Prisoner Telephone Services – Bridging Contract Extension

The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) is awarding a direct contract to British Telecommunications Limited (BT) to continue providing prisoner telephony services (PTS) across prisons in England and Wales operated by HM Prison and Probation Service. This bridging agreement extends the current contract from 1 June 2027 to 30 November 2031, during which MOJ will procure, test, and transition to a replacement next-generation service called the Prisoner Integrated Communications Service (PICS). The PTS enables prisoners to make phone calls to approved contacts using a personal identification number (PIN) through in-cell phones, wing phones, mobile PIN phones, and staff-to-cell phones. This service is critical for maintaining family relationships, supporting prisoner wellbeing, rehabilitation, and reducing reoffending. The contract is structured as a concession funded primarily by prisoner phone credit purchases. The direct award is justified under the Procurement Act 2023 based on BT's exclusive intellectual property rights to the current system and the technical impossibility of transitioning to an alternative supplier by the required service start date. MOJ is developing replacement services through framework agreements (RM6377, RM6098, and TePAS 2/3) managed by the Government Commercial Agency, with procurements expected to commence after February 2027. Interested suppliers should contact vvn.cmo@justice.gov.uk for preliminary market engagement information and PICS updates.