Prison Operator Services Framework 2 (posf2)
Framework Description
Prison Operator Services Framework 2 (POSF2) is the Ministry of Justice's second-generation framework for private prison operators, procured as an open framework under the Procurement Act 2023. It succeeds POSF1, which expired in July 2025. POSF2 will appoint several operators able to design and run custodial services for a pipeline of up to eleven new or existing privately managed prisons in England and Wales.
Context & Use Case
The MoJ has used private operators since the early 1990s and runs a mixed estate of public, voluntary and private providers. In market engagement it grouped POSF2 work into expiring prisons (PFI and manage-and-maintain), new prisons, prisons delivering women's services and prisons delivering youth services. Once POSF2 is in place, appointed operators will compete in mini-competitions for individual prison operation contracts.
Scope of Services
Prison operation and management Custodial service design and delivery Care and support for people in custody Facility management and maintenance Safety, security and rehabilitation programmes
Lots
See framework link
Who Can Apply
Experienced custodial operators, and consortia, that can show they have run secure establishments safely and have the financial standing for long, high-value operating contracts in England and Wales. The first competition is already under way, so operators not taking part will need to wait for POSF2 to reopen, which an open framework allows.
Buyer Benefits
The MoJ needs a ready pool of operators it has already assessed for financial resilience, safety record and service design, so that each prison competition can move faster and focus on the site itself. Competition between appointed operators at call-off keeps pressure on price and innovation, while the open framework lets it refresh the pool rather than wait for a full re-tender.
Next Steps
The MoJ's indicative timetable planned framework award for 8 March 2027 and an eight-year term to March 2035. Operators in the competition should prepare for prison-level mini-competitions. Others should register on the MoJ's Jaggaer portal, watch for the reopening, and build evidence such as inspection outcomes, safety data, rehabilitation results and mobilisation experience.
How Athena Can Help
POSF2 work is won prison by prison, through long, high-stakes mini-competitions. Athena's full bid management covers those responses: win themes built with our F.V.D. model, evidence on safety and rehabilitation, competitor analysis and a Bid Health Check before submission.
For operators preparing for a reopening, our framework application service handles the selection and compliance material, and our bid/no-bid and bid planning work helps you settle your consortium and approach early.
