Section one: Contracting authority/entity
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
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.
Section six. Complementary information
six.6) Original notice reference
Notice number: 2025/S 000-035522
Section seven. Changes
seven.1) Information to be changed or added
seven.2) Other additional information
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) confirmation of contract award notice.
This contract has been awarded under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award.
This contract has now been formally awarded using direct award process C
Contract award date: 26th June 2025
The dates between which the services are intended to be provided are: 1st April 2025 to 31st March 2026
Lifetime value of the contract is anticipated to be: Value excluding VAT: £125,625.16
There was no review during the standstill period.