Issue - meetings

Report CS17106A

The Care Services Portfolio Holder introduced a report providing an overview of the tendering process for Community Sexual Health Early Intervention Services.

The Local Authority had a statutory obligation to commission comprehensive, open access and free sexual health services, including Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing and treatment, partner notification and contraception provision.  To meet these obligations, the Local Authority commissioned a range of sexual health services from Bromley Healthcare through a joint block contract with Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group that would end on 30^th September 2017.  In considering future commissioning arrangements for these services, two options had been explored and it was proposed that the services be reconfigured into a Sexual Health Early Intervention Service which would restructure existing services and build extra capacity within the existing budget, as well as allow a level of integration to support a wider and more sustainable prevention programme.  It would also provide the opportunity to take into account some of the developments which were being considered by the London Sexual Health Transformation Programme.  The tendering process for Community Sexual Health Early Intervention Services had been undertaken in accordance with the Local Authority’s financial and contractual requirements.  A total of four bids were received, two of which were specific to one or more of the elements contained within the Service Specification, and the tender prices were evaluated based on the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Evaluation Model using a 60% price and 40% quality split.

In response to a question from a Member, the Portfolio Holder confirmed that the Local Authority’s general policy on contracts was for tenders to be evaluated on a 60% price and 40% quality split, and that the quality of tenders was assessed as part of the evaluation stage to ensure that stringent quality standards were met.

RESOLVED that the Council’s Executive be recommended to note the Part 1 (Public) Information Report when considering the recommendations in the Part 2 (Exempt) Information Report to award the contract.