Lawyers at Newcastle-under-Lyme-based legal and professional services firm Knights are celebrating after their client achieved a victory in the High Court in London.
Sharpsmart, a provider of clinical waste disposal services which has an operating facility in Stoke-on-Trent, successfully defended a challenge over NHS contracts, ensuring it can proceed with delivering vital services across 13 Integrated Care Boards (ICBs).
Over the past year, 24 NHS ICBs put contracts out to tender for healthcare waste collection and disposal in primary care settings. The five-year agreements, with an option to extend by a further four years, were said to have a combined value of around £168 million, believed to be the largest clinical waste procurement in the UK.
Sharpsmart bid on 17 contracts, winning 13. However, these awards were challenged by the incumbent provider, which claimed the procurement process had been defective. The challenge led to the suspension of the awards in line with the Public Contracts Procurement Regulations 2015.
Following a two-day hearing in London, Mr Justice Waksman ordered the suspensions to be lifted after hearing evidence and submissions from the incumbent provider, the ICBs and Sharpsmart.
The team from Knights, whose headquarters are at The Brampton, was led by Michael Peacock, Lindi Smith and Matthew Ross, with Rhodri Williams KC and Tom Walker of Keating Chambers also instructed.
Speaking after the judgment, Knights partner Michael Peacock, pictured above, said: “We’re delighted to help our client with this landmark procurement in which success was a vital part of its future strategy. I anticipate that this is going to be a real springboard for its future growth and we are excited to see how the business continues to develop and flourish.”
Neil Robinson, who oversees Sharpsmart’s UK operations, added: “Sharpsmart today welcomed the Court’s decision to lift the suspension on the NHS contract award, allowing the partnership to proceed and deliver significant sustainability, financial and efficiency benefits for healthcare waste management across the 13 ICBs originally awarded to Sharpsmart.
“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to our legal team Knights for their advice, professionalism, and strategic guidance throughout this process. Their meticulous case management and selection of exceptional counsel were instrumental in achieving this outcome.
“This judgment represents a fair and positive step forward, one that supports the NHS in advancing its environmental and operational goals while ensuring best value and innovation across its ICB services.”
