Escorting and Related Services

What the buyer is asking for

The Home Office is seeking to engage with suppliers who are interested in becoming the commercial partners (Prime Contractor) responsible for delivering the Escorting Services contract, which provides the in-country and overseas escorting of detained persons and management of Short-Term Holding Facilities (STHF), across the UK and Northern France. Background: The Home Office is responsible for detaining and enforcing the removal of people from the UK who have no legal basis to remain here. The Escorting Services contract is fundamental to delivering this through the movement of people within the UK, which supports the functioning of the immigration detention / removal estate; the removal of people from the UK, which is predominately via air travel and a mix of escorted (to destination) and unescorted (not escorted to destination). The contract also includes the operation, management and maintenance of Residential Short-Term Holding Facilities and the operation and management of Non-Residential Short-Term Holding Facilities at air/seaports and Immigration Enforcement reporting centres (STHFs). STHFs support the wider immigration detention / removal estate, enforcement activity within the community and protection of the UK border. Requirement (please note not exhaustive and subject to change): Management Services – includes operational control centre, performance monitoring and reporting, audit arrangement, and complaint procedures. Core Services – includes welfare, care of children, risk assessments, use of force, staffing & personnel and training. In-Country Escorting – 24/7 escorting between locations within the UK. Includes prisons, police stations, hospitals (inc bed watches), STHFs, Immigration Removal Centres. Also includes escort to aircraft for purpose of removal (unescorted) and provision of medical escorts. Overseas Escorting – 24/7 escorting from place of detention within the UK to designated overseas destination, primarily via air travel with a mix between scheduled and charter flights. Also includes provision of medical escorts and interfacing with the authorities travel service provider. Non-Residential STHF - the operation and management of designated holding rooms across all parts of the UK. There are currently 28 of these facilities which operate up to 24/7 and can hold people up to 24 hours and beyond in certain circumstances. Residential STHF – the operation, management and maintenance of RSTHF across all parts of the UK. There are currently 3 of these facilities which operate 24/7 and can hold people up to 7 days in certain circumstances. Juxtaposed Controls (Northern France) 24/7 escorting services with the UK control zones (Calais, Coquelles, and Dunkerque) and operation and management of 5 (currently) holding rooms at these French ports.

How contested is this?

Buyers publish how many bids they received. Across 37 comparable procurements we can tell you the typical field size, how often one of these goes uncontested, and whether the buyer awards on price or on quality.

Timeline

4 published dates · Europe/London

1. Tender notice published112 days ago

   2 Jun 2026, 11:54 BST
2. Clarification questions byin 112 days

   11 Jan 2027, 23:59 GMT
3. Submission deadlinein 165 days

   5 Mar 2027, 23:59 GMT
4. Award decision expected byin 585 days

   28 Apr 2028, 23:59 BST

Commercial outcome and contract awards

Nothing awarded yet

Notice history

3 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender

1. Pipeline or early engagement notice5 Feb 2026, 16:01 GMT010635-2026
2. Notice published2 Jun 2026, 11:53 BST051812-2026
3. Pipeline or early engagement notice2 Jun 2026, 11:54 BST051813-2026