Award

DHSC: National Breastfeeding Helpline

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE (DHSC)

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

25 Apr 2025 at 16:46

Award Notice
Award

25 Apr 2025 at 16:44

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has awarded a contract for the National Breastfeeding Helpline to The Breastfeeding Network as a direct award for a 12-month period starting from 1st April 2025 and ending on 31st March 2026. This procurement falls under the services category, specifically described as a call centre with guidance and counselling components, delivered within the United Kingdom. The procurement process was conducted through a negotiated procedure without prior publication due to the unique positioning of the supplier and technical reasons, with the contract valued at £786,363. The procurement stage is complete, following an award made on 28th March 2025. DHSC plans to initiate an open procedure for the long-term provision of this service later in 2025/26, with market engagement anticipated around early 2025/26.

This contract presents opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) to demonstrate their capabilities within the call centre and counselling service sectors. Businesses skilled in call centre operations, particularly those with expertise in health-related guidance services, could find substantial growth possibilities by engaging in the forthcoming market engagement activities announced by DHSC. These engagements will provide insights into the long-term requirements of the National Breastfeeding Helpline service, enabling suitable entities to prepare and compete for future tenders that may arise as DHSC explores sustainable service delivery solutions.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

DHSC: National Breastfeeding Helpline

Notice Description

DHSC have made a direct award to the Breastfeeding Network (BfN) for a 12-month period to provide a continuity of service for the 24-hour National Breastfeeding Helpline (NBH). This direct award has been made in accordance with Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) competition is absent for technical reasons. In 2024/25, the NBH was expanded to pilot a night service so that services are available to members of the public 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The current NBH service includes a 24-hour telephone helpline and voicemail service, social media, webchat and links to the BfN's drugs in breastmilk advice service. DHSC have deemed that BfN are currently the only supplier who are positioned to run the 24-hour service without helpline users facing a gap or reduction in service provision, based upon BfN's capacity to manage service demand and them additionally having the means to increase capacity of the night service in early 2025/26. BfN also previously commissioned an independent evaluation for the 2024/25 pilot and are uniquely positioned to put arrangements in place for an independent evaluation of the full night service pilot which is required by DHSC. For these reasons, BfN are currently the only provider who could deliver the full scope of service requirements at the required scale. DHSC are exploring longer term solutions in respect to the ongoing provision of the NBH, and intend to conduct an open procedure in late Q2 or early Q3 of 2025/26 to source a replacement contract. To support this, DHSC intend to conduct market engagement at the end of Q1 or beginning of Q2 2025/26. A UK2 preliminary market engagement notice will be published to advertise any upcoming engagement.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-1212ad05-f673-42c5-99f9-25e72c773c0c
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/35387304-96dd-42b3-8a07-23872fe299e5
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Negotiated procedure without prior publication (above threshold)
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

79512000 - Call centre

85312300 - Guidance and counselling services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£786,363 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£786,363 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
25 Apr 202510 months ago
Submission Deadline
10 Feb 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
28 Mar 202511 months ago
Contract Period
31 Mar 2025 - 31 Mar 2026 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE (DHSC)
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LEEDS
Postcode
LS2 7UE
Post Town
Leeds
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE4 West Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE42 Leeds
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Leeds
Electoral Ward
Little London & Woodhouse
Westminster Constituency
Leeds Central and Headingley

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

THE BREASTFEEDING NETWORK

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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