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Nicotine Replacement Therapy and Smoking Cessation Medication Postal Supply within Suffolk

Suffolk County Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

08 Oct 2026 at 13:21

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

24 Jul 2026 at 16:01

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Suffolk County Council is buying postal supply of smoking-cessation products for people referred by its commissioned stop-smoking service, to improve access for clients who may face barriers to attending pharmacies. The requirement is divided into two lots. Lot 1 covers supplying a range of nicotine replacement therapy products directly to clients by secure, reliable post. Lot 2 covers remote clinical consultations to assess whether referred clients are suitable for varenicline or cytisine and, where clinically appropriate, supplying the medication directly by post. Both lots serve clients in Suffolk. Suppliers can bid for either lot separately or for both. The procurement combines pharmaceutical supply, postal delivery and, for Lot 2, clinical consultation services.

The Council invited offers through an open procedure. The clarification question deadline was 20 October 2026; tenders were due by 3 November 2026 at 11:00. The planned contract period is 1 February 2027 to 31 January 2029, with an option to extend by up to two years, to 31 January 2031. The estimated value including extensions is approximately £400,000 excluding VAT: £340,000 for Lot 1 and £60,000 for Lot 2, also excluding VAT. Each lot is evaluated on quality (60%) and price (40%). Suppliers may bid for either or both lots, and both lots are identified as suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises.

The opportunity suits medicine suppliers able to provide a dependable, secure and tracked postal service to clients across Suffolk. Lot 2 additionally requires the capacity to conduct remote clinical consultations and supply varenicline or cytisine when clinically appropriate, through suitably qualified and authorised healthcare professionals. Bidders need relevant delivery experience, evidenced by up to three contracts from the previous three years, and must be able to meet applicable registrations, licences, approvals and accreditations. Staff supporting smoking cessation need appropriate qualifications and training, including NCSCT training or an equivalent recognised standard where relevant. Suppliers must have robust medicines management, safeguarding, complaints and adverse-event processes; UK GDPR and Data Protection Act compliance; and business continuity plans covering staffing, IT or cyber disruption and medicine supply. Subcontractors require effective supply-chain management.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Nicotine Replacement Therapy and Smoking Cessation Medication Postal Supply within Suffolk

Notice Description

Suffolk County Council (Public Health, Communities and Public Safety) are currently out to tender for the postal supply of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and smoking cessation prescription medication. Smoking prevalence in Suffolk is currently estimated at 10.5%. The Council's ambition is to reduce this to 5% or below by 2030. NRT and prescribed smoking cessation medications are recognised as effective interventions to support people to quit smoking and remain an important element of the local stop smoking offer. The Council currently provides access to these products through a pharmacy-based pathway. However, not all clients are able to access participating pharmacies due to factors such as working hours, limited transport options or mobility issues. The Council is therefore exploring alternative delivery models to improve accessibility. The procurement is split into two lots. Suppliers may bid for either lot individually or for both lots. Lot 1 - Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) Supply a range of NRT products following referral from the Council's commissioned stop smoking service (FGS) and deliver products directly to clients using a reliable and secure postal service. Lot 2 - Smoking cessation prescription medication Undertake remote clinical consultations with clients referred by the stop smoking service to assess suitability for Varenicline or Cytisine and, where clinically appropriate, supply medication directly to clients using a reliable and secure postal service. This opportunity is available in the 'Current Tenders' area of the portal. Interested parties are invited to express their interest to gain full access to the tender documentation. The contract period is two years with an option to extend for up to a further two years. The anticipated contract value (including the extension period) is approximately PS400,000 (approximately PS100,000 per annum) excluding VAT. The deadline date for submissions of the tender is 3rd November 2026 at 11am. Please note late returns will NOT be permitted. The deadline for clarification questions is 20th October 2026 which must be generated via the correspondence option on the website.

Lot Information

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)

Supply a range of NRT products following referral from the Council's commissioned stop smoking service (FGS) and deliver products directly to clients using a reliable and secure postal service.

Renewal: Contract can be extended for up to a further two years.

Smoking cessation prescription medication

Undertake remote clinical consultations with clients referred by the stop smoking service to assess suitability for Varenicline or Cytisine and, where clinically appropriate, supply medication directly to clients using a reliable and secure postal service.

Renewal: Contract can be extended for up to a further two years.

Planning Information

Suppliers are invited to participate in a soft market testing exercise by completing a structured questionnaire available via the following link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/dXKKNdxuv2 Deadline for responses: 07/08/2026 This soft market testing exercise aims to: • understand current market capability and capacity • explore potential delivery models for one or both lots • identify innovation and opportunities to improve accessibility for service users • understand indicative implementation timescales and costs. The Council may undertake further market engagement activities, which could include supplier clarification discussions and/or wider engagement sessions. Participation is voluntary and will not influence any future procurement process.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d39c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095191-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

64 - Postal and telecommunications services

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

33600000 - Pharmaceutical products

64110000 - Postal services

85100000 - Health services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£400,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£400,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Oct 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
3 Nov 20263 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
18 Sep 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Feb 2027 - 31 Jan 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
2030-07-01

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Suffolk 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
IPSWICH
Postcode
IP1 2BX
Postcode Area
Ipswich
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH6 Suffolk
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH62 Ipswich
Delivery Location
TLH14 Suffolk CC
Local Authority
Ipswich
Electoral Ward
Gipping
Westminster Constituency
Ipswich

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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