Southampton Medical Outreach Service

This Direct Award has been considered in accordance with PA23 Schedule 5, Paragraph 6, where the following conditions are met in relation to the public contract-

(a)due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and

(b)there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works.

Following market research via a Prior Information Notice, the landscape of the sector has not changed and the incumbent service provider is uniquely placed to deliver the contract within the local authority bounds. A change in provider would likely disrupt well-established clinical and educational relationships, risking the loss of institutional knowledge and reducing effectiveness and safety of service delivery to vulnerable pupils. This could compromise both continuity of care and the Council's safeguarding duties. These interoperability and safety concerns confirm that no reasonable alternative provider exists and that a direct award is appropriate under Schedule 5, Paragraph 6 of the Procurement Act 2023.

It is intended that a Contract Award Notice will be published Monday 12th May 2025, observing an 8-working day standstill period to conclude at 00:00 on 21st May 2025. Representations during the standstill period should be made to [email protected]. Representations by providers must be made to the authority by the end of 21st May 2025.