Open17 days left · closes midday, Tuesday 1 December 2026

Acquisition, Hire and Servicing and Repair of Manual Handling Equipment

Ministry of Justice · Central government

In brief

Ministry of Justice is looking for suppliers for this contract (UK-wide).

It is a framework worth up to £1,837,340 excluding VAT: the most the buyer expects to spend across all suppliers, not one contract.

The contract runs for 4 years, starting 3 March 2027.

It is split into 5 lots, so a supplier can bid for part of the work.

The buyer says it is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.

Bids close at midday, Tuesday 1 December 2026.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

Can I win this?

Key dates

Questions by: midday, Wednesday 25 November 2026
Bids by: midday, Tuesday 1 December 2026

How bids are scored

Techincal (Quality) · Commercial (Price)

Competition

Typical: a median of 4 bids per contract for this buyer (from 44 awards in the last 12 months).

Framework

Winning puts you on a list of suppliers the buyer can call on; it does not guarantee work. The £1,837,340 is the most the buyer expects to spend across all suppliers over the framework's life, not one contract.

What the notice says

Provision of Manual Handling Equipment for public prisions across England and Wales. These contracts will cover a range of manual handling equipment typically used within our operations such as forklifts, mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPS), pallet trucks, tugs and an option to hire equipment. This equipment supports a range of operational activities across the MoJ estate such as stores management, maintenance, and waste processing.

Should I bid?

Tick what applies to you. Nothing is saved.

Can you prepare a good bid in 17 days?Leave time for clarification questions and sign-off.
Is a contract of about £1,837,340 a size you can deliver?Buyers often check that your turnover is comfortably larger than the yearly contract value.
Can you deliver in locations across the UK?Check the delivery locations in the tender documents.
Is one of the 5 lots a good fit?You can usually bid for one lot without bidding for the others.
Are you registered on the Central Digital Platform?You need to be registered to take part under the Procurement Act 2023.
The buyer says this suits small businesses.A good sign if you are an SME, but check the requirements.

How to bid

Read the full notice on Find a Tender, including any tender documents it links to.
Register your organisation on the Central Digital Platform (through Find a Tender) if you have not already. Suppliers need to be registered to take part in procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.
Follow the submission instructions in the notice; it does not name an e-tendering portal.
Send clarification questions before midday, Wednesday 25 November 2026.
Make sure your bid arrives before midday, Tuesday 1 December 2026. Late bids are usually rejected.

Lots

Lot	Trade	Value
Counterbalance Forklifts 3 March 2027 to 2 March 2031 What this lot covers Counterbalance Forklifts - Types such as Electric Forklifts, Diesel Forklifts, Counterbalance Forklifts	—	£737,340
Warehouse Specialist Trucks 3 March 2027 to 2 March 2031 What this lot covers Warehouse Specialist Trucks such as: Reach Truck, Very Narrow Aisle Vehicle, Low Level Order Picker, Powered Pallet Truck, Stacker, and Pallet Movers	—	£400,000
Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) 3 March 2027 to 2 March 2031 What this lot covers Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) such as Vertical Mast Lift, Articulated Boom and Scissor Lifts.	—	£300,000
Electric Tugs 3 March 2027 to 2 March 2031 What this lot covers Electric Tugs - battery operated	—	£100,000
Hire Options 3 March 2027 to 2 March 2031 What this lot covers Hire Options for Battery and Diesel forklifts	—	£300,000

Timeline

9 September 2026Pipeline notice · UK1, notice 085209-2026
9 September 2026Pipeline notice · UK1, notice 085223-2026
9 September 2026Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 085416-2026
9 September 2026Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 085447-2026
9 September 2026Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 085477-2026
5 November 2026Tender notice · UK4, notice 105082-2026

About the buyer

Ministry of JusticeLast 12 months

Procurements

361

Awards

281

Suppliers it has used most

G&J Wood machinery Ltd8 contracts
Glendale Presentation Solutions8 contracts
Scott & Sargeant Woodworking Machinery Ltd6 contracts
Girbau UK5 contracts
Amob Machinery Limited4 contracts
Electrolux Professional Limited4 contracts
Assa Abloy Global Solutions UK Limited3 contracts
Galliford Try Construction Limited3 contracts

All tenders and awards from Ministry of Justice

From notice 085209-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 9 September 2026, last updated 5 November 2026. We last checked for changes on 5 November 2026.