS. Therefore, there are no reasonable alternatives. \nThe second justification is absence of competition for technical reasons - paragraph 6 \nThere is an absence of competition for technical reasons which are based on the same arguments as for the intellectual property rights justification under paragraph 5, which are stated above. The PTS is bespoke and an alternative supplier would not be able to walk in and take over the services on the date from which they are required due to the intellectual property rights of BT. Instead, there would have to be an appropriately governed procurement/s and then the selected supplier/s would have to mobilise, test and then transition to that service and as stated in the justification under paragraph 5 above, this is not possible to do by the time the services are required on 1 June 2027. \nNo reasonable alternatives \nThe same justifications, stated above, for why there are no reasonable alternatives for paragraph 5 intellectual property rights, apply to the justification for paragraph 6. \nTherefore, there are no reasonable alternatives. \nFor background information, MOJ has conducted several forms of preliminary market engagement for PICS to replace the Bridging Agreement. Following that market engagement, MOJ has been developing plans for the future. MOJ anticipates that the contracts for prisoner telephony services to support PICS will be let through relevant frameworks agreements such as RM6377 Network Services 4, RM6098 Technology Products & Associated Services (TePAS) 2 and/or TePAS 3 operated by the Government Commercial Agency (GCA); Procurements to commence after February 2027. Prospective suppliers are encouraged to engage with GCA (gca.gov.uk) and/or on-framework suppliers to participate in framework opportunities. \nTo obtain information from the preliminary market engagement which has occurred already and to register for updates for PICS, please contact vvn.cmo@justice.gov.uk \nNote: With effect on 25 June 2026, BT registered a change at Companies House to reflect its re-registration from a plc. Whilst the company’s name has changed, the legal entity remains the same with the same company number.", "status": "complete", "procurementMethod": "direct", "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award", "specialRegime": [ "concession" ], "lots": [ { "id": "1", "status": "complete", "description": null } ] }, "awards": [ { "id": "1", "title": "Prisoner Telephony Services – Bridging Agreement", "status": "active", "date": "2026-09-07T00:00:00+01:00", "value": { "amountGross": 113540000, "amount": 94620000, "currency": "GBP" }, "mainProcurementCategory": "services", "aboveThreshold": true, "suppliers": [ { "id": "GB-PPON-PRYC-1538-TGMN", "name": "British Telecommunications Limited" } ], "items": [ { "id": "1", "additionalClassifications": [ { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "64200000", "description": "Telecommunications services" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32412100", "description": "Telecommunications network" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32500000", "description": "Telecommunications equipment and supplies" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32551400", "description": "Telephone network" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32550000", "description": "Telephone equipment" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32552130", "description": "Public telephones" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32410000", "description": "Local area network" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "72710000", "description": "Local area network services" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "45232300", "description": "Construction and ancillary works for telephone and communication lines" } ], "deliveryAddresses": [ { "region": "UK", "country": "GB", "countryName": "United Kingdom" } ], "relatedLot": "1" } ], "contractPeriod": { "startDate": "2027-06-01T00:00:00+01:00", "endDate": "2031-11-30T23:59:59+00:00" }, "relatedLots": [ "1" ], "documents": [ { "id": "085787-2026", "documentType": "awardNotice", "noticeType": "UK6", "description": "Contract award notice on Find a Tender", "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085787-2026", "datePublished": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "format": "text/html" } ], "milestones": [ { "id": "1", "type": "futureSignatureDate", "dueDate": "2026-09-22T23:59:59+01:00", "status": "scheduled" } ] } ], "language": "en", "extensions": [ "https://standard.open-contracting.org/profiles/eu/latest/en/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_amendment_rationale_classifications_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_budget_breakdown_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_contract_completion_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_documentation_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_pagination_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_performance_failures_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_suitability_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/portaledcahn/ocds_Links_extension/main/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cabinetoffice/ocds_uk_extension/main/extension.json" ] } ], "compiledRelease": { "tag": [ "compiled" ], "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-066032-2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "date": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-066032", "initiationType": "tender", "planning": { "documents": [ { "id": "018661-2026", "documentType": "plannedProcurementNotice", "noticeType": "UK1", "description": "Pipeline notice on Find a Tender", "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018661-2026", "datePublished": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "format": "text/html" } ] }, "parties": [ { "id": "GB-PPON-PDNN-2773-HVYN", "name": "Ministry of Justice", "identifier": { "scheme": "GB-PPON", "id": "PDNN-2773-HVYN" }, "address": { "streetAddress": "102 Petty France", "locality": "London", "postalCode": "SW1H 9AJ", "country": "GB", "countryName": "United Kingdom", "region": "UKI32" }, "contactPoint": { "name": "Graham Cox", "email": "vvn.cmo@justice.gov.uk" }, "roles": [ "buyer" ], "details": { "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/procurement", "classifications": [ { "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE", "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment", "description": "Public authority - central government" } ] } }, { "id": "GB-COH-01800000", "name": "British Telecommunications plc", "identifier": { "scheme": "GB-COH", "id": "01800000" }, "address": { "streetAddress": "One Braham, 1 Braham Street", "locality": "London", "postalCode": "E1 8EE", "country": "GB", "countryName": "United Kingdom", "region": "UKI42" }, "contactPoint": { "email": "ccsframeworks@bt.com" }, "roles": [ "supplier" ], "details": { "url": "http://www.BT.com", "scale": "large", "vcse": false } }, { "id": "GB-PPON-PRYC-1538-TGMN", "name": "British Telecommunications Limited", "identifier": { "scheme": "GB-PPON", "id": "PRYC-1538-TGMN" }, "additionalIdentifiers": [ { "scheme": "GB-COH", "id": "01800000" } ], "address": { "streetAddress": "1 Braham Street", "locality": "London", "postalCode": "E1 8EE", "country": "GB", "countryName": "United Kingdom", "region": "UKI42" }, "contactPoint": { "email": "ccsframeworks@bt.com" }, "roles": [ "supplier" ], "details": { "url": "http://www.BT.com", "scale": "large", "vcse": false, "publicServiceMissionOrganization": false, "shelteredWorkshop": false }, "control": { "description": "CHARNLEY, Helen, \nCorrespondence address: 1 Braham Street, London, United Kingdom, E1 8EE \nDate of birth: October 1968 \nNationality: British \nCountry of residence: United Kingdom \n HARRIS, Neil Richard \nCorrespondence address:1 Braham Street, London, United Kingdom, E1 8EE \nDate of birth: November 1968 \nNationality: British \nCountry of residence: United Kingdom \nHEATON, Edward John \nCorrespondence address: 1 Braham Street, London, United Kingdom, E1 8EE \nDate of birth: November 1982 \nNationality: British \nCountry of residence: United Kingdom \nRIDER, Daniel Thomas \nCorrespondence address: 1 Braham Street, London, United Kingdom, E1 8EE \nDate of birth : January 1980 \nNationality ; British \nCountry of residence: England" } } ], "buyer": { "id": "GB-PPON-PDNN-2773-HVYN", "name": "Ministry of Justice" }, "tender": { "id": "prj_14443", "legalBasis": { "id": "2023/54", "scheme": "UKPGA", "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents" }, "title": "Prisoner Telephony Services – Bridging Agreement", "description": "This direct award procurement is a concession contract to continue the existing prisoner telephony service for the prisons in England and Wales which are run by HM Prison and Probation Service. The Bridging Agreement is drafted as an extension/contract change notice to the current PTS contract. \nThe prisoner telephony service (PTS) is currently provided by British Telecommunications Limited (company number 01800000) (BT) in the prisons in England and Wales which are run by HM Prison and Probation Service and has been for several years. The ability for prisoners to maintain relationships with family and friends is critical as it contributes to prisoners’ wellbeing, order and discipline, rehabilitation, and a reduction in the likelihood of reoffending. The main communication channel in use currently is voice calls, provided by the PTS. PTS is a critical service which allows prisoners to make phone calls to approved contact numbers using a unique personal identification number (PIN). The PTS scope includes use of in-cell phones, wing phones, mobile PIN phones and staff to cell phones. \nThis direct award, known as the Bridging Agreement, will bridge the period between 1 June 2027 (the current contract expires on 31 May 2027) up to 30 November 2031, which is the period required to enable governing, procuring, mobilising, testing and transitioning to the replacement next generation communications service called the Prisoner Integrated Communications Service (PICS). Under the Bridging Agreement, BT will continue to provide the PTS on substantially the same terms as the current PTS contract together with exit services to transition to PICS. PTS is procured as a concession contract as it is predominately funded from the income generated by prisoners who purchase phone credit from BT. \nThe contracting authority (MOJ) is relying on the single supplier direct award justifications under section 41 and schedule 5 paragraphs 5 and/or 6 of the Procurement Act 2023 in the alternative: \n-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. \nand in the alternative: \n-paragraph 6 (a)due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b)there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. \nThe explanations for why the justifications apply are as follows: \nIntellectual property rights - paragraph 5. \nThis justification applies because only BT has the intellectual property rights needed to be able to provide the services. This is a consequence of the intellectual property clauses in the current PTS contract and the Bridging Agreement. \nNo reasonable alternatives \nIn the absence of the intellectual property rights that would be needed for an alternative supplier to be able to provide the services, the only reasonable potential alternative would be for MOJ to procure another supplier/s to develop a replacement solution that meets MOJ’s requirements – whether building from scratch or configuring a commercial-off-the-shelf solution. Any replacement supplier/s would then need time for mobilising, testing and transitioning to that replacement solution after it had been appropriately governed and procured by MOJ. There is not sufficient time to do all these activities which would be necessary to transition to a replacement solution by the date the services are required, which is 1 June 2027. This is evidenced by the number of years it is taking to replace the PTS and transition to the next generation replacement service, PICS. PICS is being designed for use in the prisons in England and Wales which are run by HM Prisons and Probation Service and will be rolled out incrementally over time to eventually end use of the PTS service. MOJ is approximately two years into the PICS project. The direct award for the Bridging Agreement is for the period required to facilitate MOJ procuring, governing, testing, mobilising and transitioning from PTS to PICS. Therefore, there are no reasonable alternatives. \nThe second justification is absence of competition for technical reasons - paragraph 6 \nThere is an absence of competition for technical reasons which are based on the same arguments as for the intellectual property rights justification under paragraph 5, which are stated above. The PTS is bespoke and an alternative supplier would not be able to walk in and take over the services on the date from which they are required due to the intellectual property rights of BT. Instead, there would have to be an appropriately governed procurement/s and then the selected supplier/s would have to mobilise, test and then transition to that service and as stated in the justification under paragraph 5 above, this is not possible to do by the time the services are required on 1 June 2027. \nNo reasonable alternatives \nThe same justifications, stated above, for why there are no reasonable alternatives for paragraph 5 intellectual property rights, apply to the justification for paragraph 6. \nTherefore, there are no reasonable alternatives. \nFor background information, MOJ has conducted several forms of preliminary market engagement for PICS to replace the Bridging Agreement. Following that market engagement, MOJ has been developing plans for the future. MOJ anticipates that the contracts for prisoner telephony services to support PICS will be let through relevant frameworks agreements such as RM6377 Network Services 4, RM6098 Technology Products & Associated Services (TePAS) 2 and/or TePAS 3 operated by the Government Commercial Agency (GCA); Procurements to commence after February 2027. Prospective suppliers are encouraged to engage with GCA (gca.gov.uk) and/or on-framework suppliers to participate in framework opportunities. \nTo obtain information from the preliminary market engagement which has occurred already and to register for updates for PICS, please contact vvn.cmo@justice.gov.uk \nNote: With effect on 25 June 2026, BT registered a change at Companies House to reflect its re-registration from a plc. Whilst the company’s name has changed, the legal entity remains the same with the same company number.", "items": [ { "id": "1", "additionalClassifications": [ { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "64200000", "description": "Telecommunications services" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32412100", "description": "Telecommunications network" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32500000", "description": "Telecommunications equipment and supplies" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32551400", "description": "Telephone network" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32550000", "description": "Telephone equipment" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32552130", "description": "Public telephones" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32410000", "description": "Local area network" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "72710000", "description": "Local area network services" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "45232300", "description": "Construction and ancillary works for telephone and communication lines" } ], "deliveryAddresses": [ { "region": "UK", "country": "GB", "countryName": "United Kingdom" } ], "relatedLot": "1" } ], "value": { "amountGross": 113540000, "amount": 94620000, "currency": "GBP" }, "procurementMethod": "direct", "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award", "mainProcurementCategory": "services", "specialRegime": [ "concession" ], "aboveThreshold": true, "lots": [ { "id": "1", "contractPeriod": { "startDate": "2027-06-01T00:00:00+01:00", "endDate": "2031-11-30T23:59:59+00:00" }, "status": "complete" } ], "communication": { "futureNoticeDate": "2026-03-02T23:59:59+00:00" }, "status": "complete", "procurementMethodRationale": "The prisoner telephony service (PTS) is currently provided by British Telecommunications plc (BT) in the prisons in England and Wales which are run by HM Prison and Probation Service and has been for several years. The ability for prisoners to maintain relationships with family and friends is critical as it contributes to prisoners’ wellbeing, order and discipline, rehabilitation, and a reduction in the likelihood of reoffending. The main communication channel in use currently is voice calls. Voice calls are provided by the PTS. PTS is a critical service which allows prisoners to make phone calls to approved contact numbers using a unique Personal Identification Number (PIN). The PTS includes the use of in-cell phones, wing phones, mobile PIN phones and staff to cell phones. \nThe proposed direct award, known as the Bridging Agreement, is being entered into in 2026 and will bridge the period for which the PTS is required, which is between 1 June 2027 (the current contract expires on 31 May 2027) up to 30 November 2031. This is the period required to enable governing, procuring, mobilising, testing and transitioning to the replacement next generation communications service called the Prisoner Integrated Communications Service (PICS). Under the Bridging Agreement, BT will continue to provide the PTS on substantially the same terms as the current PTS contract together with exit services to transition to PICS. PTS is procured as a concession contract as it is predominately funded from the income generated by prisoners who purchase phone credit from BT. \nThe Bridging Agreement will be drafted as an extension/contract change notice to the current PTS contract. \nThe contracting authority (MOJ) is relying on the single supplier direct award justifications under section 41 and schedule 5 paragraphs 5 and/or 6 of the Procurement Act 2023 in the alternative: \nparagraph 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. \nand in the alternative: \nparagraph 6 (a)due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b)there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. \nThe explanations for why the justifications apply are as follows. \nIntellectual property rights - paragraph 5. \nThis justification applies because due to the intellectual property clauses in the current PTS contract and the Bridging Agreement only BT has the intellectual property rights needed to be able to provide the services. \nNo reasonable alternatives \nIn the absence of the intellectual property rights that would be needed for an alternative supplier to be able to provide the services, the only reasonable potential alternative would be for MOJ to procure another supplier/s to develop a replacement solution that meets MOJ’s requirements – whether building from scratch or configuring a Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) solution. Any replacement supplier/s would then need time for mobilising, testing and transitioning to that replacement solution after it had been appropriately governed and procured by MOJ. There is not sufficient time to do all these activities which would be necessary to transition to a replacement solution by the date the services are required, which is 1 June 2027. This is evidenced by the number of years it is taking to replace the PTS and transition to the next generation replacement service, PICS. PICS is being designed for use in the prisons in England and Wales which are run by HM Prisons and Probation Service and will be rolled out incrementally over time to eventually end use of the PTS service. MOJ is approximately two years into the PICS project. The direct award for the Bridging Agreement is for the period required to facilitate MOJ procuring, governing, testing, mobilising and transitioning from PTS to PICS.  \nTherefore, there are no reasonable alternatives. \nThe second justification is absence of competition for technical reasons - paragraph 6 \nThere is an absence of competition for technical reasons which are based on the same arguments as for the intellectual property rights justification under paragraph 5, which are stated above. The PTS is bespoke and an alternative supplier would not be able to walk in and take over the services on the date from which they are required due to the intellectual property rights of BT. Instead, there would have to be an appropriately governed procurement/s and then the selected supplier/s would have to mobilise, test and then transition to that service and as stated in the justification under paragraph 5 above, this is not possible to do by the time the services are required on 1 June 2027. \nNo reasonable alternatives \nThe same justifications, stated above, for why there are no reasonable alternatives for paragraph 5 intellectual property rights, apply to the justification for paragraph 6. Therefore, there are no reasonable alternatives. \nFor background information, MOJ has conducted several forms of preliminary market engagement for PICS to replace the Bridging Agreement. Following that market engagement, MOJ has been developing plans for the future. MOJ intends to provide details of its procurement plans for PICS via pipeline notice(s) and further market engagement as the PICS project progresses through MOJ’s governance. The procurement for the first PICS contract is estimated to commence in 2027. \n To obtain information from the preliminary market engagement which has occurred already and to register for updates for PICS, please contact vvn.cmo@justice.gov.uk", "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [ { "id": "singleSuppliersIntellectualPropertyExclusiveRights" }, { "id": "singleSuppliersTechnicalReasons" } ], "documents": [ { "id": "conflictOfInterest", "documentType": "conflictOfInterest", "description": "Not published" } ] }, "language": "en", "extensions": [ "https://standard.open-contracting.org/profiles/eu/latest/en/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_amendment_rationale_classifications_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_budget_breakdown_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_contract_completion_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_documentation_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_pagination_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_performance_failures_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_suitability_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/portaledcahn/ocds_Links_extension/main/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cabinetoffice/ocds_uk_extension/main/extension.json" ], "awards": [ { "id": "1", "status": "active", "value": { "amountGross": 113540000, "amount": 94620000, "currency": "GBP" }, "mainProcurementCategory": "services", "aboveThreshold": true, "suppliers": [ { "id": "GB-COH-01800000", "name": "British Telecommunications plc" }, { "id": "GB-PPON-PRYC-1538-TGMN", "name": "British Telecommunications Limited" } ], "items": [ { "id": "1", "additionalClassifications": [ { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "64200000", "description": "Telecommunications services" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32412100", "description": "Telecommunications network" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32500000", "description": "Telecommunications equipment and supplies" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32551400", "description": "Telephone network" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32550000", "description": "Telephone equipment" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32552130", "description": "Public telephones" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32410000", "description": "Local area network" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "72710000", "description": "Local area network services" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "45232300", "description": "Construction and ancillary works for telephone and communication lines" } ], "deliveryAddresses": [ { "region": "UK", "country": "GB", "countryName": "United Kingdom" }, { "region": "UK", "country": "GB", "countryName": "United Kingdom" } ], "relatedLot": "1" } ], "contractPeriod": { "startDate": "2027-06-01T00:00:00+01:00", "endDate": "2031-11-30T23:59:59+00:00" }, "relatedLots": [ "1" ], "documents": [ { "id": "018668-2026", "documentType": "awardNotice", "noticeType": "UK5", "description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender", "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018668-2026", "datePublished": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "format": "text/html" }, { "id": "085787-2026", "documentType": "awardNotice", "noticeType": "UK6", "description": "Contract award notice on Find a Tender", "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085787-2026", "datePublished": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "format": "text/html" } ], "milestones": [ { "id": "1", "type": "futureSignatureDate", "dueDate": "2026-09-22T23:59:59+01:00", "status": "scheduled" } ], "title": "Prisoner Telephony Services – Bridging Agreement", "date": "2026-09-07T00:00:00+01:00" } ] }, "versionedRelease": { "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-066032", "initiationType": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "tender" } ], "planning": { "documents": [ { "id": "018661-2026", "documentType": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "plannedProcurementNotice" } ], "noticeType": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "UK1" } ], "description": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "Pipeline notice on Find a Tender" } ], "url": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018661-2026" } ], "datePublished": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z" } ], "format": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "text/html" } ] } ] }, "parties": [ { "id": "GB-PPON-PDNN-2773-HVYN", "name": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "Ministry of Justice" } ], "identifier": { "scheme": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "GB-PPON" } ], "id": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "PDNN-2773-HVYN" } ] }, "address": { "streetAddress": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "102 Petty France" } ], "locality": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "London" } ], "postalCode": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "SW1H 9AJ" } ], "country": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "GB" } ], "countryName": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "United Kingdom" } ], "region": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "UKI32" } ] }, "contactPoint": { "name": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "Graham Cox" } ], "email": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "vvn.cmo@justice.gov.uk" } ] }, "roles": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": [ "buyer" ] } ], "details": { "url": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/procurement" } ], "classifications": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": [ { "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE", "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment", "description": "Public authority - central government" } ] } ] } }, { "id": "GB-COH-01800000", "name": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "British Telecommunications plc" } ], "identifier": { "scheme": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "GB-COH" } ], "id": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "01800000" } ] }, "address": { "streetAddress": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "One Braham, 1 Braham Street" } ], "locality": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "London" } ], "postalCode": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "E1 8EE" } ], "country": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "GB" } ], "countryName": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "United Kingdom" } ], "region": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "UKI42" } ] }, "contactPoint": { "email": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "ccsframeworks@bt.com" } ] }, "roles": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": [ "supplier" ] } ], "details": { "url": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "http://www.BT.com" } ], "scale": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "large" } ], "vcse": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": false } ] } }, { "id": "GB-PPON-PRYC-1538-TGMN", "name": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "British Telecommunications Limited" } ], "identifier": { "scheme": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "GB-PPON" } ], "id": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "PRYC-1538-TGMN" } ] }, "additionalIdentifiers": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": [ { "scheme": "GB-COH", "id": "01800000" } ] } ], "address": { "streetAddress": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "1 Braham Street" } ], "locality": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "London" } ], "postalCode": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "E1 8EE" } ], "country": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "GB" } ], "countryName": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "United Kingdom" } ], "region": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "UKI42" } ] }, "contactPoint": { "email": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "ccsframeworks@bt.com" } ] }, "roles": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": [ "supplier" ] } ], "details": { "url": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "http://www.BT.com" } ], "scale": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "large" } ], "vcse": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": false } ], "publicServiceMissionOrganization": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": false } ], "shelteredWorkshop": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": false } ] }, "control": { "description": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "CHARNLEY, Helen, \nCorrespondence address: 1 Braham Street, London, United Kingdom, E1 8EE \nDate of birth: October 1968 \nNationality: British \nCountry of residence: United Kingdom \n HARRIS, Neil Richard \nCorrespondence address:1 Braham Street, London, United Kingdom, E1 8EE \nDate of birth: November 1968 \nNationality: British \nCountry of residence: United Kingdom \nHEATON, Edward John \nCorrespondence address: 1 Braham Street, London, United Kingdom, E1 8EE \nDate of birth: November 1982 \nNationality: British \nCountry of residence: United Kingdom \nRIDER, Daniel Thomas \nCorrespondence address: 1 Braham Street, London, United Kingdom, E1 8EE \nDate of birth : January 1980 \nNationality ; British \nCountry of residence: England" } ] } } ], "buyer": { "id": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "GB-PPON-PDNN-2773-HVYN" } ], "name": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "Ministry of Justice" } ] }, "tender": { "id": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "prj_14443" } ], "legalBasis": { "id": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "2023/54" } ], "scheme": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "UKPGA" } ], "uri": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents" } ] }, "title": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "Prisoner Telephony Services – Bridging Agreement" } ], "description": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "The proposed contract, known as the Bridging Agreement, is to continue the existing prisoner telephony service (PTS) with British Telecommunications plc (BT) procured under a concession contract dated 30 August 2022 (the Current PTS Contract) which continued on similar terms the ‘PIN phone’ service which has been in operation for several years. Under the Bridging Agreement, BT will provide substantially the same services on substantially the same terms as the Current PTS Contract together with exit services. \nThe Bridging Agreement will be drafted as an extension/contract change notice to the Current PTS Contract. It will bridge the period for which the PTS is required, which is between 1 June 2027 (the Current PTS Contract expires 31 May 2027) up to 30 November 2031. This is the period required to enable governing, procuring, mobilising, testing and transitioning to the next generation communications service, called the Prisoner Integrated Communications Service (PICS). \nThe Bridging Agreement is permitted to be procured as a direct award concession contract under section 41 and schedule 5 paragraphs 5 and 6 of the Procurement Act 2023 in the alternative: \n5 (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 \n(b)there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works \nand in the alternative: \n6 (a)due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and(b)there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. \nA transparency notice is being published separately for the Bridging Agreement. \nFor background information: The Authority has conducted several forms of preliminary market engagement for the PICS contracts which will replace the Bridging Agreement. Following that market engagement, the Authority has been developing plans for the replacement solution. The Authority intends to provide details of its procurement plans for PICS via pipeline notice(s) and further market engagement as the PICS project progresses through the Authority's governance. The procurement for the first PICS contract (which will replace the Bridging Agreement) is estimated to commence in 2027. \nTo obtain information from the preliminary market engagement which has occurred already and to register for updates for PICS, please contact vvn.cmo@justice.gov.uk" }, { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "This direct award procurement is a concession contract to continue the existing prisoner telephony service for the prisons in England and Wales which are run by HM Prison and Probation Service." }, { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "This direct award procurement is a concession contract to continue the existing prisoner telephony service for the prisons in England and Wales which are run by HM Prison and Probation Service. The Bridging Agreement is drafted as an extension/contract change notice to the current PTS contract. \nThe prisoner telephony service (PTS) is currently provided by British Telecommunications Limited (company number 01800000) (BT) in the prisons in England and Wales which are run by HM Prison and Probation Service and has been for several years. The ability for prisoners to maintain relationships with family and friends is critical as it contributes to prisoners’ wellbeing, order and discipline, rehabilitation, and a reduction in the likelihood of reoffending. The main communication channel in use currently is voice calls, provided by the PTS. PTS is a critical service which allows prisoners to make phone calls to approved contact numbers using a unique personal identification number (PIN). The PTS scope includes use of in-cell phones, wing phones, mobile PIN phones and staff to cell phones. \nThis direct award, known as the Bridging Agreement, will bridge the period between 1 June 2027 (the current contract expires on 31 May 2027) up to 30 November 2031, which is the period required to enable governing, procuring, mobilising, testing and transitioning to the replacement next generation communications service called the Prisoner Integrated Communications Service (PICS). Under the Bridging Agreement, BT will continue to provide the PTS on substantially the same terms as the current PTS contract together with exit services to transition to PICS. PTS is procured as a concession contract as it is predominately funded from the income generated by prisoners who purchase phone credit from BT. \nThe contracting authority (MOJ) is relying on the single supplier direct award justifications under section 41 and schedule 5 paragraphs 5 and/or 6 of the Procurement Act 2023 in the alternative: \n-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. \nand in the alternative: \n-paragraph 6 (a)due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b)there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. \nThe explanations for why the justifications apply are as follows: \nIntellectual property rights - paragraph 5. \nThis justification applies because only BT has the intellectual property rights needed to be able to provide the services. This is a consequence of the intellectual property clauses in the current PTS contract and the Bridging Agreement. \nNo reasonable alternatives \nIn the absence of the intellectual property rights that would be needed for an alternative supplier to be able to provide the services, the only reasonable potential alternative would be for MOJ to procure another supplier/s to develop a replacement solution that meets MOJ’s requirements – whether building from scratch or configuring a commercial-off-the-shelf solution. Any replacement supplier/s would then need time for mobilising, testing and transitioning to that replacement solution after it had been appropriately governed and procured by MOJ. There is not sufficient time to do all these activities which would be necessary to transition to a replacement solution by the date the services are required, which is 1 June 2027. This is evidenced by the number of years it is taking to replace the PTS and transition to the next generation replacement service, PICS. PICS is being designed for use in the prisons in England and Wales which are run by HM Prisons and Probation Service and will be rolled out incrementally over time to eventually end use of the PTS service. MOJ is approximately two years into the PICS project. The direct award for the Bridging Agreement is for the period required to facilitate MOJ procuring, governing, testing, mobilising and transitioning from PTS to PICS. Therefore, there are no reasonable alternatives. \nThe second justification is absence of competition for technical reasons - paragraph 6 \nThere is an absence of competition for technical reasons which are based on the same arguments as for the intellectual property rights justification under paragraph 5, which are stated above. The PTS is bespoke and an alternative supplier would not be able to walk in and take over the services on the date from which they are required due to the intellectual property rights of BT. Instead, there would have to be an appropriately governed procurement/s and then the selected supplier/s would have to mobilise, test and then transition to that service and as stated in the justification under paragraph 5 above, this is not possible to do by the time the services are required on 1 June 2027. \nNo reasonable alternatives \nThe same justifications, stated above, for why there are no reasonable alternatives for paragraph 5 intellectual property rights, apply to the justification for paragraph 6. \nTherefore, there are no reasonable alternatives. \nFor background information, MOJ has conducted several forms of preliminary market engagement for PICS to replace the Bridging Agreement. Following that market engagement, MOJ has been developing plans for the future. MOJ anticipates that the contracts for prisoner telephony services to support PICS will be let through relevant frameworks agreements such as RM6377 Network Services 4, RM6098 Technology Products & Associated Services (TePAS) 2 and/or TePAS 3 operated by the Government Commercial Agency (GCA); Procurements to commence after February 2027. Prospective suppliers are encouraged to engage with GCA (gca.gov.uk) and/or on-framework suppliers to participate in framework opportunities. \nTo obtain information from the preliminary market engagement which has occurred already and to register for updates for PICS, please contact vvn.cmo@justice.gov.uk \nNote: With effect on 25 June 2026, BT registered a change at Companies House to reflect its re-registration from a plc. Whilst the company’s name has changed, the legal entity remains the same with the same company number." } ], "items": [ { "id": "1", "additionalClassifications": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": [ { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "64200000", "description": "Telecommunications services" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32412100", "description": "Telecommunications network" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32500000", "description": "Telecommunications equipment and supplies" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32551400", "description": "Telephone network" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32550000", "description": "Telephone equipment" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32552130", "description": "Public telephones" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32410000", "description": "Local area network" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "72710000", "description": "Local area network services" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "45232300", "description": "Construction and ancillary works for telephone and communication lines" } ] } ], "deliveryAddresses": [ { "region": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "UK" } ], "country": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "GB" } ], "countryName": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "United Kingdom" } ] } ], "relatedLot": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "1" } ] } ], "value": { "amountGross": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": 113540000 } ], "amount": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": 94620000 } ], "currency": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "GBP" } ] }, "procurementMethod": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "direct" } ], "procurementMethodDetails": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "Direct award" } ], "mainProcurementCategory": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "services" } ], "specialRegime": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": [ "concession" ] } ], "aboveThreshold": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": true } ], "lots": [ { "id": "1", "contractPeriod": { "startDate": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "2027-06-01T00:00:00+01:00" } ], "endDate": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "2031-11-30T23:59:59+00:00" } ] }, "status": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "planned" }, { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "complete" } ], "description": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": null } ] } ], "communication": { "futureNoticeDate": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "2026-03-02T23:59:59+00:00" } ] }, "status": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "planned" }, { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "complete" } ], "procurementMethodRationale": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "The prisoner telephony service (PTS) is currently provided by British Telecommunications plc (BT) in the prisons in England and Wales which are run by HM Prison and Probation Service and has been for several years. The ability for prisoners to maintain relationships with family and friends is critical as it contributes to prisoners’ wellbeing, order and discipline, rehabilitation, and a reduction in the likelihood of reoffending. The main communication channel in use currently is voice calls. Voice calls are provided by the PTS. PTS is a critical service which allows prisoners to make phone calls to approved contact numbers using a unique Personal Identification Number (PIN). The PTS includes the use of in-cell phones, wing phones, mobile PIN phones and staff to cell phones. \nThe proposed direct award, known as the Bridging Agreement, is being entered into in 2026 and will bridge the period for which the PTS is required, which is between 1 June 2027 (the current contract expires on 31 May 2027) up to 30 November 2031. This is the period required to enable governing, procuring, mobilising, testing and transitioning to the replacement next generation communications service called the Prisoner Integrated Communications Service (PICS). Under the Bridging Agreement, BT will continue to provide the PTS on substantially the same terms as the current PTS contract together with exit services to transition to PICS. PTS is procured as a concession contract as it is predominately funded from the income generated by prisoners who purchase phone credit from BT. \nThe Bridging Agreement will be drafted as an extension/contract change notice to the current PTS contract. \nThe contracting authority (MOJ) is relying on the single supplier direct award justifications under section 41 and schedule 5 paragraphs 5 and/or 6 of the Procurement Act 2023 in the alternative: \nparagraph 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. \nand in the alternative: \nparagraph 6 (a)due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b)there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. \nThe explanations for why the justifications apply are as follows. \nIntellectual property rights - paragraph 5. \nThis justification applies because due to the intellectual property clauses in the current PTS contract and the Bridging Agreement only BT has the intellectual property rights needed to be able to provide the services. \nNo reasonable alternatives \nIn the absence of the intellectual property rights that would be needed for an alternative supplier to be able to provide the services, the only reasonable potential alternative would be for MOJ to procure another supplier/s to develop a replacement solution that meets MOJ’s requirements – whether building from scratch or configuring a Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) solution. Any replacement supplier/s would then need time for mobilising, testing and transitioning to that replacement solution after it had been appropriately governed and procured by MOJ. There is not sufficient time to do all these activities which would be necessary to transition to a replacement solution by the date the services are required, which is 1 June 2027. This is evidenced by the number of years it is taking to replace the PTS and transition to the next generation replacement service, PICS. PICS is being designed for use in the prisons in England and Wales which are run by HM Prisons and Probation Service and will be rolled out incrementally over time to eventually end use of the PTS service. MOJ is approximately two years into the PICS project. The direct award for the Bridging Agreement is for the period required to facilitate MOJ procuring, governing, testing, mobilising and transitioning from PTS to PICS.  \nTherefore, there are no reasonable alternatives. \nThe second justification is absence of competition for technical reasons - paragraph 6 \nThere is an absence of competition for technical reasons which are based on the same arguments as for the intellectual property rights justification under paragraph 5, which are stated above. The PTS is bespoke and an alternative supplier would not be able to walk in and take over the services on the date from which they are required due to the intellectual property rights of BT. Instead, there would have to be an appropriately governed procurement/s and then the selected supplier/s would have to mobilise, test and then transition to that service and as stated in the justification under paragraph 5 above, this is not possible to do by the time the services are required on 1 June 2027. \nNo reasonable alternatives \nThe same justifications, stated above, for why there are no reasonable alternatives for paragraph 5 intellectual property rights, apply to the justification for paragraph 6. Therefore, there are no reasonable alternatives. \nFor background information, MOJ has conducted several forms of preliminary market engagement for PICS to replace the Bridging Agreement. Following that market engagement, MOJ has been developing plans for the future. MOJ intends to provide details of its procurement plans for PICS via pipeline notice(s) and further market engagement as the PICS project progresses through MOJ’s governance. The procurement for the first PICS contract is estimated to commence in 2027. \n To obtain information from the preliminary market engagement which has occurred already and to register for updates for PICS, please contact vvn.cmo@justice.gov.uk" } ], "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": [ { "id": "singleSuppliersIntellectualPropertyExclusiveRights" }, { "id": "singleSuppliersTechnicalReasons" } ] } ], "documents": [ { "id": "conflictOfInterest", "documentType": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "conflictOfInterest" } ], "description": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "Not published" } ] } ] }, "language": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "en" } ], "extensions": [ { "releaseID": "018661-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:00:44Z", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": [ "https://standard.open-contracting.org/profiles/eu/latest/en/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_amendment_rationale_classifications_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_budget_breakdown_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_contract_completion_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_documentation_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_pagination_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_suitability_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/portaledcahn/ocds_Links_extension/main/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cabinetoffice/ocds_uk_extension/main/extension.json" ] }, { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": [ "https://standard.open-contracting.org/profiles/eu/latest/en/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_amendment_rationale_classifications_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_budget_breakdown_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_contract_completion_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_documentation_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_pagination_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_performance_failures_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_suitability_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/portaledcahn/ocds_Links_extension/main/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cabinetoffice/ocds_uk_extension/main/extension.json" ] } ], "awards": [ { "id": "1", "status": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "pending" }, { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "active" } ], "value": { "amountGross": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": 113540000 } ], "amount": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": 94620000 } ], "currency": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "GBP" } ] }, "mainProcurementCategory": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "services" } ], "aboveThreshold": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": true } ], "suppliers": [ { "id": "GB-COH-01800000", "name": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "British Telecommunications plc" } ] }, { "id": "GB-PPON-PRYC-1538-TGMN", "name": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "British Telecommunications Limited" } ] } ], "items": [ { "id": "1", "additionalClassifications": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": [ { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "64200000", "description": "Telecommunications services" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32500000", "description": "Telecommunications equipment and supplies" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32551400", "description": "Telephone network" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32550000", "description": "Telephone equipment" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32552130", "description": "Public telephones" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32410000", "description": "Local area network" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "72710000", "description": "Local area network services" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "45232300", "description": "Construction and ancillary works for telephone and communication lines" } ] }, { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": [ { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "64200000", "description": "Telecommunications services" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32412100", "description": "Telecommunications network" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32500000", "description": "Telecommunications equipment and supplies" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32551400", "description": "Telephone network" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32550000", "description": "Telephone equipment" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32552130", "description": "Public telephones" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "32410000", "description": "Local area network" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "72710000", "description": "Local area network services" }, { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "45232300", "description": "Construction and ancillary works for telephone and communication lines" } ] } ], "deliveryAddresses": [ { "region": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "UK" } ], "country": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "GB" } ], "countryName": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "United Kingdom" } ] }, { "region": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "UK" } ], "country": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "GB" } ], "countryName": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "United Kingdom" } ] } ], "relatedLot": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "1" } ] } ], "contractPeriod": { "startDate": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "2027-06-01T00:00:00+01:00" } ], "endDate": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "2031-11-30T23:59:59+00:00" } ] }, "relatedLots": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": [ "1" ] } ], "documents": [ { "id": "018668-2026", "documentType": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "awardNotice" } ], "noticeType": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "UK5" } ], "description": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender" } ], "url": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018668-2026" } ], "datePublished": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z" } ], "format": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "text/html" } ] }, { "id": "085787-2026", "documentType": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "awardNotice" } ], "noticeType": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "UK6" } ], "description": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "Contract award notice on Find a Tender" } ], "url": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085787-2026" } ], "datePublished": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00" } ], "format": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "text/html" } ] } ], "milestones": [ { "id": "1", "type": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "futureSignatureDate" } ], "dueDate": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "2026-03-23T23:59:59+00:00" }, { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "2026-09-22T23:59:59+01:00" } ], "status": [ { "releaseID": "018668-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-03-02T17:12:30Z", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "scheduled" } ] } ], "title": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "Prisoner Telephony Services – Bridging Agreement" } ], "date": [ { "releaseID": "085787-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-09-10T11:39:10+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "award", "contract" ], "value": "2026-09-07T00:00:00+01:00" } ] } ] } } ] }