The provision of Alcohol Screening, Brief Advice and Extended Interventions in Primary Care Settings

Overview

This notice is an intention to award a new contract, with a new provider, under the most suitable provider process for: The provision of Alcohol Screening, Brief Advice and Extended Interventions in Primary Care Settings Description of the services to be provided: Surrey County Council has been awarded an annual Better Care Fund (CBF) grant of £155,000 to commissioning a targeted alcohol screening, identification and brief advice (IBA) and extended brief intervention (EBI) service based in primary care settings. This initiative responds to identified gaps in early alcohol harm prevention and aims to reduce alcohol-related hospital admissions by increasing proactive identification and brief support for residents engaged in risky and harmful drinking. The services included support the ambitions in Surrey's Health and Wellbeing Strategy, priority one, supporting people to reach their potential by addressing the wider determinants of health. Ensuring people have a healthy weight and are active and that substance misuse is low, including smoking. The service objectives The service will enable trained ACWs to conduct opportunistic and proactive alcohol screening in participating GP practices. Using the AUDIT-C and full AUDIT tools, the ACWs will identify individuals drinking at increasing or higher-risk levels. These individuals will then receive brief advice or, where appropriate, a structured extended brief intervention. For those whose needs exceed the scope of brief intervention, the service will facilitate seamless referral into structured treatment services such as i-access or community alcohol programmes. The service will also work collaboratively with GPs, nurses, social prescribers, and local voluntary organisations to strengthen early intervention pathways and increase service visibility. The service objectives are: • Deliver screening (AUDIT-C and full AUDIT) to identify risky drinkers. • Provide brief and extended interventions using evidence-based tools. • Refer patients needing further support to local alcohol treatment services. • Build capacity in primary care through integration and partnership. Anticipated Annual Value £155,000 Total Value inc. Extensions £465,000 Extension options: 1+1 Contract dates • 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026 • Possible extension to 31 July 2028 Additional Information This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 does not apply to this award. The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 31 July 2025. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR. Written representations should be sent to Danielle.bass@surreycc.gov.uk Award decision-makers; Public Health Consultant Two Senior Public Health Leads There are no conflicts or potential conflicts of interest of individuals making the decision. This was conducted by each Officer completing a Conflicts of Interest form. The relative importance of the key criteria that the relevant authority used to make a decision was the five key criteria under the Provider Selection Regime. Which are: Key criteria 1. Quality and Innovation Key criteria 2. Value Key criteria 3 Integration / collaboration / service sustainability Key criteria 4. Improving access / reducing health inequalities / facilitating Key Criteria 5. Social Value & Green Questions were set against each key criteria for interested providers to respond against. Providing evidence, they are the most suitable provider for this service. The questions set are as follows: Key criteria 1. Quality and Innovation Please describe how your organisation will ensure a safe, high-quality delivery of alcohol screening and brief interv