Cervical Screening and HPV for Gay, Bisexual and Men Who Have Sex With Men (GBMSM) - Blackburn with Darwen Area

The contract for cervical screening and HPV services specifically tailored for gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in the Blackburn with Darwen area has been awarded by NHS England North West, Lancashire and South Cumbria. This service falls under the health services category, with the procurement method being a direct award, separate from the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, as per the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) regulations 2023. The contract, managed through an activity-based tariff, spans from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2030 with a total contract value of £63,264.

It is an existing service designed to augment the Integrated Sexual Health services delivered by already commissioned providers, focusing on quality and cost as no alternative providers were deemed realistic. Key decisions were made by the NW Public Health Commissioning Formal SLT, with the contract status now complete and active. This procurement presents opportunities for large-scale health providers positioned in the UK to expand their reach and delivery of specialised sexual health services, particularly geared towards underserved communities of GBMSM in the regional area.

As the tender bypasses traditional competitive processes, businesses capable of handling specific health services supported by activity-based tariffs stand to benefit from reliable revenue streams. While the direct award limits expansion opportunities for new providers, existing providers like Brook Young People, with proven capabilities and operational presence, remain well-placed to deliver these crucial health services effectively, enhancing their portfolio within the public health sector.