UK2 Notice: Preliminary Market Engagement - Asylum Seeker Travel Services

The Home Office (the Authority) has a statutory duty under Section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 to discharge its immigration and asylum functions having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the UK. In addition to this, under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, the Home Office has a statutory obligation to provide temporary support for Asylum Seekers who appear to be destitute or are likely to become destitute within a prescribed period.

These obligations include Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) who arrive in the UK and enter the immigration system without a parent or guardian as well as an adult Asylum Seeker Cohort. The service includes the arrangement of transport on behalf of local authorities, as well as the Home Office, for the movement of UASC when these movements are required.

A number of core business units will utilise this contract. Further details will be provided through additional materials that will be made available to parties, upon completion and receipt of a signed Non-Disclosure Agreement (more information for which is set out in this document).

This service will not be used for Home Office staff transport and is intended as a civilian travel programme only. The Home Office is still considering all of its options with regards to aggregation and disaggregation and therefore encourages suppliers who may not be able to deliver the full scope of services to still participate in any subsequent market engagement activity.

The purpose of this engagement is to better understand market capability, capacity, delivery models, and commercial approaches available to support the future service. Information regarding service requirements, volumes and operational arrangement will be shared with interested organisations as part of this engagement activity.

Please refer to “Engagement process description” below. The content of this Notice, including the estimated contract value and indicative contract timelines, is subject to change and does not commit the Authority to commence any procurement process.