Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Medway Council
Medway Council, Gun Wharf, Dock Road
Chatham
ME4 4TR
Contact
Mr James Welch
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKJ41 - Medway
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk
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
Medway Integrated Sexual Health Service (including HIV Treatment and Care)
Reference number
DN754542
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85100000 - Health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The provision of open access sexual health services is a mandated function for Local Authorities under regulation 6 of the Local Authorities (Public Health Function and Entry to premises by local Healthwatch Representatives) Regulations 2013. Medway has an integrated sexual health service that delivers HIV Treatment and Care services in partnership with NHS England.
The service provision is divided into two elements with both elements awarded to one and the same lead provider.
Element 1 – a contract with Medway Council for the provision of Specialist Clinical Service (Sexual and reproductive health) that includes the following services:
• Hub and Spoke clinics offering a full level 1-3 service (STI prevention, detection and treatment, Contraception, and associated functions)
• Self-managed care including health education, online testing, and harm reduction
• Outreach to schools, colleges and other organisations to promote the service
• Outreach to groups who face additional barriers accessing services
• Psychosexual therapies; short to medium term therapy
• National Chlamydia Screening Programme
• Condom scheme
• Long Acting Reversible Contraception fitting and removal in primary care
• Emergency Oral Contraception in Pharmacies
• Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
• Post Exposure Prophylaxis after sexual exposure (PEPSE)
• Out of Area payments and invoicing (Provider holds the budget within core contract value)
Element 2 – Adult HIV Treatment and Care Services delivered in accordance with the national service specification
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: £17,813,090
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ41 - Medway
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The provision of open access sexual health services is a mandated function for Local Authorities under regulation 6 of the Local Authorities (Public Health Function and Entry to premises by local Healthwatch Representatives) Regulations 2013. Medway has an integrated sexual health service that delivers HIV Treatment and Care services in partnership with NHS England.
The service provision is divided into two elements with both elements awarded to one and the same lead provider.
Element 1 – a contract with Medway Council for the provision of Specialist Clinical Service (Sexual and reproductive health) that includes the following services:
• Hub and Spoke clinics offering a full level 1-3 service (STI prevention, detection and treatment, Contraception, and associated functions)
• Self-managed care including health education, online testing, and harm reduction
• Outreach to schools, colleges and other organisations to promote the service
• Outreach to groups who face additional barriers accessing services
• Psychosexual therapies; short to medium term therapy
• National Chlamydia Screening Programme
• Condom scheme
• Long Acting Reversible Contraception fitting and removal in primary care
• Emergency Oral Contraception in Pharmacies
• Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
• Post Exposure Prophylaxis after sexual exposure (PEPSE)
• Out of Area payments and invoicing (Provider holds the budget within core contract value)
Element 2 – Adult HIV Treatment and Care Services delivered in accordance with the national service specification. Element 2 is via a section 75 agreement between NHS England and Medway Council.
This notice serves as notification of the intention to award the contract to an existing provider following direct award process C.
The approximate lifetime value of the contract.is £17,813,090.
The contract will commence 1 April 2025 for 3 years to 31 March 2028 with the option, at the discretion of the relevant contracting authorities to extend for a further 2 years.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: The existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed contract to a sufficient standard / Weighting: 100%
Price
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The contract will commence 1 April 2025 for 3 years with the option, at the discretion of the relevant contracting authorities to extend for a further 2 years.
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- 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 do not apply to this award. The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 25 March 2025. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section five. Award of contract
Title
Medway Integrated Sexual Health Service (including HIV Treatment and Care)
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
11 March 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
Ashford
TN25 4AZ
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKJ41 - Medway
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £17,813,090
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
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 do not apply to this award. The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by 25 March 2025. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.
Written representations should be sent to james.welch@medway.gov.uk and claire.hurcum@medway.gov.uk.
Decision makers: Procurement Board, Public Health Improvement Programme Manager, Public Health Head of Service and Category Manager.
There are no declared conflicts of interest.
The Provider was evaluated against the key criteria and achieved a pass for all criteria:
Criterion 1: Improving access, reducing health inequalities, and facilitating choice – weighting 30%
The Provider demonstrated understanding of barriers and enablers to support those who be less likely to access services. The delivery model has proved effective with a good range of clinical, in reach and outreach activities. Innovation has been evident throughout the contract, and the provider has evidenced strong and respected online provision of STI testing kits with good return rates. The Provider has demonstrated a strong use of digital platforms with an effective website, web chat, text chat, online health promotion materials, and active social media. Preventative interventions such as the condom distribution scheme have been effective and improved during the current contract.
Criterion 2: Integration, collaboration and service sustainability – weighting 25%
The Provider has worked as a system leader including through the Women’s Health Hubs, PreP, Mpox vaccinations and development of alternative/innovative methods of service delivery. They have made services accessible to women, LGBTQI groups and older adults. The Provider has evidenced working with private, statutory and voluntary sectors, and building pathways to deliver effective HIV care to adults and the use of peer supporters.
Criterion 3: Quality and Innovation – weighting 20%
The Provider evidenced quality with their recent CQC rating of outstanding, strong safeguarding processes, and transparent data reporting during the current contract. The Provider has demonstrated that innovation has been central to the service development since 2016 and improved patient choice, long-acting reversible contraception processes, online testing, and the online condom scheme. The Provider has demonstrated service user engagement, co design, and co-delivery through the peer programme and evidenced that the learning been disseminated to the wider system.
Criterion 4: Social value - weighted 5%
The provider has set out social value commitments in accordance with the Council's Social Value requirements.
Criterion 5: Value - weighted 20%
The Provider confirmed delivery of the service within the financial envelope.
In conclusion, the Provider has demonstrated delivery of high quality, cost effective and accessible sexual health services since 2016 and assured commissioners that this will continue in the new contract.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Medway Council
Chatham
Country
United Kingdom