NORTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNCIL - PROVISION OF NICOTINE FREE MEDICINES FOR THE COUNCIL STOP SMOKING SERVICES

North Northamptonshire Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

17 Jul 2026 at 16:33

Tender

24 Apr 2026 at 16:08

Summary of the contracting process

North Northamptonshire Council procured an integrated online pharmacy service supplying nicotine-free medicines for eligible residents referred through its Stop Smoking Service. The service covers clinical assessment, prescribing under a Patient Group Direction, dispensing and direct delivery to clients of Varenicline and Cytisinicline. Its purpose is to improve access to evidence-based smoking cessation treatment, increase quit rates and reduce smoking-related health inequalities. This is a public health and pharmaceutical service combining medicines supply with clinical and fulfilment activity. Delivery is for residents across North Northamptonshire. The council sought one provider, making this a single-provider service rather than a multi-supplier arrangement. The procurement is classified under pharmaceutical products, medical consumables, and health and social work services.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded following an above-threshold open procedure under the Procurement Act 2023. ASHTONS HOSPITAL PHARMACY SERVICES LIMITED was awarded the single contract on 17 July 2026 for £937,923. The initial contract period runs from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2029, with options for two further 12-month extensions to 31 March 2031, subject to performance, funding and governance approval. The estimated tender value was £937,921.50. Five bids reached the final stage, including five from SMEs. The contract is one lot and was evaluated on quality at 70% and price at 30%. Electronic submissions in English were allowed, with the tender submission deadline at 12:00 on 5 June 2026.

This requirement demonstrates demand for suppliers able to combine pharmacy operations, clinical governance and reliable home-delivery logistics for a public smoking-cessation service. A credible competitor would need to assess eligible patients, prescribe Varenicline and Cytisinicline safely under a Patient Group Direction, dispense accurately, and deliver medicines directly to clients across North Northamptonshire. Experience in NHS or local-authority public health services, medicines management, prescribing governance, patient confidentiality and outcome-focused smoking cessation support would be relevant. The successful supplier was an SME, and all five final-stage bidders were SMEs, indicating that the requirement can be delivered by a focused specialist rather than only a large national healthcare organisation. Future credibility would depend on demonstrating integrated digital workflows, dependable capacity, clinical assurance and measurable service quality.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

NORTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNCIL - PROVISION OF NICOTINE FREE MEDICINES FOR THE COUNCIL STOP SMOKING SERVICES

Notice Description

North Northamptonshire Council ("the Council") conducted a procurement exercise through an Open Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023 for the provision of Nicotine Free Medicines for the Council Stop Smoking Service. The procurement sought a single provider to deliver an integrated online pharmacy service for eligible residents referred through the Council's Stop Smoking Service, including clinical assessment, prescribing under a Patient Group Direction (PGD), dispensing and direct-to-client delivery of Varenicline and Cytisinicline. The service supports the Council's public health objectives by improving access to evidence-based smoking cessation medicines, increasing quit rates and reducing smoking-related health inequalities across North Northamptonshire. The Council proposes to enter into one (1) Contract for an initial period of thirty (30) months with the successful Supplier, with options to extend by up to twelve (12) months plus twelve (12) months, subject to satisfactory performance, funding availability and approval through the Council's governance processes

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: The contract will run for an initial term of 2.5 years from 1st October 2026, with the option to extend for two additional 12-month periods, subject to performance, continued need, and available funding. These optional extensions allow the contract to align with the funding from the ringfenced Stop Smoking Services allocation within the Core Public Health Grant allocation.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-068afa
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067971-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

33140000 - Medical consumables

33600000 - Pharmaceutical products

85000000 - Health and social work services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£937,921 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£937,921 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
£937,923 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
5 Jun 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
17 Jul 20261 months ago
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
2030-08-01

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
North Northamptonshire 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
CORBY
Postcode
NN17 1QG
Postcode Area
Northampton
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF25 North Northamptonshire
Delivery Location
TLF25 North Northamptonshire

Local Authority
North Northamptonshire
Electoral Ward
Corby West
Westminster Constituency
Corby and East Northamptonshire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

ASHTONS HOSPITAL PHARMACY SERVICES LIMITED

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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