Online Sexual Health Services
Framework Description
Online Sexual Health Services (SBS10255) is an NHS Shared Business Services framework for digital-first sexual health care. Commissioners can buy online STI testing and treatment, online contraception, and online PrEP and PEP for HIV prevention, each as a separate lot. It is a traditional framework rather than a DPS and runs from 29 October 2025 to 28 October 2029.
Context & Use Case
Local authorities and NHS commissioners use it to add online routes alongside clinic-based services, cutting travel and waiting times and lowering barriers for people who find clinics hard to reach. It supports the government HIV Action Plan aim of ending new HIV transmissions in England by 2030. Commissioners call off by direct award or further competition.
Scope of Services
Lot 1: STI testing and treatment Lot 2: Online contraception Lot 3: Online PrEP and PEP, covering HIV screening and preventative treatment
Lots
Lot 1: STI testing and treatment Lot 2: Online contraception Lot 3: Online PrEP and PEP
Who Can Apply
It suits online clinical providers with sexual health expertise, including those delivering STI testing, contraception and HIV prevention remotely. Providers were appointed at award and the framework takes no new entrants, so others should plan for a re-tender likely near 28 October 2029.
Buyer Benefits
Commissioners get pre-qualified digital providers they can put live faster than through a standalone tender, with consistent evaluation standards across the three lots. Online services reach people who avoid or cannot easily attend clinics, so buyers look for providers who can show uptake, safeguarding and clear links to face-to-face care.
Next Steps
Appointed providers should prepare for further competitions with uptake data, test turnaround times, safeguarding processes and examples of working with local clinics. Others cannot join before 28 October 2029: compete for local authority online sexual health contracts directly to build a track record, and watch the SBS10255 page on the NHS SBS site for re-tender news.
How Athena Can Help
Digital sexual health call-offs reward providers that can show safe remote care at scale. Athena's bid writing for health providers builds responses on uptake, turnaround and safeguarding, with win themes developed through our F.V.D. model.
Providers outside the framework can draw on our council tender support to win local authority contracts directly, and on advance framework planning so case studies, policies and certificates are in place well before the 2029 re-tender.
