Purpose

A procurement process has now been conducted
in line with relevant corporate and national procurement
regulations. A total of seven bids were received, four of which
failed the initial selection screening process. Of the remaining
three bids, one failed to supply all the relevant required pricing
information and was therefore disqualified. Of the remaining two
bids these were assessed according to structured criteria, in line
with the published evaluation criteria, weighted on the basis of a
60:40 quality to price ratio. Both remaining bids passed the
quality and financial evaluation criteria and were therefore
awardable.

The highest scoring bid was from ICE Creates Ltd. It is therefore
ICE Creates Ltd to whom contract award is sought. This will ensure
that support for Sandwell smokers continues to be available beyond
the currently commissioned service which is due to end 31st March
2025.

We therefore wish to enact the Cabinet decision, made in July 2024,
allowing the Director of Public Health authority to enter into a
contract for Stop Smoking Service provision in Sandwell to Ice
Creates Ltd

Content

For the reasons set out in the report and in
accordance with delegation granted to the Director of Public Health
by Cabinet through a decision of 17 July 2024:

(1) Following commencement and completion of a compliant
competitive procurement process for the provision of a local
smoking cessation service, the Director of Public Health be
authorised to enter into a contract with the successful bidder, on
terms to be agreed by the Director of Public Health, for the
provision of a local smoking cessation service to commence on 1st
April 2025 for a period of 2 years to 31st March 2027 with the
option to extend up to a further 2 years until 31st March
2029.

(2) The Monitoring Officer, Assistant Director Legal &
Assurance to authorise and execute any documentation necessary for
the provision of a local smoking cessation service in accordance
with the decision of Cabinet.

Alternative options considered

Not approve the procurement and award of
smoking support provision beyond 31st March 2025. This will impact
health outcomes (not just of the smokers themselves but the health
of others through secondary smoke harms) and further exacerbate
health inequalities for our most disadvantaged groups within the
borough. This would be premature given current the levels of harm
caused by smoking locally, and that specialist support has been the
mainstay of provision options / not having transitioned the
population towards more self-help options. This option was
therefore dismissed.