Decision details

Salford City Council - Record of Decision

I Paul Dennett, City Mayor in exercise of the powers contained within the Council Constitution do hereby approve:

·      an exception to Contractual Standing Orders as permitted within the City Council Constitution and the award of the Contract to award an extension to the commissioning of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Services for Salford and Bolton as detailed in the table below:

The Reasons are

1    The provider’s resilience and ability to produce high quality bids, as part of a competitive tender exercise was and is affected by the additional pressures relating to the COVID-19 global pandemic. This particularly affects NHS and public sector providers which would include both potential providers and the existing provider. We could therefore be subject to a Legal challenge by the existing unsuccessful provider or a bidder.

2    The extension would provide time to develop a service model and service specification which accounts for the changing health service landscape, primary care’s role and the new additions to SHS such as PrEP provision. The extension would also provide time to fully understand and develop the sexual health prevention in the city.

3    Market Testing needs to be carried out, to assess and stimulate interest in tendering for the contract.

4    It is currently unclear at what level the future sexual health commissioning that the ICS (CCG and NHS England previously commissioned services) will be responsible for will be commissioned at, locality or the Greater Manchester level.

5    Both commissioners and providers are still affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a risk of recommissioning a service of insufficient quality and carrying out a costly tendering exercise. By not recommissioning now the existing provider will be able to deliver more effectively to service users.

6    Any recommissioning action would need to be coordinated with our joint commissioner, Bolton Council. The extension would allow clarification regarding SCC’s co-commissioning relationship with or independence from Bolton Council going forward.

Options considered and rejected were:

• Going out to tender within existing time frames for Sexual and Reproductive Health Services.
• Not providing a service.

Assessment of Risk

Medium – these are mandated services to help people prevent, identify and treat sexually transmitted infections, improve sexual health and wellbeing, manage conditions and adhere to treatment, avoid unwanted pregnancy and promote safe and positive sex and relationships. Not extending these contracts would affect, on the ground delivery of prevention, care and support including testing and prescribing in clinics.

The source of funding is:

Integrated Fund (Public Health Budget)

Legal Advice obtained

Financial Advice obtained

Procurement Advice obtained

HR Advice N/A

Climate Change Implications obtained

The following documents have been used to assist the decision process:

1. Approval for an Exception to Contractual Standing Orders to award an extension to the commissioning of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Services for Salford and Bolton.

2. Health and Care Commissioning Board Improving Sexual Health Outcomes Paper. Gillian McLauchlan. January 2020.

Contact Officer:                    Helen Dugdale

Telephone number:             07970 100066

Please delete from the bullets below any which are not relevant

• The Lead Member has been consulted and is supportive of the proposed contract.
• The appropriate Scrutiny Committee to call-in the decision is the Health and Social Care Scrutiny Panel

FOR DEMOCRATIC SERVICES USE ONLY

*           This decision was published on 12 May 2022

*           This decision will come in force at 4.00 p.m. on 19 May 2022, unless it is called-in in accordance with the Decision Making Process Rules.