Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Department of Health & Social Care
39 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0EU
Contact
Matt Land
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKI32 - Westminster
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care
Buyer's address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
DHSC: National Breastfeeding Helpline
Reference number
C337378
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79512000 - Call centre
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Department of Health and Social Care is seeking a provider to deliver the National Breastfeeding Helpline, providing breastfeeding information and support via a 24 hour helpline for families across the UK.
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: £786,363
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85312300 - Guidance and counselling services
- 85312320 - Counselling services
- 79512000 - Call centre
- 85312300 - Guidance and counselling services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKI32 - Westminster
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Department of Health and Social Care is seeking a provider to deliver the National Breastfeeding Helpline, providing breastfeeding information and support via a 24 hour helpline for families across the UK.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
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 services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
- absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation:
DHSC have made a direct award to the Breastfeeding Network (BfN) for a 12-month period to provide a continuity of service for the 24-hour National Breastfeeding Helpline (NBH).
This direct award has been made in accordance with Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) competition is absent for technical reasons.
In 2024/25, the NBH was expanded to pilot a night service so that services are available to members of the public 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The current NBH service includes a 24-hour telephone helpline and voicemail service, social media, webchat and links to the BfN's drugs in breastmilk advice service.
DHSC have deemed that BfN are currently the only supplier who are positioned to run the 24-hour service without helpline users facing a gap or reduction in service provision, based upon BfN's capacity to manage service demand and them additionally having the means to increase capacity of the night service in early 2025/26. BfN also previously commissioned an independent evaluation for the 2024/25 pilot and are uniquely positioned to put arrangements in place for an independent evaluation of the full night service pilot which is required by DHSC. For these reasons, BfN are currently the only provider who could deliver the full scope of service requirements at the required scale.
DHSC are exploring longer term solutions in respect to the ongoing provision of the NBH, and intend to conduct an open procedure in late Q2 or early Q3 of 2025/26 to source a replacement contract. To support this, DHSC intend to conduct market engagement at the end of Q1 or beginning of Q2 2025/26. A UK2 preliminary market engagement notice will be published to advertise any upcoming engagement.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
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
28 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
The Breastfeeding Network
9 Ainslie Place
Edinburgh
EH3 6AS
Telephone
+44 1418489035
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI3 - Inner London – West
National registration number
SC330639
Internet address
http://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £786,363
Total value of the contract/lot: £786,363
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court
Strand,
London,
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom