Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS SUFFOLK AND NORTH EAST ESSEX INTEGRATED CARE BOARD
Endeavour House, Russell Road
Ipswich
IP12BX
Contact
Caryn Akers
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH14 - Suffolk
NHS Organisation Data Service
QJG
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://suffolkandnortheastessex.icb.nhs.uk/
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Suffolk GP Federation: Very Important Invitation Health Inequalities Cervical Screening Project- Vii2526
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85100000 - Health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The project is designed to raise awareness of cervical screening and increase screening uptake across SNEE with focus on health inequalities and underserved populations. The Very Important Invitation project also aims to contribute to reducing health inequalities as well as reducing cancer related deaths. The Very Important invitation project is a bespoke health inequalities educator project, being delivered by Suffolk GP Federation. The project has been funded by Cancer SDF funding for 4 years in Suffolk and expanded to NEE in 2024. The project is designed to raise awareness of cervical screening and increase screening uptake, adding value within primary care, the community and supporting the NHS long term plan. The project delivers the following:
GP Education & Health Inequalities support- Training and resources to clinical/non clinical staff
Identification of low uptake groups and barriers to attendance
Bespoke support to practices following data analysis
One to one support / Chaperoning / Pop up clinics/Non responder clinics
Promoting health education initiatives via press release, radio, media campaigns, social media platforms and websites.
Community and commercial events
Evening and weekend screening appointments via the Suffolk GP+ Service.
LD and sexual trauma survivor support packs
Schools, Colleges and Universities education
Supply of online toolkit for ongoing resources.
The project aims to specifically support the following patient cohorts to access cervical screening:
• Those living through deprivation/homelessness
• The LGBTQIA+ community
• People of a multifaith and/or multicultural background
• People from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority backgrounds
• People with Learning Disabilities
• People with serious mental health issues
• People aged 25-29
• People aged 50-64
• Those who have never been screened
• Survivors of sexual trauma
• Gypsy, Roma and Travelling community
• Those who have experience Birth Trauma
• Perimenopausal/menopausal people
The contract is a 12-month contract commencing on 1st April 2025 and ending on 31st March 2026 with the option to extend for a further 12 months, with a 3 month notice period. Future funding for this project will go via the cancer programme governance route which includes the monthly cancer operational group and the bi-monthly cancer delivery committee chaired by the cancer SRO.
NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board are awarding the contract named within this notice under the Direct Award C process which is outlined within the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. The provider named in this notice is an existing provider and has been reviewed through a Key Criteria assessment to ensure the awarding body is satisfied with current performance and reasonably expects the provider to be able to satisfy the contract which is the subject of this notice. The contract which is the subject of this notice has not changed considerably when compared with the existing / previous contract delivered by the named provider.
The ICB may wish to introduce additional services during the lifetime of the contract ("Contract modifications"). Such contract modifications will be contemplated where additional requirements are similar and or complementary to the services already included in the Specification, at any given time. Such expansion would be by the addition of services commissioned by the Authority as named in the Contract Notice. To this end, after the award of contract, there is a possibility that the contract may be varied as allowable in accordance with the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.
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: £251,250.32
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH14 - Suffolk
- UKH34 - Essex Haven Gateway
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Very Important invitation project is a bespoke health inequalities educator project, being delivered by Suffolk GP Federation. The project has been funded by Cancer SDF funding for 4 years in Suffolk and expanded to NEE in 2024. The project is designed to raise awareness of cervical screening and increase screening uptake, adding value within primary care, the community and supporting the NHS long term plan.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 100
Price - Weighting: 0
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
There is an option to extend the contract for up to 12 months.
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 publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period.
Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by Thursday 10th July 2025 (8 working days following publication of intention to award notice). They should be submitted in writing to procurement@snee.nhs.uk
This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.
Insert Award decision-makers: SNEE ICB Cancer Programme Delivery Committee on 21st January 2025
• No conflicts of interest, or potential conflicts of interest, were declared by any decision makers.
The decision to award this contract in line with Direct Award Process C was based on evaluation against the five required key criteria as follows:
• Quality and Innovation - Assured- SNEE ICB are assured that the provider is delivering a safe and effective service as required by the specification and contract they are currently delivering. This criterion was reviewed in line with the Quality Impact Assessment.
• Value - Assured- SNEE ICB are assured that the provider is delivering value to the integrated care system and the cost of change would not be outweighed by the potential benefit of a new provider.
• Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability - Assured- SNEE ICB are assured that the provider is positively impacting on the integrated care system through their integration and collaboration delivered as a requirement of the specification or alternative elements linked to the delivery.
• Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities and Facilitating Choice - Assured- SNEE ICB are assured that the provider is meeting needs of the population to ensure equitable access and choice as required by the specification and contract. This criterion was reviewed in line with the Equality Impact Assessment.
• Social Value - Assured- SNEE ICB are assured that the provider is delivering in line with the SNEE Green Plan, supporting with the implementation of carbon reduction and increase in initiatives which positively impact on the wider determinants of health. This criterion was reviewed in line with the Sustainability Impact Assessment.
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
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
21 January 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
Suffolk GP Federation CIC
Ipswich
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH14 - Suffolk
Companies House
06183049
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: £125,625.16
Total value of the contract/lot: £251,250.32
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board
Ipswich
Country
United Kingdom