NHS England South (South Central) (the Commissioner) seeks to commission School Aged Immunisation Service to Lot1, Bath & North East Somerset and Lot 2, Swindon. This procurement is being carried out by NHS South, Central & West Commissioning Support Unit (SCWCSU) on behalf of the Commissioners.

The aim of the School Aged Immunisation Service is to prevent the eligible population, which is defined as any eligible child attending a school, or not attending a school but registered with a GP within the defined geographic boundaries, from developing vaccine preventable childhood diseases that are associated with significant mortality and morbidity.

The following vaccines, which form part of the national childhood immunisation programme, will be commissioned by the service with the purpose of preventing the infections and outbreaks caused by these organisms:

— diphtheria, tetanus and poliomyelitis (Td/IPV adolescent booster);

— meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY);

— human papillomavirus (HPV);

— seasonal influenza (flu) immunisation programmes for children (the cohort is expected to expand in future years); and

— measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) catch-up.

The aims of the School Aged Immunisation Service include:

— reduce morbidity and mortality from cervical cancer by routinely offering the HPV vaccination to 12- to 13-year-old girls;

— maintain immunity against tetanus, diphtheria and polio, which are associated with significant mortality and morbidity with the Td/IPV (teenage booster) vaccine;

— protect the population against meningococcal disease resulting from bacterial infection, which includes meningitis and septicaemia with the MenACWY vaccine;

— protect children in school years 1, 2 and 3 against seasonal flu, and reduce its transmission to other children and adults;

— ensure that the MMR status of school aged children is checked, and administered when required;

— protect school aged children against any other vaccine preventable diseases as determined by the Commissioner and in collaboration with the Department of Health and Public Health England.

The contract duration (for both Lots) will be for an initial term of 4 years, with a possible extension period up to a further 12 months, as defined and at the discretion of the Commissioner.

The expected service commencement date (for both Lots) is the 1.4.2017 with a contract expiry (for both Lots) of the 31.3.2021.

The Commissioner will be contracting for the Services using the National NHS Standard Contract.

The contract will be commissioned on a fixed tariff basis.