On the 6th of March 2023, the Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee authorised the Director of Public Health to recommission Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in Wirral (for an Integrated Sexual Health Service and Community HIV and STI Support Service).  The Committee, delegated authority to the Director of Public Health to award the tender to the successful bidder(s) following the tender process. This report provides an update on the recommissioning process and seeks a decision on the outcome in relation to the Community HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and STI (sexually transmitted infections) Support Service.

The process has concluded, the tenders received have been fully evaluated according to the Council’s procurement rules and the Director of Public Health is recommended to award the contract to the successful bidder, Sahir House. Current commissioning arrangements expire at the end of August 2024.

The Director of Public Health has decided to approve the award of a five-year contract in relation to the Community HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and STI Support Service  commencing on 1 September 2024 and running until 31 August 2029 (with the option of two one-year extensions) at a total cost of £524,088 over the initial five-year term, to Sahir House within the approved budget and as the highest scoring tenderer in accordance with the Most Economically Advantageous Tender criteria.

1.1  The current contract for the HIV Prevention and Support Service, delivered by Sahir House expires on 31st August 2024. A procurement exercise has been completed in accordance with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules, utilising the competitive dialogue process.

1.2  The tenders that were submitted were evaluated against a 10% contract price,10% Social Value and 80% contract quality ratio. The successful bidder met all the quality requirements within the allocated budget.

2.1  Not reprocuring the service was not deemed to be an option. Sexual health services – Sexually Transmitted Infections testing, treatment and contraception are mandated (prescribed functions) within the Local Authority Public Health ring fenced grant. It is necessary to recommission the services in order to comply with Public Contract Regulations 2015 and Wirral Council Contract Procedure rules.