Issue - items at meetings - Integrated Sexual Health Services Contract

Report of the Executive Director, Health and Adult Social Care (copy attached)

          RESOLVED – (1) That the Sub-Committee agrees the direct award of a new contract for Integrated Sexual Health Services to the current provider for one year with the option of a further 1-year extension;

          (2) That the Sub-Committee grants delegated authority to the Executive Director of Health and Adult Social Care to extend the above contract in accordance its terms subject to satisfactory performance

27.1    The Sub Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Health and Adult Social Care seeking agreement for the direct award of a new contract for Integrated Sexual Health Services to the current provider: University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust for one year with the option of a 1 year extension.

27.2    The report set out the rationale for the direct award of a new contract to provide continuity of service in the context of the national pandemic, in line with the national commissioning direction for health services, and to support some critical business interdependencies. The approach suggested was also in line with the collaborative approach supported by the White Paper.

27.3    Councillor Mears stated that it was her recollection that approval by the Procurement Advisory Board had not been unanimous, seeking clarification of the point at which the decision to extend existing arrangements had been taken. She considered that in view of the amount of money involved she would have preferred more detailed information to have been provided and did not feel that she had sufficient information to support the report recommendations.

27.4    The Chair, Councillor Nield, referred to the supplementary information circulated to Members at her request which detailed current performance and selected key performance indicators for Quarter 4, 2021/22.

27.5    Councillor Shanks stated that the current arrangements provided a good service and that she was therefore happy to support the report recommendations. In response to questions by Councillor Shanks regarding her understanding that the White Paper would remove the obligation for competitive tendering to take place under certain circumstances it was confirmed that it remained the intention for this to remain an option in relation to local delivery. Reference was made to anticipated changes in procurement law which could impact on future contracts and the Executive Director, Health and Adult Social Care agreed to provide a covering note providing an update on the current position to the next scheduled meeting of the Sub Committee.

27.6    The Head of Law, Elizabeth Culbert, confirmed that the report recommendations fell wholly within the Sub Committees’ terms of reference and responsibilities.

27.7    A vote was taken and on a vote of 4 with 1 abstention the report recommendations were agreed as set out below.

27.8    RESOLVED – (1) That the Sub-Committee agrees the direct award of a new contract for Integrated Sexual Health Services to the current provider for one year with the option of a further 1-year extension;

          (2) That the Sub-Committee grants delegated authority to the Executive Director of Health and Adult Social Care to extend the above contract in accordance its terms subject to satisfactory performance