Long Acting Reversible Contraception in Primary Care Settings DPS

Kent County Council is procuring through Primary Care, the fitting, monitoring, checking,

and removal of intrauterine devices (IUDs), intrauterine systems (IUSs) and sub-dermal

implants (SDIs), collectively known as long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), for contraceptive purposes only. The Council is aiming to procure a service which is available in each Kent geographical Primary Care Network area, to ensure access for services throughout the county.

The service will be provided in primary care settings across Kent, by practitioners who hold

valid and up-to-date Letters of Competence (LoC), as issued by the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH), for the procedures undertaken, or

by potential providers who have suitability to pursue the professional activity, including the

ability to:

• achieve and maintain competence to deliver LARC as specified by the FSRH as part of a primary care pathway.

• have appropriate treatment rooms and facilities for delivery of LARC as specified by FSRH latest clinical guidance, within each geographical GP PCN/ neighbourhood quadrant.

• ensure that patients with needs relating to uncomplicated STIs should have their care

managed by appropriately skilled healthcare professionals, as defined by the latest

standards specified by the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH).

As required under the Provider Selection Regime Regulation 13(5), this is a notice of extension of the existing DPS (now managed under Direct Award B) by a further year until 30th November 2025.

Kent County Council is procuring through Primary Care, the fitting, monitoring, checking,

and removal of intrauterine devices (IUDs), intrauterine systems (IUSs) and sub-dermal

implants (SDIs), collectively known as long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), for

contraceptive purposes only. The Council is aiming to procure a service which is available in

each Kent geographical Primary Care Network area, to ensure access for services

throughout the county.

The service will be provided in primary care settings across Kent, by practitioners who hold

valid and up-to-date Letters of Competence (LoC), as issued by the Faculty of Sexual and

Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH), for the procedures undertaken, or

by potential providers who have suitability to pursue the professional activity, including the

ability to:

• achieve and maintain competence to deliver LARC as specified by the FSRH as part of a

primary care pathway.

• have appropriate treatment rooms and facilities for delivery of LARC as specified by FSRH

latest clinical guidance, within each geographical GP PCN/ neighbourhood quadrant.

• ensure that patients with needs relating to uncomplicated STIs should have their care

managed by appropriately skilled healthcare professionals, as defined by the latest

standards specified by the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH).

The contract term would be from 1/12/2023-30/11/2024, with the possibility of two 12

months extensions. Contracts with Suppliers will be tariff-based and subject to change, with

no minimum guaranteed value, as the service is activity based). However, the estimated total

spends including reimbursement of the LARC devices, over 3 years is 4,100,000 GBP.

Kent County Council is looking to appoint Suppliers through a Dynamic Purchasing System,

to provide this service. The DPS is for the procurement of social and other services referred

to in Regulation 74 of the Public Contracts Regulations (2015) and as such, the intention is

to use a Light Touch Regime, rather than the full regime described in Regulation 34

(Dynamic Purchasing System).