Four-year deal could see ‘significant additional spend’ from other government departments and wider public sector

The Ministry of Justice is expected to fire the starting gun on a £3bn construction framework next week.

Pre-qualification questionnaires will formally begin the procurement process for the four-year deal which, according to a prior information notice, could see “significant additional spend” from other government departments and the wider public sector.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) also procures work for the Crown Prosecution Service and the Home Office.

Interested firms had until earlier this week to fill in a market test questionnaire with the MoJ stating that it also wants to hear from small and medium-sized firms. “The MoJ would encourage all SMEs who are interested in participating in this procurement to register their interest,” the notice added.

Former justice secretary Liz Truss, who has now been replaced by David Lidington, confirmed plans last year to spend £1.3bn in revamping the country’s ageing prison estate, while £700m is to be invested in modernising the courts estate over the next four years.

In March, Truss announced plans to build four prisons in Full Sutton in North Yorkshire; Hindley in Wigan; Rochester in Kent and Port Talbot in South Wales, while planning permission has already been sought to redevelop the sites of Midlands prisons HMP Wellingborough and YOI Glen Parva in Leicestershire.

Earlier this year, Mace was confirmed as the delivery partner for the MoJ’s £1.3bn new build prisons.

The government confirmed this week that 86 courts and tribunal centres across England and Wales are to close following a consultation process in 2015.