Official UK procurement notice
Nicotine Replacement Therapy and Smoking Cessation Medication Postal Supply within Suffolk
Authority: Suffolk County Council (Local council)
What is being bought2 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionSuffolk 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 £400,000 (approximately £100,000 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.
- The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 1 Jul 2030, 23:59 BST.
CPV: Health services · Pharmaceutical products · Postal services
Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure
2 lots · all with a published value (£400,000 together) · same conditions of participation on every lot · same evaluation weights on every lotLot #1Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)RenewalPublished value£340,000
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.
- Economic & financial standing
Insurance
- already has, or can commit to obtain, the insurance requirements prior to the award of the contract.
UK General Data Protection Regulation Conditions
- You must not pose a Data Protection risk to the Council (that cannot be mitigated).
- Technical & professional ability
Relevant experience and contract examples
- Please provide details of up to three contracts delivered during the last three years that demonstrate your technical ability to deliver the Lot or Lots for which you are bidding.
Experience of sub-contractor management (if applicable)
- Where you intend to sub-contract a proportion of the contract, please demonstrate how you have previously maintained healthy supply chains with your sub-contractor(s) (which may be the intended sub-contractor(s) for this procurement or any others used previously).
The description should include the procedures you use to ensure performance of the contract.
Organisational standards
- Where conditions of participation have specified organisational qualifications or standards, please provide details of how these are met, or other equivalent standards that equal or exceed what has been requested.
Procurement Specific Requirements:
- Please confirm that you hold, or will hold by the Service Commencement Date, all registrations, licences, approvals, consents, authorisations and accreditations required to lawfully deliver the services for the Lot(s) you are applying for and will maintain these throughout the Contract Period.
- Please confirm that all staff involved in smoking cessation support are appropriately qualified, trained and competent for their role, including NCSCT training or an equivalent recognised standard where relevant.
- Please confirm that, by the Service Commencement Date, you will have a lawful and appropriately governed model in place for the assessment and supply of Cytisinicline and Varenicline, supported by suitably qualified and authorised healthcare professionals.
- Please confirm that you have documented governance arrangements appropriate to the Lot(s) tendered for, including medicines management, safeguarding, complaints handling and the management of incidents and adverse events
- Please confirm that you comply with UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 and have appropriate information governance arrangements in place.
- Please confirm that you can provide a tracked and auditable delivery service for medicines supplied under this contract.
- Please confirm that you have a Business Continuity Plan in place covering service disruption, staffing shortages, IT/cyber incidents and medicine supply issues.
- Please confirm that you have the technical ability to comply with the safeguarding requirements, policies and procedures notified by Suffolk County Council and the Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership throughout the Contract Period.
Lot #2Smoking cessation prescription medicationRenewalPublished value£60,000
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.
- Economic & financial standing
Insurance
- already has, or can commit to obtain, the insurance requirements prior to the award of the contract.
UK General Data Protection Regulation Conditions
- You must not pose a Data Protection risk to the Council (that cannot be mitigated).
- Technical & professional ability
Relevant experience and contract examples
- Please provide details of up to three contracts delivered during the last three years that demonstrate your technical ability to deliver the Lot or Lots for which you are bidding.
Experience of sub-contractor management (if applicable)
- Where you intend to sub-contract a proportion of the contract, please demonstrate how you have previously maintained healthy supply chains with your sub-contractor(s) (which may be the intended sub-contractor(s) for this procurement or any others used previously).
The description should include the procedures you use to ensure performance of the contract.
Organisational standards
- Where conditions of participation have specified organisational qualifications or standards, please provide details of how these are met, or other equivalent standards that equal or exceed what has been requested.
Procurement Specific Requirements:
- Please confirm that you hold, or will hold by the Service Commencement Date, all registrations, licences, approvals, consents, authorisations and accreditations required to lawfully deliver the services for the Lot(s) you are applying for and will maintain these throughout the Contract Period.
- Please confirm that all staff involved in smoking cessation support are appropriately qualified, trained and competent for their role, including NCSCT training or an equivalent recognised standard where relevant.
- Please confirm that, by the Service Commencement Date, you will have a lawful and appropriately governed model in place for the assessment and supply of Cytisinicline and Varenicline, supported by suitably qualified and authorised healthcare professionals.
- Please confirm that you have documented governance arrangements appropriate to the Lot(s) tendered for, including medicines management, safeguarding, complaints handling and the management of incidents and adverse events
- Please confirm that you comply with UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 and have appropriate information governance arrangements in place.
- Please confirm that you can provide a tracked and auditable delivery service for medicines supplied under this contract.
- Please confirm that you have a Business Continuity Plan in place covering service disruption, staffing shortages, IT/cyber incidents and medicine supply issues.
- Please confirm that you have the technical ability to comply with the safeguarding requirements, policies and procedures notified by Suffolk County Council and the Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership throughout the Contract Period.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published award criteria (2)
- Price: See tender pack for further information.
- Quality: See tender pack for further information.
- Economic & financial standing
Insurance
- already has, or can commit to obtain, the insurance requirements prior to the award of the contract.
UK General Data Protection Regulation Conditions
- You must not pose a Data Protection risk to the Council (that cannot be mitigated).
- Technical & professional ability
Relevant experience and contract examples
- Please provide details of up to three contracts delivered during the last three years that demonstrate your technical ability to deliver the Lot or Lots for which you are bidding.
Experience of sub-contractor management (if applicable)
- Where you intend to sub-contract a proportion of the contract, please demonstrate how you have previously maintained healthy supply chains with your sub-contractor(s) (which may be the intended sub-contractor(s) for this procurement or any others used previously).
The description should include the procedures you use to ensure performance of the contract.
Organisational standards
- Where conditions of participation have specified organisational qualifications or standards, please provide details of how these are met, or other equivalent standards that equal or exceed what has been requested.
Procurement Specific Requirements:
- Please confirm that you hold, or will hold by the Service Commencement Date, all registrations, licences, approvals, consents, authorisations and accreditations required to lawfully deliver the services for the Lot(s) you are applying for and will maintain these throughout the Contract Period.
- Please confirm that all staff involved in smoking cessation support are appropriately qualified, trained and competent for their role, including NCSCT training or an equivalent recognised standard where relevant.
- Please confirm that, by the Service Commencement Date, you will ha…
- Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- Turnover usually expected: about £59,918 – ~£339,535 per lot (twice each lot's annual value).
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula. Turnover is an indicative market norm (≈2× annual value), not a published condition.
Competition analysis · published record, not a forecast of who will bid
How Suffolk County Council buys Pharmaceutical products (CPV 3360), and who usually turns up
Suffolk County Council’s own published record, next to the published market for the same work. Frameworks and DPS are kept out: they attract a different number of bids. Whole-market view: Pharmaceutical products (CPV 3360) →
How the contest usually goes
Winner shares use published awards; bid and price charts use contested lots.
i
How often small and medium firms win.
Share of awards where the winner’s size is known.
The counts under this question show how many awards have a known supplier size.
Small firms have won here. Neither number says whether you qualify; it describes who has been winning.
i
How often local firms win similar work.
Winners with a registered address in the delivery region, out of awards with a known address.
Here, local means registered in East of England.
A local branch does not count if the registered address is elsewhere.
Most of this buyer’s recorded winners are registered outside East of England.
i
How long buyers here take to decide after bids close.
Middle value in days from the deadline to the first award notice, on competitions that published both dates.
Only decided tenders count, so slow ones still waiting are not in.
Half of these awards were announced within 55 days of the bid deadline.
i
How often work is awarded with no recorded rival.
Direct awards and tenders where every published lot count shows one bid.
Both shares are minimums: some awards have no bid count.
Thin markets produce this too; it is not proof of a tailored specification.
Direct awards or one recorded bid are common here. Check the route before spending time on a bid.
How many bids did past lots attract?
i
How many bids past lots received.
Each colour is a bid-count range. Only competed lots with a published count are included.
Past bids do not predict this tender.
1 bid6% / 18%
2–326% / 29%
4–639% / 15%
7+29% / 38%
How did awards compare with estimates?
i
Where winning prices landed against estimates.
Each colour shows awards below, close to or above the published estimate, one lot at a time.
Past prices are a guide, not a bid price.
Below estimate23% / 43%
Within ±2%68% / 29%
Above estimate9% / 29%
Assess each lot i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
Open a lot for its forecast, this buyer’s previous supplier and possible competitors, from published award history, not a bid list
Lot #1Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)CPV 33600000Published estimate£340k
i
How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid22%
2–321%
4–635%
7+22%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
Based on 5 comparable awards. Each lot reflects its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Middle 50%£340k
Estimate£340k
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
No earlier contract of this buyer matches this lot on the published record.
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
| Supplier | Won in this category | Live contracts | Award vs estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| £1.1m2 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 1 live · £544k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs | |
| £588k4 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 1 live · £308k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=2 | |
| £176k2 awards in 36m · last 8 months ago | 1 live · £60k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs | |
| £553k3 awards in 36m · last 11 months ago | 3 live · £553k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=2 | |
| £511k5 awards in 36m · last 3 months ago | 2 live · £1.3m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=1 |
Lot #2Smoking cessation prescription medicationCPV 33600000Published estimate£60k
i
How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid19%
2–326%
4–633%
7+22%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
Based on 5 comparable awards. Each lot reflects its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Middle 50%£60k
Estimate£60k
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
No earlier contract of this buyer matches this lot on the published record.
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
| Supplier | Won in this category | Live contracts | Award vs estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| £1.1m2 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 1 live · £544k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs | |
| £588k4 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 1 live · £308k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=2 | |
| £176k2 awards in 36m · last 8 months ago | 1 live · £60k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs | |
| £553k3 awards in 36m · last 11 months ago | 3 live · £553k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=2 | |
| £511k5 awards in 36m · last 3 months ago | 2 live · £1.3m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=1 |
About this data
- Source. Official UK public procurement notices (Find a Tender), reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. New notices arrive through the day; the figures are rebuilt nightly.
- Two views, kept apart. The authority’s own track record and the wider market for the same kind of work sit side by side and are never mixed. Where the local picture is too thin, a figure widens to a broader market and says which one it used.
- Forecasts are labelled. The price forecast and its range, possible competitors and the earlier-work matches are our estimates from past awards: not published facts, not win chances and not price advice. Official notices do not say who is bidding.
- Every figure shows what it rests on. Not every notice publishes a bid count, a value or a delivery region, so each figure carries the number of records behind it, and one built on few records is marked as such. The on a figure explains it; the counting rules are in the methodology. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Goods
- Notice status
- Open for tender
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Yes · next expected 1 Jul 2030
- First published
- 24 Jul 2026, 16:01 BST
- Last source update
- 8 Oct 2026, 13:21 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 11 Dec 2026
- Authority reference
PA0052/ITS393- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-095191- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d39cFind a Tender
- Risks
Interested Parties should refer to the Invitation to Tender and Contract Terms for the Known Risks.
Contract novation, transfer or disaggregation to one or more Successor Authorities or MCAA within the current geographical boundary of Suffolk.
Contract novation, transfer or disaggregation to one or more Successor Authorities or MCAA outside the current geographical boundary of Suffolk.
Other known risks
- Devolution
There is a known unknown risk that the establishment of a Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) for Norfolk and Suffolk, with strategic powers, headed by an elected mayor, may be implemented during the life of this contract ("Devolution").
As a result of Devolution, contract modifications may be necessary to novate, transfer or disaggregate the contract from the one you entered into to one with the Mayoral Combined County Authority.
Impacts could include changes to geographical boundaries, significant increases and/or decreases in the goods and/or services required due to the change in size/scope of any successor authority. This may also change the scope of the contract
Any changes to contract scope should be broadly similar to the current contract scope, but new services of a related nature may be required that were not previously included.
The Authority will work collaboratively with the successful provider(s) to manage any implications arising from Devolution, should it occur, to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of services.
- Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)
Due to Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) within Suffolk, there is a known unknown risk that structural changes to local government across Suffolk may be implemented during the lifetime of this contract.
As a result of LGR, contract modifications may be necessary to novate, transfer or disaggregate the contract from the one you entered into to one or more successor authorities.
Impacts could include changes to geographical boundaries, significant increases and/or decreases in the goods and/or services required due to the change in size/scope of any successor authority. This may also change the scope of the contract
How to participate & submission route
Official notice Submit via In-tend- Requests to participate (first stage)
- —
- Tender submission deadline
- 3 Nov 2026, 11:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 20 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
24 Jul 2026 → 1 Feb 2027 · 8 dates- Planning notice published88 days ago24 Jul 2026, 16:01 BST
- Market engagement73 days ago7 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
Suppliers are invited to participate in a soft market testing exercise by completing a structured questionnaire available via the following link:
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.
- Next notice expected31 days ago18 Sept 2026, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published12 days ago8 Oct 2026, 13:21 BST
- Today20 Oct 2026
- Clarification questions byin 1 day20 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
- Submission deadlinein 14 days3 Nov 2026, 11:00 GMT
- Award decision expected byin 53 days11 Dec 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract startsin 104 days1 Feb 2027
Notice history
5 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 24 Jul 2026- Preliminary market engagement notice published24 Jul 2026, 16:01 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published8 Oct 2026, 13:21 BSTUK4
- Status changed to active8 Oct 2026, 13:21 BST
- Procurement method changed8 Oct 2026, 13:21 BST
- Deadline published: 3 Nov 2026, 11:00 GMT8 Oct 2026, 13:21 BST
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Nothing awarded yet- Awards (0)
- No award published
- Contracts (0)
- No contract published
- Bid statistics
- No aggregate bid statistics published
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender