Purpose

Following a Direct Award
Process C under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection
Regime) Regulations 2023 (PSR), the purpose of this report is to
seek approval from the Executive Director of Place in Bracknell
Forest Council to award the Stop Smoking Service contract to
Provider A.

Decision

Following a
Direct Award Process C under the Health Care Services (Provider
Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 (PSR), the purpose of this
report is to seek approval from the Executive Director of Place in
Bracknell Forest Council to award the Stop Smoking Service contract
to Provider A.

Tobacco is the single most important entirely preventable cause of
ill health, disability and death in this country, responsible for
64,000 deaths in England a year. Smoking tobacco causes damage not
only to smokers but also to the people around them and is one of
the main causes of health inequalities in England, with the harm
concentrated in disadvantaged communities and groups accounting for
approximately half of the difference in life expectancy between the
richest and poorest areas.

The overreaching aim and purpose of the stop smoking service is to
contribute to reducing smoking prevalence in Bracknell Forest by
the delivery of the service following best practice guidance.

The Executive Director of Place is requested to approve the
recommendation for award of contract as set out below.

• To approve the award of the contract for the Provision of a
Stop Smoking Service to Provider A.
• To approve the change in term for the contract in response
to the supplier’s financial assessment to a single year
contract with the option to extend by any number of periods up to
an aggregate of 48 months. It was previously proposed to procure a
service with a 3+1+1 year contract term in the procurement strategy
report. The maximum term will remain 5 years (01/04/26 –
31/03/31).
• To approve the total contract value of £750,000.

The total contract value for the full five-year term will be up to
£600,000, funded through ring-fenced Public Health Grant
universal provision.

In addition, the contract will include the option to vary the value
by up to a further £150,000 over the life of the contract,
subject to confirmation of targeted grant funding from central
government. Should this funding be confirmed, this may be allocated
at the Council’s discretion and the maximum total contract
value over the five-year term would increase to £750,000.

Reasons for the decision

A recommendation to award the contract is being made as we are
satisfied that the existing provider will continue to deliver the
contract to the required standard following the process detailed
above.

We are of the view that that the existing provider will be able to
meet the future service criteria and performance
requirements.

Directly awarding the contract to the incumbent provider will help
maintain continuity of service and avoid disruption for service
users.

The incumbent is currently delivering the targeted stop smoking
service in Bracknell Forest. Introducing a second provider to
deliver the universal stop smoking service could lead to confusion
and a fragmented service offer within the area.

The incumbent also delivers stop smoking services across Berkshire,
which presents pportunities for future collaborative commissioning
and joined-up working (economies of scale) across the footprint,
both for the service itself and for commissioners.

Alternative options considered

Option 1: Deliver the service in-house.
Bracknell Forest Council takes full responsibility for the delivery
of the sexual health service. Staff, resources, and management are
retained within the council, and the service is delivered directly
to the public without outsourcing.

Option 2: Commission the service under PSR competitive
tender.

Option 3: Do not commission a service/intervention.