To approve the award of a contract to deliver breast feeding support in Wirral to Koala Northwest, commencing on 1^st February 2025 for two years, at a total value of £159,915.

The current contract for breastfeeding support in Wirral will expire on 31st January 2025. A procurement exercise has been completed in accordance with Council Contract Procedure Rules.

The tender was evaluated against a 20% contract price,10% Social Value and 70% contract quality ratio. The successful bidder met all the quality requirements within the allocated budget.

The new contract will be operational by 1st February 2025. The current contract for this support will continue during the commissioning and mobilisation period so that there is no gap in service for local people.

This contract is commissioned by Wirral Council through the Public Health Grant. There is confirmation of available funding from the Public Health Grant.

Various options were explored including different financial models for investment and the option of not providing any investment. These options, although considered, are not recommended as this would risk delivery of local strategic priorities, and the rate of breastfeeding in Wirral is already beneath both the England and North West average.

The decision has been taken under Part 3 Section C - Overview and Scheme of Delegations of Authority to Officers as the decision is not reserved to a Committee or Sub-Committee and the Director is satisfied that paragraphs 2(a) to 2(c) apply.

Background Papers

Wirral Health and Wellbeing Strategy

209_healthandwellbeingstrategy_v9.pdf (wirralintelligenceservice.org)