Agenda item

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 continues to be affected by the additional pressures relating to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Non-NHS providers could have an advantage over NHS providers in their ability to participate fully within the procurement process, as NHS providers have been responding to and continue to experience the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and increased demand.

2       If NHS providers were deemed to be disadvantaged Salford City Council could potentially be open to a legal challenge about the procurement process from providers who considered themselves disadvantaged in this way.

3       A new service specification needs to be developed, taking in to account the changing health service landscape and the new additions to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services such as PrEP provision.

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

5       The market for sexual health services is limited therefore, a costly tender process at this time may result in failure to secure bids of sufficient quality or recommissioning a service of insufficient quality, having carried out a costly tendering exercise.

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

N/A

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:           0161 793 3543

·       This matter is also subject to consider by the Lead Member for Adult Services.

·       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

*         This decision was published on 30^th September 2021

*         This decision will come in force at 4.00 p.m. on 7^th October 2021 unless it is called-in in accordance with the Decision Making Process Rules.