Decision details

To inform Cabinet of the outcome of the open tender for provision of school nursing services

The Cabinet Member for Children and Families introduced the report which detailed the outcome of an open tender process for the award of a contract for the provision of a School Nursing Service for one year to Whittington Health, the sole bidder for this contract.  Cabinet noted that the School Nursing Service promotes and protects the health and well being of school age children and young people who attend mainstream schools in Haringey and school age children not in school.

RESOLVED

1.    To approve the award in accordance with CSO 9.06.1(d) of the provision of a school nursing service contract to Whittington Health NHS Trust for a period of one year commencing 1^st April 2016 at a value of £867,413 with an  option to extend for a further period of up to one year.

2.    To note that £150,000 of the first year’s contract price relating to delivery of the school age immunisation element of the service will be funded by NHS England and the rest of that year’s cost of £717, 413 for the school nursing service will be funded by the Council from the public health grant.   

Reasons for decision

As a result of the procurement exercise, which was carried out in accordance with the Procurement Code of Practice, only one application was received, from the current provider of the school nursing service, Whittington Health NHS Trust.

The original contract length specified in the tender documentation was for two years with an option to extend for a period of up to three years. However, in order to re-align future service provision to support integrated services and to meet the medium term financial strategy, it is now proposed to work with Whittington Health to redesign the service over the next one to two years.

Clarification has been sought from Whittington Health as to whether they would be prepared to accept the shorter one year contract term with a one year extension option and they have confirmed that they would. 

Alternative options considered

The option of extending the existing contract was not available as the contract made no provision for an extension. 

To withdraw from the tender process and not award the contract. This was not considered viable as this would cause considerable disruption to schools and interrupt the delivery of mandated services i.e. the school age immunisations programme and the National Child Measurement Programme.