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Sunderland Integrated Sexual Health Service (PSR Direct Award Process C - Notice of Intention to make an award of a contact to the existing provider)

Sunderland City Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

07 Sep 2026 at 19:02

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Sunderland City Council procured an integrated sexual health service for the City of Sunderland. The service covers open access contraception, sexual health promotion and prevention, and the diagnosis and management of sexually transmitted infections. It is intended to provide evidence-based care adapted to local population needs, with straightforward access to interventions and contraceptive services through a single service, usually delivered by one health professional. The provider is also expected to work with the Council to manage service users’ needs appropriately. Delivery is across the boundaries of the City of Sunderland, using accessible locations and extended opening hours. This is a community health service, suited to organisations with experience delivering integrated sexual health and contraceptive care in a local population setting.

The procurement has reached award and contract stage. Sunderland City Council used the Provider Selection Regime’s Direct Award Process C, an award procedure without prior publication of a competition, to select South Tyneside & Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust as the existing provider. The award was recorded on 7 September 2026 and the contract was signed that day. The contract value is £17,848,012, covering an initial five-year period from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2031, with the Council holding an option to extend for up to a further 24 months. Evaluation considered improving access and reducing health inequalities (35%), quality and innovation (25%), integration, collaboration and sustainability (25%), value for money (10%), and social value (5%). The selected provider scored 88%.

This award demonstrates sustained local demand for a comprehensive sexual health service combining contraception, prevention, testing, diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections. A credible future competitor would need to show strong clinical capability across these services, experience of delivering integrated pathways, and the capacity to provide open access care through accessible venues and extended opening hours. The evaluation places particular importance on improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating patient choice, so providers would need evidence of reaching underserved groups and adapting delivery to local needs. Quality and innovation, partnership working, service sustainability, value for money and social value also carry weight. Organisations with established NHS, council and community-health collaboration, robust evidence-based practice and sufficient operational capacity would be best placed to compete when this requirement returns.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Sunderland Integrated Sexual Health Service (PSR Direct Award Process C - Notice of Intention to make an award of a contact to the existing provider)

Notice Description

A contact for the provision of the Sunderland Integrated Sexual Health Services ("the Service") including enabling open access, cost effective and high quality provision of contraception and prevention, diagnosis and management of sexually transmitted infections. This will be provided according to evidence based guidance and adapted to the needs of the local populations. The Service aims to improve sexual health by providing easy routes of access to interventions and ensuring sexual health and contraceptive needs can be met through a single service, usually by one health professional. The Service will offer extended opening hours and be provided in accessible locations.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The Authority intends to award a contract for the Service to the existing provider pursuant to Direct Award Process C under Regulation 9 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 ("PSR"). This is a notice under Regulation 9 (3) of the Authority's intention to award the contract for the Service as described below to the existing provider. The contract is for the provision of the Sunderland Integrated Sexual Health Service ('Service') which will enable open access, cost effective and high quality provision of contraception and prevention, diagnosis and management of sexually transmitted infections. This will be provided according to evidence based guidance and adapted to the needs of the local populations. The Service aims to improve sexual health by providing easy routes of access to interventions and ensuring sexual health and contraceptive needs can be met through a single service, usually by one health professional. The Service will offer extended opening hours and be provided in accessible locations. The Provider will work with the Council to create and develop a service which manages Service Users' needs appropriately at all times . Additional information: This is a notice under Regulation 9 (3) of the PSR of the Authority's intention to award the contract for the Service to the existing provider pursuant to Direct Award Process C. The award of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this proposed award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made in writing in accordance with Regulation 12 (3) of the PSR to the Authority before midnight on Thursday, 17th September 2026 via email: issy.langley@sunderland.gov.uk

Options: There is an option to extend the contract for a further period of up to a maximum of 24 months, which is at the sole discretion of the Council.

Procurement Information

As above, this is a notice of the Authority's intention to award the proposed contract for the Service to the existing provider pursuant to Regulation 9 (3) of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, Direct Award Process C. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this proposed contract award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f403
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084644-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85323000 - Community health services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£17,848,012 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Sunderland City Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SUNDERLAND
Postcode
SR1 3AA
Postcode Area
Sunderland
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC44 Sunderland
Delivery Location
TLC23 Sunderland
Local Authority
Sunderland
Electoral Ward
Millfield
Westminster Constituency
Sunderland Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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