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Nicotine Replacement Therapy and Smoking Cessation Medication Postal Supply within Suffolk
AI Summary
Suffolk County Council is developing a new delivery model to support its ambition to reduce smoking prevalence to 5 % or less by 2030. The council has identified the postal supply of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and prescription smoking‑cessation medication as key interventions to broaden access beyond the current pharmacy‑based pathway, which many clients find difficult to reach because of operating hours, transport and mobility constraints.
The proposed procurement is split into two distinct lots. The first lot requires a supplier to provide a range of NRT products to clients who have been referred by the council’s flagship stop‑smoking service and to deliver the items directly to the recipients using a reliable, secure postal service. The second lot involves a provider that will conduct remote clinical consultations with referred clients to assess suitability for Varenicline or Cytisine, and, where appropriate, to ship the medication directly to them through the same secure postal arrangement.
All deliveries must utilise a reliable and secure postal service, and remote consultations must adhere to clinical assessment protocols for Varenicline or Cytisine.
Description
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 Council is considering a procurement comprising 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 exercise is exploratory and non-evaluative. It is intended to inform the Council's understanding of market capability, potential delivery models, implementation timescales and indicative costs. The anticipated contract value is approximately £400,000 (approximately £100,000 per annum) for an initial two-year contract with the option to extend for up to a further two years.
This notice does not constitute a call for competition or a commitment to procure.
Estimated date of publication of contract notice: 2026-09-18T23:59:59+01:00
Contract location: UKH14
Engagement process description
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.
Lot: 1
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: En