Notice Information
Notice Title
Provision of STI Test Kits
Notice Description
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust has established a new model of care for Integrated Sexual Health Treatment & Prevention for the population of Birmingham & Solihull, which includes clinic and postal self-test STI screening kits and follow up Health Advisory support. The service, Umbrella, is a partnership, led by University Hospitals Birmingham, consisting of several community-based organisations, charities and health service providers, with the aim of improving sexual health and wellbeing of the people of Birmingham and Solihull locality. STI Testing Umbrella offers: * At Clinic testing: o Sample is undertaken within the Clinic. o Posted to UHB Labs where testing is undertaken. o Results by phone or text. o If positive results, follow up care and support provided. * At Home testing: o Criteria: Aged 16 or over and living in Birmingham or Solihull. o Sample request is submitted and undertaken within home environment o Posted to UHB Labs where testing is undertaken. o Results by phone or text. o If positive results, follow up care and support provided. What they test for: * Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, HIV and Syphilis. * For men who have (or have had) sex with other men, a test for hepatitis B is also included.
Procurement Information
The existing supplier, Blue Step Solutions Limited, has been directly awarded this contract as they are the only provider able to fully meet the requirements, as established through previous procurements. The original contract, awarded in 2021 via an open tender under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015), expired on 31 May 2025 after a two-year term with the option to extend for a further two years. Recent market testing with other STI kit providers confirmed that alternative suppliers are not viable. Competing providers were found to be at least 59% more expensive, with test prices ranging from PS5 to PS40 per kit, which presents a significant financial burden. In addition to the cost implications, these alternatives carry operational risks due to the niche and highly specialised nature of the service. Given the limited competition in this market, the substantial cost differential, and the risk to service continuity, a direct award to Blue Step Solutions Limited is the only option that ensures value for money and continuity of service provision.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-05986a
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055759-2025
- Current Stage
- Award
- All Stages
- Award
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- UK6 - Contract Award Notice
- Procurement Type
- Standard
- Procurement Category
- Goods
- Procurement Method
- Direct
- Procurement Method Details
- Direct award
- Tender Suitability
- Not specified
- Awardee Scale
- SME
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
22 - Printed matter and related products
-
- CPV Codes
22000000 - Printed matter and related products
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- Not specified
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- £485,520 £100K-£500K
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 11 Sep 20255 months ago
- Submission Deadline
- Not specified
- Future Notice Date
- Not specified
- Award Date
- 10 Sep 20255 months ago
- Contract Period
- 30 Sep 2025 - 31 Mar 2027 1-2 years
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Complete
- Lots Status
- Complete
- Awards Status
- Pending
- Contracts Status
- Not Specified
Buyer & Supplier
Contracting Authority (Buyer)
- Main Buyer
- UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS BIRMINGHAM NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
- Contact Name
- Not specified
- Contact Email
- harvy.sanghera@uhb.nhs.uk
- Contact Phone
- Not specified
Buyer Location
- Locality
- BIRMINGHAM
- Postcode
- B15 2WB
- Post Town
- Birmingham
- Country
- England
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- TLG West Midlands (England)
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- TLG3 West Midlands
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- TLG31 Birmingham
- Delivery Location
- Not specified
-
- Local Authority
- Birmingham
- Electoral Ward
- Edgbaston
- Westminster Constituency
- Birmingham Edgbaston
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055759-2025
11th September 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055734-2025
11th September 2025 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
View full OCDS Record for this contracting process
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.
{
"tag": [
"compiled"
],
"id": "ocds-h6vhtk-05986a-2025-09-11T11:51:19+01:00",
"date": "2025-09-11T11:51:19+01:00",
"ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05986a",
"initiationType": "tender",
"parties": [
{
"id": "GB-NHS-RRK",
"name": "UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS BIRMINGHAM NHS FOUNDATION TRUST",
"identifier": {
"scheme": "GB-NHS",
"id": "RRK"
},
"additionalIdentifiers": [
{
"scheme": "GB-PPON",
"id": "PWVL-6877-BXXV"
}
],
"address": {
"streetAddress": "Mindelsohn Way",
"locality": "Birmingham",
"postalCode": "B15 2WB",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom",
"region": "UKG31"
},
"contactPoint": {
"email": "harvy.sanghera@uhb.nhs.uk"
},
"roles": [
"buyer"
],
"details": {
"classifications": [
{
"scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
"id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
"description": "Public authority - central government"
}
]
}
},
{
"id": "GB-COH-07393785",
"name": "Bluestep Solutions Limited",
"identifier": {
"scheme": "GB-COH",
"id": "07393785"
},
"address": {
"streetAddress": "Tithe Barn Stoke Road, Blisworth",
"locality": "Northampton",
"postalCode": "NN7 3DB",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom",
"region": "UKF24"
},
"contactPoint": {
"email": "Hannah.Mortimer@bluestepsolutions.com"
},
"roles": [
"supplier"
]
},
{
"id": "GB-COH-07392785",
"name": "BLUE STEP SOLUTIONS LIMITED",
"identifier": {
"scheme": "GB-COH",
"id": "07392785"
},
"address": {
"streetAddress": "Tithe Barn Stoke Road, Blisworth,",
"locality": "Northampton",
"postalCode": "NN7 3DB",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom",
"region": "UKF24"
},
"contactPoint": {
"email": "Hannah.Mortimer@bluestepssolutions.com"
},
"roles": [
"supplier"
],
"details": {
"scale": "sme",
"vcse": false,
"publicServiceMissionOrganization": false,
"shelteredWorkshop": false
}
}
],
"buyer": {
"id": "GB-NHS-RRK",
"name": "UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS BIRMINGHAM NHS FOUNDATION TRUST"
},
"tender": {
"id": "ocds-h6vhtk-05986a",
"legalBasis": {
"id": "2023/54",
"scheme": "UKPGA",
"uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
},
"title": "Provision of STI Test Kits",
"description": "University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust has established a new model of care for Integrated Sexual Health Treatment & Prevention for the population of Birmingham & Solihull, which includes clinic and postal self-test STI screening kits and follow up Health Advisory support. The service, Umbrella, is a partnership, led by University Hospitals Birmingham, consisting of several community-based organisations, charities and health service providers, with the aim of improving sexual health and wellbeing of the people of Birmingham and Solihull locality. STI Testing Umbrella offers: * At Clinic testing: o Sample is undertaken within the Clinic. o Posted to UHB Labs where testing is undertaken. o Results by phone or text. o If positive results, follow up care and support provided. * At Home testing: o Criteria: Aged 16 or over and living in Birmingham or Solihull. o Sample request is submitted and undertaken within home environment o Posted to UHB Labs where testing is undertaken. o Results by phone or text. o If positive results, follow up care and support provided. What they test for: * Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, HIV and Syphilis. * For men who have (or have had) sex with other men, a test for hepatitis B is also included.",
"status": "complete",
"procurementMethod": "direct",
"procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award",
"procurementMethodRationale": "The existing supplier, Blue Step Solutions Limited, has been directly awarded this contract as they are the only provider able to fully meet the requirements, as established through previous procurements. The original contract, awarded in 2021 via an open tender under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015), expired on 31 May 2025 after a two-year term with the option to extend for a further two years. Recent market testing with other STI kit providers confirmed that alternative suppliers are not viable. Competing providers were found to be at least 59% more expensive, with test prices ranging from PS5 to PS40 per kit, which presents a significant financial burden. In addition to the cost implications, these alternatives carry operational risks due to the niche and highly specialised nature of the service. Given the limited competition in this market, the substantial cost differential, and the risk to service continuity, a direct award to Blue Step Solutions Limited is the only option that ensures value for money and continuity of service provision.",
"lots": [
{
"id": "1",
"status": "complete"
}
],
"documents": [
{
"id": "conflictOfInterest",
"documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
"description": "Not published"
}
],
"procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
{
"id": "urgency"
}
]
},
"awards": [
{
"id": "1",
"title": "Provision of STI Test Kits",
"status": "pending",
"value": {
"amountGross": 582624,
"amount": 485520,
"currency": "GBP"
},
"mainProcurementCategory": "goods",
"aboveThreshold": true,
"suppliers": [
{
"id": "GB-COH-07393785",
"name": "Bluestep Solutions Limited"
},
{
"id": "GB-COH-07392785",
"name": "BLUE STEP SOLUTIONS LIMITED"
}
],
"items": [
{
"id": "1",
"additionalClassifications": [
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "22000000",
"description": "Printed matter and related products"
}
],
"deliveryAddresses": [
{
"region": "UKC",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
},
{
"region": "UKD",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
},
{
"region": "UKE",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
},
{
"region": "UKF",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
},
{
"region": "UKG",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
},
{
"region": "UKH",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
},
{
"region": "UKI",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
},
{
"region": "UKJ",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
},
{
"region": "UKK",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
},
{
"region": "UKC",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
},
{
"region": "UKD",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
},
{
"region": "UKE",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
},
{
"region": "UKF",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
},
{
"region": "UKG",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
},
{
"region": "UKH",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
},
{
"region": "UKI",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
},
{
"region": "UKJ",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
},
{
"region": "UKK",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
}
],
"relatedLot": "1"
}
],
"contractPeriod": {
"startDate": "2025-10-01T00:00:00+01:00",
"endDate": "2027-03-31T23:59:59+01:00"
},
"relatedLots": [
"1"
],
"documents": [
{
"id": "055734-2025",
"documentType": "awardNotice",
"noticeType": "UK5",
"description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender",
"url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055734-2025",
"datePublished": "2025-09-11T11:27:32+01:00",
"format": "text/html"
},
{
"id": "055759-2025",
"documentType": "awardNotice",
"noticeType": "UK6",
"description": "Contract award notice on Find a Tender",
"url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055759-2025",
"datePublished": "2025-09-11T11:51:19+01:00",
"format": "text/html"
}
],
"milestones": [
{
"id": "1",
"type": "futureSignatureDate",
"dueDate": "2025-09-30T23:59:59+01:00",
"status": "scheduled"
}
],
"date": "2025-09-11T00:00:00+01:00",
"standstillPeriod": {
"endDate": "2025-09-22T23:59:59+01:00"
}
}
],
"language": "en"
}