NEW Northamptonshire Integrated Sexual Health and HIV Service (NISHH)

It has long been accepted that sexual ill health is not equally distributed across the population. Strong links exist between deprivation and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, with some of the highest burden borne by men who have sex with men (MSM) and black and minority ethnic (BME) groups. Northamptonshire County Council is acting as the lead commissioner on behalf of the Council and NHS England to procure a high quality Integrated Sexual Health and outpatient HIV Service that provides equitable and open access county wide to self-help information and advice, preventive, diagnostic and treatment services and timely referral to specialist services. The integrated sexual health and HIV service model will deliver open access 'one stop shops', open to any individual, where the majority of sexual health and contraceptive needs can be met at any one site, usually by one health professional, in services with extended opening hours and accessible locations. The overall aim is to reduce unplanned pregnancies and the prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection (HIV) in the County and contribute to similar reductions in the wider population. The integrated service includes provision of the Chlamydia Screening Programme, access to free condoms via the C Card scheme, and provision of County wide access to Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC) and Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC).

The NISHH Service specification is ambitious and key to success is the reduction in teenage pregnancies, increased chlamydia screening and a reduction in the number of people with late diagnosis of HIV. It requires the Provider to work with people, using an outcome based approach, and championing social action that recognises communities and individuals as assets and equal partners, not as passive recipients of public services. The Provider will be an innovative, forward thinking organisation, capable of realising our vision for improving sexual health using the principles of co-design and co-production to bring this Specification to life. The Provider shall deliver services that build on people's capabilities, and act as a catalyst for change, empowering individuals and communities to take charge of improving their sexual health and wellbeing.

The Service shall be the responsibility of a single/"Lead" Provider. The Provider shall be responsible for identifying, developing and maintaining any partnership arrangements necessary to deliver the full range of service outcomes; lead and manage any sub-contracted organisations or other delivery partners. The detailed requirements are set out in the Specification.

The Provider is required to deliver services from 1st April 2019 for an initial contract period of 4 years, with an option to extend for a further period of up to 2 years. The deadline for completed ITTs to be received on the LGSS eTendering Portal is 12:00noon on Friday 7th September 2018.