Official UK procurement notice
Provision of STI Test Kits
Authority: University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionUniversity Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust has established a new model of care for Integrated Sexual Health Treatment & Prevention for the population of Birmingham & Solihull, which includes clinic and postal self-test STI screening kits and follow up Health Advisory support. The service, Umbrella, is a partnership, led by University Hospitals Birmingham, consisting of several community-based organisations, charities and health service providers, with the aim of improving sexual health and wellbeing of the people of Birmingham and Solihull locality.
STI Testing Umbrella offers:
- At Clinic testing:
o Sample is undertaken within the Clinic.
o Posted to UHB Labs where testing is undertaken.
o Results by phone or text.
o If positive results, follow up care and support provided.
- At Home testing:
o Criteria: Aged 16 or over and living in Birmingham or Solihull.
o Sample request is submitted and undertaken within home environment
o Posted to UHB Labs where testing is undertaken.
o Results by phone or text.
o If positive results, follow up care and support provided.
What they test for:
- Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, HIV and Syphilis.
- For men who have (or have had) sex with other men, a test for hepatitis B is also included.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1Awarded
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Direct award
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Direct award (no call for competition)
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 11 Sept 2025, 11:27 BST
- Last source update
- 11 Sept 2025, 11:51 BST
- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-055759- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05986aFind a Tender
- Why no open competition
- Urgency
- Published justification
The existing supplier, Blue Step Solutions Limited, has been directly awarded this contract as they are the only provider able to fully meet the requirements, as established through previous procurements. The original contract, awarded in 2021 via an open tender under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015), expired on 31 May 2025 after a two-year term with the option to extend for a further two years.
Recent market testing with other STI kit providers confirmed that alternative suppliers are not viable. Competing providers were found to be at least 59% more expensive, with test prices ranging from £5 to £40 per kit, which presents a significant financial burden. In addition to the cost implications, these alternatives carry operational risks due to the niche and highly specialised nature of the service.
Given the limited competition in this market, the substantial cost differential, and the risk to service continuity, a direct award to Blue Step Solutions Limited is the only option that ensures value for money and continuity of service provision.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- —
Timeline
11 Sept 2025 → 22 Sept 2025 · 2 dates- Notice published11 Sept 2025, 11:51 BST
- Standstill ends400 days ago22 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST
Notice history
3 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 11 Sept 2025- Transparency notice published11 Sept 2025, 11:27 BSTUK5
- Contract award notice published11 Sept 2025, 11:51 BSTUK6
- Contract signature expected30 Sept 2025, 23:59 BSTscheduled
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| BLUE STEP SOLUTIONS LIMITED1 Oct 2025 – 31 Mar 2027 | £485,520 | 11 Sept 2025standstill to 22 Sept 2025 | Standstill |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
2 commercial parties on the notice- BLUE STEP SOLUTIONS LIMITEDAwarded supplier
- Bluestep Solutions LimitedAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender