Cervical Screening and Opportunistic Section 7a Immunisations in sexual health services across the East of England region - Window 2

Description

NHS England - East of England (referred to as the Commissioner) is inviting suitably qualified and experienced providers to express an interest in delivering Cervical Screening and Opportunistic Section 7a Immunisations in sexual health services across the East of England region – Window 2 for a period of 3 years with the option to extend the contracts for a further 2 years. The services will be delivered under the NHS Standard Contract and services are expected to commence on 20th August 2025 until 31st March 2028, with the option to extend for 2 years..<br/><br/>The Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Competitive Process is being utilised to facilitate an accreditation process to enable the award of contracts to suitably qualified providers, that meet the requirements of the accreditation process, to deliver the Service. The process is similar in principle to the Any Qualified Provider (AQP) process that was described under previous procurement legislation.<br/><br/>NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands CSU (AGCSU) is acting as an agent for and on behalf of the Commissioner and is supporting the provider selection process.<br/><br/>Under the accreditation process all providers that complete and submit their response to the accreditation by the deadline (10.00am on Monday 7th July 2025) and meet, following evaluation, the requirements of the process, will be awarded a contract. Contracts are awarded on a zero-value basis and do not commit any activity or payment to the contracted provider. Payment will be on an activity-based model in line with the published tariff, which is detailed within the published tender documentation, which can be found on the Atamis portal, details on how to access the portal are listed below.<br/><br/>Please note, the Commissioner reserves the right to open new ‘windows’ allowing for new submissions from new Providers to be accredited at any time during the contract period. Contracts that are awarded via subsequent 'windows' will be aligned to the initial contract term. As such, any contracts awarded via future Accreditation Process 'windows' will have an initial term from the date of contract start until 31st March 2028, with the option to extend for up to 2 years. The decision as to whether and when to open a new ‘window’ will be at the sole discretion of the Commissioner. Lot 1: Cervical screening is a national evidence-based programme providing screening for women and people with a cervix aged between 25 and 64 years to help prevent cervical cancer.<br/><br/>Nationally there is a drive to increase access to cervical screening, including through the use of sexual health services. In 2023 a national integrated sexual health service specification was launched to support cervical screening in that setting.<br/><br/>The NHS England, East of England region is currently the only English region that does not commission cervical screening in sexual health services. This constitutes a barrier to access, particularly for high-risk groups who may not access GP practice services.<br/><br/>NHS England (EoE) held strategic contractual discussions to incorporate opportunistic immunisations into this contract. As the current incumbents already undertake this, we will hold one contract with sexual health service providers for Section 7a services. The single procurement will therefore be for both opportunistic cervical screening and opportunistic immunisations within existing sexual health service providers.<br/><br/>The aims of the service are to:<br/><br/>• Improve access to cervical screening and immunisations, particularly for groups who do not attend general practice.<br/>• Offer women a choice of setting.<br/>• Improve uptake in harder to reach groups by offering non-GP settings.<br/>• Target women who are at higher risk of HPV infection and subsequent development of cervical cancer.<br/>• Reduce inequalities in access and uptake.<br/>• Improve access for people who have difficulty in attending appointments in core GP hours.