Purpose

On the 6th of March 2023, the Adult
Social Care and Public Health Committee authorised the Director of
Public Health to recommission Sexual and Reproductive Health
Services in Wirral. At this Committee, delegated authority was
given to the Director of Public Health to award the tender to the
successful bidder following the tender process. This report
provides an update on the recommissioning process and
outcome.

 

The tender was divided into two Lots. Lot 1 was for
the provision of the Integrated Sexual Health Service and was
undertaken using a competitive dialogue process. Lot 2 was for the
provision of Community HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and STI
(sexually transmitted infections) Support Service and was
undertaken using an open process.

 

The process has concluded, the tenders received have
been fully evaluated according to

Council procurement rules and the Director of Public
Health will take the decision to award the contract to the
successful bidder for Lot 1 (Integrated Sexual Health Service) and
approve the decision to not award the contract for Lot 2 (Community
HIV and STI Support Service).

 

Wirral Council is legally obliged to provide, or make arrangements
for the provision of, open access Sexual and Reproductive Health
Services. Current commissioning arrangements expire at the end of
the financial year 2023/24. Good sexual and reproductive health is
an important component of overall health and wellbeing, and a
pillar of wider work to reduce health inequalities in Wirral.
 

Decision

The Director of Public Health
has agreed to:
 

(1) 
Approve the award of a five-year contract commencing
on 1 April 2024 and running until 31 March 2029 (with the option of
two one-year extensions) at a total cost of £20,365,687 for
Lot 1 (Integrated Sexual Health Service) to Wirral Community Health
and Care NHS Foundation Trust within the approved budget and as the
highest scoring tenderer in accordance with the Most Economically
Advantageous Tender criteria; and

 

(2) 
Not award the contract for Lot 2 (Community HIV and
STI Support Service) and reprocure the service under a competitive
dialogue process.