Supply of Pre-Packed Injecting Equipment to Community Based Services in The Pan Dorset Region

Descriptions

Bournemouth Christchurch Poole (BCP) Council working in partnership with Dorset Council is looking to commission a company (‘supplier’) to supply pre-packed injecting equipment, for distribution to individuals who use illegal substances, within a variety of community-based services across the pan Dorset region. Community based services can be delivered within a pharmacy, custody suite within a police station or any other health provision commissioned by either BCP Council or Dorset Council, which are nominated to provide a community-based needle exchange programme. Community based needle exchanges are open access, low threshold services to allow people who inject drugs access to the provision of equipment and access to the safe disposal of returned injecting equipment in accessible non specialist services. Needle and syringe programmes (NSP) are based on a commitment to provide people who inject equipment with sterile hypodermic needles and associated injecting equipment at no costs at the point of use. The aim of these services is to reduce the damage associated with using unsterile or contaminated injecting equipment. Anticipated start date is July 2025. The contract will be for five years with the option to extend for a further three years (5+3). Therefore, if all extensions were taken the full length of the contract would be for eight years.