Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Newcastle City Council
Civic Centre
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE18QH
Contact
Amanda Robinson
amanda.robinson@newcastle.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKC - North East (England)
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Integrated Clinical Sexual Health Service - PSR - Most Suitable Provider Process
Reference number
C-013978
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
This is an intention to award notice against the most suitable provider process under schedule 6 of the Provider Selection Regime for a new provider to provide an existing service.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £6,694,840
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKC - North East (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
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.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Most Suitable Provider process with regard to the key criteria / Weighting: 100
Cost criterion - Name: Most Suitable Provider process with regard to the key criteria / Weighting: 0
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.14) Additional information
The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations.
Explanation:
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award 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.
This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR MSP process.
The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations by providers must be made by 16 January 2026 via the Open platform https://www.open-uk.org.
Following the successful conclusion of the standstill period, this notice will be updated to confirm the award of the contract to South Tyneside & Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust in accordance with the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) and the Most Suitable Provider process.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Restricted procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2026/S 000-000658
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
1 January 2000
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 5
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
South Tyneside & Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Sunderland Royal Hospital
Sunderland
SR4 7TP
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKC - North East (England)
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £6,694,840
Total value of the contract/lot: £6,694,840
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
This decision was made under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) using the Most Suitable Provider (MSP) process. This is not a competitive procurement but involves an assessment against published key criteria to ensure transparency and accountability.
Key Criteria:
• Quality and innovation - 40%
• Value - 15%
• Integration, collaboration and service sustainability - 20%
• Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice - 15%
• Social value - 10%
Five providers expressed an interest in delivering the contract. The Council had sufficient evidence and knowledge of all five providers to assess them against the key criteria.
Award Decision Panel:
• Public Health Consultant (Evaluator)
• Sexual Health Project Advisor (Evaluator)
• Public Health Practitioner (Evaluator)
• Public Health Practitioner (Note taker)
• Legal Counsel (Independent moderator)
Following evaluation, the Council determined that South Tyneside & Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust was the most suitable provider to deliver the service. This decision was based on their ability to meet the requirements within the financial envelope, ensure rapid mobilisation, and provide consultant and nursing staff cover. The provider is well integrated into local pathways and organisations, which supports effective service delivery and sustainability.
This decision has been made in accordance with the requirements of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR), ensuring that the process was fair, transparent, and proportionate. The Council has documented the rationale for its decision and this notice is published in line with PSR transparency obligations.
Conflict of Interest Statement
A potential conflict of interest was identified prior to the commencement of the design of the MSP process in that the Director of Public Health at Newcastle City Council is also Director of Public Health at Gateshead Council and therefore has an existing relationship with the successful provider. The individual therefore stepped away from the procurement process altogether prior to it commencing and her authority was delegated to the Public Health Consultant at Newcastle City Council, to lead the procurement process. The Director therefore was not involved in any aspects of the process to appoint the new provider for this service, including the preparation of the contract and the specification, the key evaluation criteria, and the evaluation process
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court of Justice (England & Wales)
London
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
Any representations to be made in accordance with Regulation 12(3) of the PSR should be made before midnight on 16th January 2026.