Dorset School Aged Immunisation Service

Location

Dorset

Description

NHS England South West (NHSE) (the Commissioner) is seeking to recommission School Aged Immunisation Services in Dorset. Under this section 7A agreement of National Health Service Act 2006, NHS England Public Health Commissioning Teams are responsible for commissioning local NHS School Aged Immunisation (SAI) services in line with national programme requirements and the national service specification. The NHS School Aged Immunisation (SAI) programmes provide vaccinations for all school-aged children and young people, including those attending state schools, independent schools, complex needs schools and alternative settings. Children and young people who are educated at home can receive vaccinations through community clinics or at their local school. NHS England is recommissioning the SAI programme as a single lot to cover the footprint of Dorset Integrated Care Board. The current contract with the incumbent provider ends on 31st July 2027, and the new contract will commence on 1st August 2027 for an initial term of four years, with an option to extend for up to a further three years. The block plus variable contract value is £4,574,822.98 for the initial four-year term. Including the full three-year extension option, the maximum contract value is £8,005,940.22. The financial model includes both a block and a variable element. Variable payments will be made for additional activity delivered above the agreed activity plan set for the block, at an enhanced tariff for routine immunisations and a marginal tariff for seasonal influenza. The contract will also include an Access & Inequalities Fund, which is a block value based on the proportion of the eligible population living in Dorset in the 20% most deprived postcodes. This will be a ring-fenced, identified fund aimed at supporting the additional interventions needed to improve uptake among those least likely to accept vaccination through the core offer. Further information is set out in Schedule 2G. TUPE does apply. Interested providers will be able to view the opportunity and access the tender documentation through the 'Live Opportunities' list on the e-procurement system, Atamis, using the link below: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome This procurement is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West (SCW) on behalf of the commissioners. SCW is currently subject to restructuring, and responsibility for managing this procurement may therefore transfer to a successor organisation at some point during the procurement process. Bidders will be informed of any such change and of any resulting administrative changes.

Total Quantity or Scope

Immunisation is one of the most successful and cost-effective health protection interventions. Delivered on behalf of the NHS in line with the National Childhood Immunisation Programme, these vaccinations aim to protect school-aged children from vaccine-preventable diseases associated with significant mortality and morbidity. High immunisation rates are essential to preventing the spread of infectious disease, reducing complications and possible early death, and protecting population health. The programmes currently in scope are: • Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations (Year 8) • Diphtheria, Tetanus and Poliomyelitis (Td/IPV) booster (Year 8) • Meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY) conjugate vaccine (Year 9) • School-aged children's Seasonal Influenza (Flu) vaccinations (Reception - Year 11) • Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) catch up vaccinations (Reception - Year 11). The scope of the service may be extended in future to include additional programmes, as advised or recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and/or at the request of the Commissioner. … The Commissioner will use the NHS Standard 'Shorter-Form' Contract. The latest version is available at the link below and is made up of three parts: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/shorter-form-nhs-standard-contract-2026-2... Interested parties wishing to take part in the procurement are invited to participate in an Invitation to Tender (ITT) process using the competitive open procedure. All ITT responses must be returned by 12 noon on 28th July 2026 at the latest.

Renewal Options

The contract will be for an initial term of 4 years, with an option to extend for any period up to a further 3 years, at the sole discretion of the Commissioner.

CPV Codes

• 85100000 - Health services

Indicators

• Bids should cover the whole contract.
• Options are available.
• Renewals are not available.
• Financial restrictions apply.
• Professional qualifications are sought.
• Award on basis of price and quality.

Other Information

Interested providers will be able to view this opportunity via the live opportunities list on the 'Health Family' e-procurement system, Atamis. Click on 'View our Live Opportunities' from the home page, available on the following link: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome. Once you have found the opportunity (via the search function, using the title or reference number - C453761), to gain full access to the bid documentation (including questionnaires), you will need to click on 'Register interest' - this will take you to the log-in page. If you are not already registered on the system, you will need to do so before gaining full access to the documentation and be able to submit a bid. Early engagement market notices were published in relation to this procurement in November 2025 and May 2026, in order to facilitate early engagement with potential providers and advertise a market briefing event. Although those who responded to that notice may be advised that this contract notice has been published, there will be no process exemptions or preferential treatment afforded to any parties who expressed an interest at that stage. NHS England is the responsible commissioner of these services until April 2027 when Section 7A commissioning will be delegated to regional host Integrated Care Boards (ICB) subject to legislation change. The ICB as the future responsible commissioner will be consulted throughout the procurement and will be asked to support recommendations. All procurement decisions will go to through Director approval at NHSE South West Business Case meeting. Commissioning functions will continue to be delivered with minimal disruption to current ways of working and the mobilisation of any new contract awarded. This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Contract Notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and The Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award.