Sexual Health Locally Commissioned Services - LARC + HIV Testing
Southampton City CouncilEstimated Value
Not specified
Deadline
Not specified
Published
9 June 2026
Type
services
Key points
- Increasing the use of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC), giving more individuals and families reliable control over their reproductive health.
- Contributing to a reduction in the number of unintended pregnancies and terminations including teenage conceptions.
- Contributing to reducing health inequalities by improving access to good reproductive health services for vulnerable groups.
- Increasing the knowledge of risks associated with STIs and referring clients who may have been at risk of STIs to an appropriate service.
- Diagnosing more previously undiagnosed HIV through enhanced testing of at-risk populations, contributing to a reduction in late diagnosis and the associated harm. The contract term duration is 33 months, with an option for a period of extension of another 24 months, through to 31st March 2031. The Council is intending to award this contract under the Direct Award Procedure C of The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. The annual contract value at current prices is an estimated £219,000 per annum pro rata (ex VAT), based on the unit costs of service delivery and expected demand, making for a total maximum estimated contact value of £1,040,250 (ex VAT).The contract term duration is 33 months, with a contract start date of July 1st 2026 running through to March 31st 2029. There will be an option to extend the contract for a period of up to 24 months, through to 31st March 2031.
Regulations cited
- The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023
AI Analysis
Powered by AI — always verify against official documents
A local council is hiring a sexual health service provider to deliver Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) services and HIV testing across the community for 33 months, starting July 2026. The goal is to help more people access contraception, reduce unintended pregnancies, and catch undiagnosed HIV cases, especially in vulnerable groups.
Requirements
- Ability to provide Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) services
- Capacity to deliver HIV testing services
- Experience working with vulnerable and at-risk populations
- Ability to refer clients to appropriate STI services
- Compliance with health and safety regulations for sexual health provision
- Data collection and reporting capability on service outcomes
- Knowledge of reproductive health inequalities and how to address them
- No specific certifications mentioned in notice — check full tender documents for clinical qualifications, accreditations, and staff requirements
Key Tasks & Deliverables
- Provide Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) services, including fitting and removal of devices (implants, coils, etc.)
- Conduct HIV testing for at-risk populations
- Educate clients about STI risks and refer them to appropriate sexual health services when needed
- Target vulnerable groups to reduce health inequalities in access to contraception and sexual health services
- Work to reduce unintended pregnancies and teenage conceptions in the community
- Collect and report data on service usage, outcomes, and impact on sexual health improvements
- Diagnose previously undetected HIV cases and support early intervention
How to Read This Tender
- 1This is being awarded under 'Direct Award Procedure C' — this means the council has already decided who they want to work with, so there may be limited competitive bidding. Check if you're the pre-identified provider or if open bids are still invited.
- 2The value jumps between figures: £219,000 per year OR £1,040,250 total — the total includes the optional 24-month extension, but the core contract is only 33 months. Work out what the guaranteed contract value actually is for your bid.
- 3Look for 'social value' scoring — councils increasingly award points for how you'll support vulnerable groups. This contract specifically mentions vulnerable populations, so detail your equality and access plans in your bid.
- 4The contract has a 24-month extension option (not guaranteed). Don't assume this income — price and plan for the fixed 33-month term, but mention how you'd scale if extended.
- 5This is a healthcare service, so expect strict compliance requirements around clinical governance, safeguarding, and data protection — budget time to review these in the full tender documents, not just the summary.
Tips for Small Businesses
- Consider partnering with established sexual health clinics or NHS trusts via subcontracting if you lack clinical infrastructure — many councils welcome consortium bids where SMEs deliver specialist elements (outreach, testing in community venues) while a larger partner manages clinical oversight.
- Highlight your access to vulnerable groups explicitly — if you already work with young people, migrant communities, or LGBTQ+ groups, make this your competitive advantage. Councils score 'social value' heavily on this contract type, so detail your networks and how you'll reach people the NHS typically misses.
- The annual value (£219,000) may seem modest for a full sexual health service — ask in your pre-bid questions whether this covers staffing, equipment, and consumables, or if some costs are covered separately. Clarify the scope before bidding to avoid underpricing.
Award Details
Southampton Primary Care Limited
Likely incumbents
Suppliers who won similar work from this buyer in the last 5 years.
- 1
ICE Creates Ltd
- 2
No Limits (South)
ICE Creates Ltd is the most likely incumbent based on recency and category match. To win, bidders typically need a clearly differentiated proposition or a price advantage.
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Buyer Profile
Southampton City CouncilKey Dates
Published
9 June 2026
Submission deadline
Not specified
Notice type
award
Source
find a tender
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