Notice of Intention to Award under the Provider Selection Regime - Most Suitable Provider Process: Smoking Support within Community Mental Health Teams

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention-to-award notice under the Most Suitable Provider process. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the Procurement Act 2023 / PCR 2015 do not apply.

Publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period (beginning the day after publication).

The City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council intends to award the contract for the provision of Smoking Support within Community Mental Health Teams across the Bradford District to Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust.

The service will provide evidence-based smoking cessation and harm-reduction support to service users under the care of five Community Mental Health Teams. The service is intended to reduce smoking-related harm and health inequalities among people with long-term and severe mental health conditions, where smoking prevalence and associated health risks are disproportionately high.

The service will include behavioural support delivered by appropriately trained Level 2 Stop Smoking Practitioners, access to nicotine replacement therapy and vapes through agreed local arrangements, and recording of interventions and outcomes through Quit Manager. Delivery will be aligned to NICE NG209 and local stop smoking pathways, with integration into existing Community Mental Health Team provision and wider Bradford stop smoking services.

The procurement was undertaken under The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 using the Most Suitable Provider process. The Provider was assessed against the Basic Selection Criteria and the following Key Criteria, listed in ranking priority order:

1. Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice;
2. Integration, collaboration and service sustainability;
3. Quality and innovation;
4. Value; and
5. Social value.

No conflict of interest was raised

Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust was identified as the Most Suitable Provider because it demonstrated a suitable and relevant response to the ranked Key Criteria and met the mandatory project-specific requirements. In particular, the provider demonstrated existing experience of delivering smoking cessation support within secondary mental health services, direct access to relevant clinical systems including SystmOne, commitment to use Quit Manager, and the ability to provide leadership, governance and training to the stop smoking advisors.

The assessment identified that Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust is well placed to improve access to stop smoking support for people under the care of Community Mental Health Teams, reduce smoking-related health inequalities, and facilitate choice through flexible support options. The provider also demonstrated the ability to integrate the service into existing CMHT pathways, support continuity between inpatient and community mental health care, and deliver public health benefits for people with severe mental illness.