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Provision for a Tobacco Track and Trace System

H M Revenue & Customs

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Planning

27 Aug 2026 at 09:19

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
PlanningUpdate

18 Aug 2025 at 08:46

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Planning

11 Aug 2025 at 09:28

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

HM Revenue & Customs intends to procure a single-supplier, end-to-end tobacco track and trace service for the United Kingdom. The service will support the World Health Organization Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products and arrangements for Northern Ireland. Expected responsibilities include issuing unique identifiers for tobacco products manufactured in or imported into the UK, and securely receiving, validating, storing and providing traceability data to HMRC and other authorised authorities. This is a national-scale information systems and data service, including data collection and collation (CPV 72314000), with associated software and scanning requirements. The service will need to handle high-volume transactional data and meet applicable UK and international legislative requirements. Delivery covers the United Kingdom.

This procurement is at the planning stage: HMRC is signalling its intention to procure and seek market interest, not inviting tenders. It is planned as a two-stage competitive flexible procedure, comprising a tender stage and a technical demonstration stage, with one lot and one supplier. The anticipated contract period is 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2030. The estimated value is £5.5 million excluding VAT, or £6.6 million including VAT. Indicative dates are 6 November 2026 for enquiries, 30 November 2026 for tender submissions, 5 March 2027 for the award decision and 19 October 2026 for the next notice. Evaluation is weighted 65% technical quality, 15% technical demonstration and 20% cost. The concession model expects costs to be recovered from industry users rather than HMRC.

This will suit suppliers combining secure national-scale data platforms, high-volume transaction processing and regulatory traceability expertise. Strong candidates are likely to have experience delivering end-to-end identification, data-routing and repository services, with resilient systems capable of receiving, validating, storing and making sensitive information available to authorised public authorities. The work will favour organisations able to demonstrate robust operational performance, information security, service continuity and transition capability, while meeting UK and international legislative requirements. Experience supporting tobacco supply chains, product identification, customs or other regulated industries would be relevant. Suppliers should be prepared to demonstrate their technical solution as well as its quality and operational approach. The concession structure is commercially distinctive because service costs are expected to be recovered from industry users, requiring a credible user-funded operating model.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision for a Tobacco Track and Trace System

Notice Description

HMRC intend to award a concession contract to a single supplier for the United Kingdom's Tobacco Track and Trace system, in support of the World Health Organization Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products. The UK currently has a supplier providing services to enable the continued tracking and tracing of tobacco products manufactured in or imported into the UK. The existing contract is expected to expire at the end of October 27, and HMRC intends to appoint a supplier to deliver the service on a replacement basis. The purpose of this Notice is to alert interested parties and gain interest. The intention is to award a concession contract with an anticipated duration of up to five years. The UK ratified the WHO Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products in 2018. The Protocol requires parties to implement an effective traceability system for tobacco products manufactured in or imported into their territory, taking account of regional specific requirements and international best practice. The UK system operates as a standalone national system and must also support specific arrangements for Northern Ireland in accordance with the Northern Ireland Protocol. The provider's main responsibilities are expected to include delivery of an end to end Tobacco Track and Trace service, including: - an ID issuer service, to ensure tobacco products manufactured in or imported into the UK are assigned a unique identifier; and - a data routing and repository service, to securely receive, validate, store and make available traceability data relating to tobacco products, accessible to HMRC and other authorised authorities. The service is expected to operate at national scale, support high volume transactional data, and meet applicable UK and international legislative requirements. The contract will be awarded under a concession model, with costs recovered from industry users rather than HMRC. HMRC may refine and further define the detailed requirements during the procurement process, including operational, technical, performance, security, and transition arrangements.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0584cc
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081587-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

72314000 - Data collection and collation services

79999100 - Scanning services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£5,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£5,500,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
30 Nov 20263 months to go
Future Notice Date
19 Oct 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
H M Revenue & Customs
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1A 2BQ
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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