Published date: 26 May 2023

Last edited date: 3 July 2023

This notice was replaced on 16 January 2024

This notice does not contain the most up-to-date information about this procurement. The most recent notice is:

Awarded contract (published 16 January 2024)

Closed opportunity - This means that the contract is currently closed. The buying department may be considering suppliers that have already applied, or no suitable offers were made.


Contract summary

Industry

  • Health and social work services - 85000000

Location of contract

South West

Value of contract

£21,485,118

Procurement reference

C165527

Published date

26 May 2023

Closing date

18 July 2023

Closing time

12pm

Contract start date

1 August 2024

Contract end date

31 July 2029

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Open procedure (above threshold)

Any interested supplier may submit a tender in response to an opportunity notice.

This procedure can be used for procurements above the relevant contract value threshold.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

The NHS School Aged Immunisation (SAI) programmes cover vaccinations to all children and young people of school age, whether they attend state school, independent school, complex needs schools or alternative settings. Children and young people that are educated at home can attend community clinics or their local school to receive the vaccines.

NHS England Public Health Commissioning Teams are responsible for the commissioning of local SAI services under the Section 7a mandate in line with the national programme requirements and a national service specification.

NHS England South West is recommissioning the SAI Programme across the population of BSW, Somerset, Cornwall, and Gloucestershire. The current contract with the incumbent providers ends on the 31st July 2024, and the new contracts will commence on 1st August 2024, with a 5 year initial term and the option to extend for up to 2 further years.
Lot 1 - BSW
Lot 2 - Somerset
Lot 3 - Cornwall
Lot 4 - Gloucestershire

Immunisation is one of the most successful and cost- effective health protection interventions. High immunisation rates are key to preventing the spread of infectious disease, complications and possible early death among individuals and to protecting the population's health.

Vaccinations are provided, on behalf of the NHS, in line with the National Childhood Immunisation Programme which aims to prevent school aged children from developing vaccine preventable childhood diseases that are associated with significant mortality and morbidity

The programmes currently in scope are:
• Diphtheria, tetanus and poliomyelitis (Td/IPV adolescent booster);
• Meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY);
• Human papillomavirus (HPV);
• Seasonal influenza (flu) immunisation programmes for school aged children (the cohort is expected to expand in future years); and
• Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) catch-up.

This scope may be extended in future to include additional programmes as advised/recommended by the Joint Committee of Vaccinations and Immunisations and/or at the request of the Commissioner.

Where the service specification is updated during the life of the contract, School Aged Immunisation services must maintain compliance with the service specification. As such, the Commissioner reserves the right to vary contracts to incorporate any future programme changes, subject to negotiation with the provider/s.

The aim and objectives can be found later in the notice.

The provider will work with the commissioner to implement the recommendations of the national immunisation strategy (publication imminent) which is expected to include continuing to build innovative and integrated services, linking with wider models of vaccination delivery at system level.

This procurement is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners. Interested providers will be able to view this notice on Atamis (https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome)

More information

Attachments

Links

Additional text

Aim and Objectives:
The aim of the service is to deliver safe and effective, evidence-based, population-wide immunisation programmes. The service offer will incorporate the following features:
• a planned and co-ordinated programme of timely delivery, with strong local leadership focussed on maximising coverage and uptake.
• identification of, and full offer to, the whole eligible population, with repeated offers until school leaving age as required, to achieve maximum coverage.
• delivery in a way which addresses local health inequalities, tailoring and targeting interventions when necessary.
• the service will be delivered in a culturally sensitive way to meet the needs of local diverse populations.
• safe and effective delivery by suitably trained, competent healthcare professionals, with effective use of skill mix to achieve efficiency and value for money.
• accurate and timely recording, collation and reporting of vaccinations both for individuals and at population level.
• a programme of promotion activities to encourage vaccine uptake. This will include collaborating with and supporting NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in any campaigns or activities they undertake.
• there is an expectation that the contract holder(s) for all lots will work with public health nursing and other children's services across the geographies to maximise collaboration and opportunities for an integrated service offer and delivery.

The services are healthcare services falling within Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ("the Regulations") which are not subject to the full regime of the Regulations, but are instead governed by the "Light Touch Regime" contained within Chapter 3, Section 7 of the Regulations (Regulations 74 to 77).

The tendering process will be conducted in accordance with the requirements and flexibilities provided by Articles 74 to 76 of the Directive, and Regulations 74 to 76 of the Regulations. The Authority will run a transparent tender process, treating all Bidders equally. For the avoidance of doubt, the Authority will not be bound by the Regulations or any other regulations or legislation except for the specific parts or circumstances that apply to the procurement of these Services.

Neither the inclusion of a Bidder selection stage, nor the use of any language or terms found in the Directive or Regulations, nor the description of the procedure voluntarily adopted by the Authority ("Open", "Restricted", "Competitive Procedure with Negotiation", "Competitive Dialogue" or any other description), nor any other indication, shall be taken to mean that the Authority intends to hold itself bound by the Directive or Regulations, save by the provisions applicable to services coming within the scope of Annex XIV of the Directive / Schedule 3 of the Regulations.

The Regulations provide that aggrieved parties are to take action in the High Court (England and Wales).

About the buyer

Contact name

Rebecca Rogers

Address

South Plaza
Bristol
BS1 3NX
England

Email

scwcsu.procurement@nhs.net