Catering Services and Prisoner Training at Public Sector Prisons

Prisoner catering services are a business-critical service and consist of running the catering facility and providing meals for prisoners. Staff mess catering services include sit down meals and light snacks and visit hall catering provides refreshments to prisoners and visitors in the main visit halls. The services provided at each site is influenced by factors such as prison category, location and availability of other alternative and local options.

The bulk of the current arrangements do not cover or include the purchasing of food, as this is managed via a separate agreement.

The current intention is that the prison catering services will be delivered across four regional locations and will be a 5 + 2 + 2 year term. However, the regions and duration may be varied (reduced or extended) in line with emerging business needs prior to the publication of the tender opportunity.

Estimated Spend

5 years - £4,000,000 (£3,200,000 excluding VAT)

5+2 years - £5,600,000 (£4,480,000 excluding VAT)

5+2+2 years - £7,200,000 (£5,760,000 excluding VAT)

Per Annum - £800,000 (£640,000 excluding VAT)

The MoJ shall utilise bespoke terms and conditions for this tender that shall be published as part of the ITT.

Estimated timeline for this procurement:

• Expression of Interest Due: 24nd November 2021
• Issue of ITT: December 2021
• ITT Return Deadline: January 2022
• Intention to Award Letters Sent Out: March 2022
• Standstill Period: Mid-March 2022
• Award Letters Sent: Late March 2022
• Mobilisation Period: April-June 2022
• Contract Signing: Late March 2022
• Contract Start Date: July 2022

MoJ does not require at this stage any tender response documentation to be submitted, other than following the below link to express your interest and provide feedback by 17:00 on 24/11/2021.

bit.ly/3D0pULr ↗

The expression of interest link requests feedback on:

• Region and service elements (to inform Lot structure)
• Site Visits
• Barriers to participation
• Social Value benefits – particularly around prisoner training
• Reaching Net Zero & other sustainability activities

Please note, this PIN is purely for information only and does not automatically enrol suppliers to a future tender opportunity. Failure to respond to this expression of interest will not disqualify suppliers from any future tender. This exercise is not part of any pre-qualification or selection process, it is intended as an awareness, communication and information-gathering exercise offering an opportunity for potential providers to help understand commissioning intentions. All information stated within the PIN are subject to change. The publication of this notice in no way obliges the MoJ to commence any competitive tender process and MoJ reserves the right to source the services included through other means (e.g. an existing contract or framework). MoJ is not/shall not be liable for any costs incurred by those participating in this exercise.