Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Sunderland City Council
City Hall, Plater Way,
Sunderland
SR13AA
Contact
Issy Langley
issy.langley@sunderland.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKC23 - Sunderland
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
Management Provider for Public Health Services Delivered in Community Pharmacy Across Sunderland (PSR The Most Suitable Provider Process - Notice of intention to make an award of a contract).
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85100000 - Health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
A contract for the appointment of a Management Provider for Public Health Services Delivered in Community Pharmacy Across Sunderland to manage Public Health Services within Community Pharmacies in Sunderland. The Service will include (without limitation):
• Stop Smoking Service.
• Community Pharmacy Nicotine Replacement Therapy Voucher Scheme.
• Community Pharmacy Sexual Health Services (including Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC), provision of chlamydia and gonorrhoea screening kits, and registration of service users and distribution of condoms via the local C Card Scheme).
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: £1,503,200
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85140000 - Miscellaneous health services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKC23 - Sunderland
Main site or place of performance
The Boundaries of the City of Sunderland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Authority intends to award a contract for the Service to PSNE Limited pursuant to The Most Suitable Provider Process under Regulation 10 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 ("PSR"). This is a notice under Regulation 10 (7) of the Authority's intention to award the contract for the Service as described below.
For avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this proposed contract.
The Management Provider will work with the Council and other providers in the local health and care system to create and develop services that:
• Promote prevention, early intervention and self-care for the people of Sunderland;
• Ensure Public Health services within Community Pharmacies and interventions are accessible and equitable;
• Ensure key Public Health services within Community Pharmacies and interventions are of high quality, safe, effective and provide value for money; and
• Ensure Service Users are provided with or referred to services that are consistent with the Service Specification.
The requirements of the Management Provider for managing Public Health Services within Community Pharmacies in Sunderland, include:
• Stop Smoking Service.
• Community Pharmacy Nicotine Replacement Therapy Voucher Scheme.
• Community Pharmacy Sexual Health Services (including Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC), provision of chlamydia and gonorrhoea screening kits, and registration of service users and distribution of condoms via the local C Card Scheme).
The Management Provider will be responsible for the day-to-day operational management of the Community Pharmacy service delivery and must work in close with the Council.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Cost criterion - Name: Quality and Innovation / Weighting: 25
Cost criterion - Name: Value for Money / Weighting: 5
Cost criterion - Name: Integration Collaboration/Service Sustainability / Weighting: 35
Cost criterion - Name: Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities and Facilitating / Weighting: 25
Cost criterion - Name: Social Value / Weighting: 10
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
Option to extend for up to a total maximum period of 2 years at the sole discretion of the Council.
two.2.14) Additional information
This is a notice under Regulation 10 (7) of the PSR of the Authority's intention to award the contract for the Service to PSNE Ltd pursuant to The Most Suitable Provider Process.
The award of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.
The associated F01: Prior information notice (Prior information only) is 2025/S 000-055485.
For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this proposed award.
The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made in writing in accordance with Regulation 12 (3) of the PSR to the Authority before midnight on 7th January 2026 via email: issy.langley@sunderland.gov.uk
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:
The Authority intends to award a contract for the Service to PSNE Limited pursuant to The Most Suitable Provider Process under Regulation 10 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 ("PSR"). This is a notice under Regulation 10 (7) of the Authority's intention to award the contract for the Service to PSNE Ltd pursuant to The Most Suitable Provider Process.
For avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this proposed contract.
The associated F01: Prior information notice (Prior information only) is 2025/S 000-055485.
The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made in writing in accordance with Regulation 12 (3) of the PSR to the Authority before midnight on 7th January 2026 via email: issy.langley@sunderland.gov.uk
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
Contract No
1
Lot No
1
Title
Management Provider for Public Health Services Delivered in Community Pharmacy Across Sunderland (PSR The Most Suitable Provider Process - Notice of intention to make an award of a contract).
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
22 December 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 1
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
PSNE Limited
Gateshead
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKC22 - Tyneside
Companies House
09764592
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: £1,503,200
Total value of the contract/lot: £1,503,200
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
This is a notice under Regulation 10 (7) of the PSR of Sunderland City Council's intention to award the contract for the Service to PSNE Limited pursuant to The Most Suitable Provider Process of the PSR.
The proposed contract is valued at £751,600 over 2 years (1/03/2026 -31/03/2028) with an option to extend up to a maximum of 2 years at the discretion of the Council. The total contract value for the 2 years plus the option to extend up to a maximum of 2 years is £1,503,200.
The proposed award 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 Contract Regulations 2015 do not apply to this proposed award.
The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made in writing in accordance with Regulation 12(3) to the Authority before 12 midnight on 7th January 2026 via email to: issy.langley@sunderland.gov.uk.
This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this is a notice under Regulation 10 (7) of PSR of the Authority's intention to award the proposed contract under The Most Suitable Provider Process.
Decision maker: Executive Director of Public Health and Wellbeing, Sunderland City Council.
No conflicts of interest were declared.
All basic selection criteria have been met and the key criteria were weighted as follows:
Quality and Innovation (25%)
Value for Money (5%)
Integration, Collaboration and Sustainability (35%)
Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice (25%)
Social Value (10%).
Following assessment of the above key criteria, the existing provider scored 64% out of 100%.
As a consequence, in light of the above, the Authority is of the view that PSNE Limited is the most suitable provider to whom to make an award of the proposed contract for the Services for the purpose of Regulation 10(6))
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Sunderland City Council
City Hall, Plater Way
Sunderland
SR1 1AA
Country
United Kingdom