C-013978 Integrated Clinical Sexual Health Service - PSR - Most Suitable Provider Process

Location

Newcastle Upon Tyne

Description

Newcastle City Council intends to identify the most suitable provider to deliver contraception and sexual health services across Newcastle upon Tyne, forging effective partnerships with local NHS Trusts and partners including voluntary and community sector organisations in order to improve service user care, pathways and outcomes, in accordance with The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime - PSR) Regulations 2023. This process is a regulated selection process based on statutory criteria, including quality, value, and integration. The Council will apply the Most Suitable Provider process under PSR to ensure continuity of care and improved outcomes for service users. The current contract for the Clinical Integrated Sexual Health Service is due to end ahead of its schedule expiry date on the 31st January 2026. Therefore, the council are seeking to commission a new service to commence on the 1st March 2026 for a 2 year term until 31st January 2028. The contract value is £3,356,920 per annum excluding VAT. There is an additional budget of up to a maximum of £250,000 excluding VAT for mobilisation costs in the first year of the contract. This amount is not reoccurring. Further information, including the service specification and draft contract terms, is provided for transparency and assurance purposes. These documents can be accessed via the NEPO OPEN portal (details at section I.3).

Total Quantity or Scope

Newcastle City Council intends to identify the most suitable provider to deliver a comprehensive, open access, confidential and non-judgemental community sexual and reproductive health service. This process will be undertaken in accordance with The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 and the Council will apply the Most Suitable Provider process under PSR, based on statutory criteria, including quality, value, and integration. The Service will be available to anyone requiring sexual health advice, screening, treatment, or care, irrespective of age, place of residence, or GP registration, while targeting support to address local health inequalities. This includes: • STI Testing and Treatment • Full range of contraceptive services, including deep implant removal • Pregnancy Testing • Partner Notification • Online booking of appointments with sexual health services • Sexual health aspects of psychosexual counselling • Pregnancy decision-making and referral pathways • Specialist services focusing on young people, MSM, ethnic minority groups, and individuals with learning disabilities • PrEP and PEP • Co-ordination and delivery of the C-Card programme • Co-ordination and delivery of the Chlamydia screening programme • Sexual health promotion • Targeted outreach focused in areas of greatest sexual ill health • Support with training for primary care and community pharmacies The Council's aims in providing the integrated clinical sexual health service are: • Promoting good sexual health through primary prevention activities, including condom use, vaccination, HIV PrEP, behaviour change, and initiatives to reduce stigma associated with STIs, HIV, and unplanned pregnancy • Providing rapid and easy access to STI and BBV testing, treatment, and management services through a variety of mechanisms, linking to the Digital Service Provider and creating pathways for referral • Providing rapid and easy access to reproductive health services, including a full range of contraceptive services; supported referral to local NHS-funded abortion services; and support in planning pregnancy The Service is to be provided from premises licensed to the provider for this purpose and will be for a term of two years. Providers should note the available budget and confirm their ability to deliver the service in line with the specification and within the set budget. Providers should also be aware of the timescales for service commencement on 1 March 2026.

CPV Codes

• 85000000 - Health and social work services

Indicators

Other Information

This procurement will follow the Most Suitable Provider process under the Provider Selection Regime. No further Contract Notice will be published. This notice relates to a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intended approach. The award of this contract will be subject to The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award. The contract award decision will be made by members of Newcastle City Council's Public Health Directorate. The Council intends to award a contract using the Most Suitable Provider process under the Provider Selection Regime. Providers are invited to complete the Provider Information Questionnaire (PIQ) available via the NEPO Open Portal (details at section I.3) to confirm their interest and provide the necessary information to support the PSR process by 19 December 2025. Further information, including the service specification and draft contract terms, is available on the NEPO Open Portal https://www.open-uk.org/