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About the Youth Custody Service (YCS)
The Youth Custody Service (YCS), a distinct part of HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) established in September 2017, is responsible for the youth custody estate in England and Wales. This covers children and young people aged 10–18 who are remanded or sentenced to custody.
The youth custody estate currently comprises:
The YCS commissions and manages outsourced youth custody services, operates public sector youth custody sites and oversees the placement of children and young people across the estate. YCS works closely with central government and local authorities to improve outcomes and ensure that children’s voices contribute to service development.
Vision and Priorities
HMPPS aims to protect the public and prevent victims by rehabilitating those in its care. The YCS applies these principles to its young cohort, with a vision of:
“Working together to make sure every child in our care is safe, supported and strives for a better future, to reduce reoffending and protect the public.”
The YCS seeks to ensure youth custody is a safe, educational and supportive environment, enabling children to address risks, develop positive behaviours, and improve life chances on release.
Oakhill
Oakhill is currently an 80-bed youth custody facility in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, accommodating boys and girls aged 12–18. The site was established under a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract for the design, build, finance, and operation of the facility. This PFI contract is due to expire in June 2029.
The YCS intends to commission replacement services for children in custody at the Oakhill site and is exploring options for the future service model and delivery arrangements.
Future Procurement
The YCS is committed to commissioning high quality services that reflect the complex needs of children in custody. The future procurement for services at Oakhill is expected to seek innovative, evidence-based and multidisciplinary approaches across areas such as care, education, health, and rehabilitation.
Further details on the potential scope, structure and procurement approach will be shared and discussed as part of future market engagement activity, as we develop our commissioning strategy ahead of the expiry of the existing arrangements. We want to engage with potential bidders to develop an effective approach that will best meet the needs of children in our care.
Preliminary market engagement notice (UK2). The buyer wants to talk to suppliers before designing the procurement. Taking part is how to shape it.
Bids are submitted through the buyer’s own portal, not on this site. Read the full notice on Find a Tender before relying on any date here.
No supplier information available.
This procurement was divided into 1 lots, each awarded separately.
| Lot | Value | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 Jun 2029 – Jun 2035 | - | planned |
Changes the buyer published to this notice after it first appeared.
Engagement deadline extended from 05/12/2025 to 09/01/2026.
Engagement deadline extended from 05/12/2025 to 09/01/2026.
Engagement deadline extended from 05/12/2025 to 13/07/2026.
Market Engagement events added to the notice.