Suffolk County Council (Public Health, Communities and Public Safety) is undertaking a soft market testing questionnaire to inform a potential future procurement 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 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.