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Embedding Smoking Cessation In NHS Talking Therapies

Hampshire County Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

21 Jul 2026 at 14:43

Tender Notice
Award

16 Feb 2026 at 15:33

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Hampshire County Council procured NHS Talking Therapies services in Hampshire to embed smoking cessation support within established talking therapy provision. The service is intended to increase quit attempts, improve access to evidence-based behavioural support and reduce health inequalities, particularly among people with mental health conditions and higher smoking rates. It includes providing Very Brief Advice on smoking cessation as part of therapy, with possible development of training materials, staff training and online webinars. The work is classified as psychiatrist or psychologist services. Services must be free at the point of access and integrated into NHS Talking Therapies rather than delivered as a standalone smoking cessation service.

The procurement has been formally awarded under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, using a limited Most Suitable Provider process without prior publication of a competition. The formal award was made on 24 June 2026. Awards were recorded to NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and North Hampshire Urgent Care Limited. Separate active contracts show values of £98,000 and £22,000 respectively, both signed on 12 February 2026. The amendment states that the £22,000 contract runs for 12 months and includes VAT. Evaluation was based entirely on quality through the most suitable provider process, with quality weighted at 100 and cost at 0.

This procurement indicates demand for providers able to combine NHS Talking Therapies with practical smoking cessation delivery. A credible supplier would need established talking therapy services in Hampshire, the ability to provide them free at the point of access, and experience embedding Very Brief Advice into routine clinical pathways. The requirement also favours organisations able to address smoking among people experiencing anxiety, depression or other mental health conditions through evidence-based behavioural support. Clinical governance capacity is important, including employing a clinical psychologist to provide programme oversight and leadership. Providers should also be able to design training materials, train therapy staff and deliver online webinars, while working within the Provider Selection Regime route.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Embedding Smoking Cessation In NHS Talking Therapies

Notice Description

Hampshire Council is seeking a provider via the Most Suitable Provider process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 to embed smoking cessation into talking therapies. Description of Service and Initiative: OHID has allocated funding to local authorities in England through the Local Stop Smoking Services and Support Grant (LSSSSG). The grant aims to strengthen smoking cessation services in Hampshire, increase quit attempts, and support the government's ambition for a smoke-free generation. It focuses on expanding access to evidence-based behavioural support and targeting groups with higher smoking rates to reduce health inequalities. Smoking is strongly linked to anxiety and depression, with higher smoking rates among people with mental health conditions. While smoking harms physical health, it also worsens mental health outcomes. Evidence shows quitting smoking can improve symptoms of anxiety and depression, highlighting the potential role of talking therapies in both smoking cessation. Evidence demonstrates that talking therapies and counselling significantly increase long-term quit rates. Hampshire Council is seeking a suitable provider of NHS Talking Therapy services to embed smoking cessation offer into established services in Hampshire. The talking therapy services offered must free at the point of access with the provider able to embed Very Brief Advice into its talking therapy service. It must employ a clinical psychologist who is able to provide oversight and leadership to the programme. The activity will possibly include developing training materials and training staff, embedding Very Brief Advice into talking therapy services and offering online webinars. 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 or Public Contract Regulations 2015 do not apply to this contract.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Hampshire Council is seeking a provider via the Most Suitable Provider process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 to embed smoking cessation into talking therapies. Description of Service and Initiative: OHID has allocated funding to local authorities in England through the Local Stop Smoking Services and Support Grant (LSSSSG). The grant aims to strengthen smoking cessation services in Hampshire, increase quit attempts, and support the government's ambition for a smoke-free generation. It focuses on expanding access to evidence-based behavioural support and targeting groups with higher smoking rates to reduce health inequalities. Smoking is strongly linked to anxiety and depression, with higher smoking rates among people with mental health conditions. While smoking harms physical health, it also worsens mental health outcomes. Evidence shows quitting smoking can improve symptoms of anxiety and depression, highlighting the potential role of talking therapies in both smoking cessation. Evidence demonstrates that talking therapies and counselling significantly increase long-term quit rates. Hampshire Council is seeking a suitable provider of NHS Talking Therapy services to embed smoking cessation offer into established services in Hampshire. The talking therapy services offered must free at the point of access with the provider able to embed Very Brief Advice into its talking therapy service. It must employ a clinical psychologist who is able to provide oversight and leadership to the programme. The activity will possibly include developing training materials and training staff, embedding Very Brief Advice into talking therapy services and offering online webinars.

Procurement 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 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do 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 decision makers by 00:00 on 26th February 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06552f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068764-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85121270 - Psychiatrist or psychologist services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£120,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
12 Feb 20266 months ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Hampshire County Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
WINCHESTER
Postcode
SO23 8UJ
Postcode Area
Southampton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ36 Central Hampshire
Delivery Location
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Local Authority
Winchester
Electoral Ward
St Michael
Westminster Constituency
Winchester

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
2
Supplier Names

NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

NORTH HAMPSHIRE URGENT CARE LIMITED

Further Information

Notice URLs

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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