WIREDGOV

Thirty-five potential bidders want to go head-to-head next year to win a share of coveted rehabilitation contracts across England and Wales, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling announced today.

The bidders represent more than 50 organisations, and include partnerships between the private and voluntary sectors, small and large businesses and probation mutuals.

The successful organisations will be delivering services across England and Wales to help tackle stubbornly high reoffending rates that see 600,000 crimes committed each year by those who have already broken the law.

Chris Grayling said:

“The level of interest in these contracts shows the market place for Government contracts is in good health, with innovative partnerships bringing together the best of each sector.

“We now know the contest to win one of our sought-after rehabilitation contracts will be genuine and hard-fought.

“This is fantastic news for communities up and down the country as we seek out the very best people to drive down stubbornly high reoffending rates and turn offenders away from crime for good.”

The contracts, together worth around £450 million each year, have been split across 20 regions for England and one for Wales with responsibility for supervising and rehabilitating around 225,000 low and medium risk offenders.

A further 800 organisations have expressed interest in playing a role as part of the wider supply chain.

Among those to register interest across each stage of the competition are hundreds of British organisations, employing many thousands of people. Voluntary sector organisations will play a big role in our plans, with more than 550 having expressed an interest. Many UK-based small and medium enterprises are also ready to help deliver our reforms.

Mutuals formed by probation trust staff – businesses that are run or owned by their employees – also have the opportunity to play an important role in the delivery of new contracts, with eight mutuals from 11 probation trusts potentially biding for services.

Providers will only be paid in full if they are successful at reducing reoffending, helping drive innovation and getting best value for hard-working taxpayers.

Our reforms will mean for the first time every offender released from custody receives statutory supervision and rehabilitation in the community for at least 12 months.

We will also be providing resettlement facilities at 82 prisons so offenders are held closer to their home, allowing us deliver proper through the gate support. And we are launching a new public sector National Probation Service, working to protect the public from high risk offenders and building upon the expertise and professionalism of the existing Probation Service.

Notes to editors:

1. The 35 potential bidders have submitted responses to the pre-qualification questionnaire and if successful could begin bidding for the 21 contracts early next year.
2. We expect to announce the list of qualified bidders next month, with successful bidders in place and delivering services by 2015.
3. We currently intend to apply a 25 per cent cap on market share for each bidder.
4. For further details on our Transforming Rehabilitation reforms.
5. For further information on our ongoing competition process.
6. For further information please contact the Ministry of Justice press office on 020 3334 3536 @MoJPress.