Soft Market Testing - Supply of Nicotine-free medication products approved for stop smoking support including: Cytisinicline (Cytisine), Varenicline and Bupropion.

North Northamptonshire Council is currently in the planning stage of a soft market testing exercise to explore the supply and distribution of nicotine-free medication products, aimed at supporting local smoking cessation services. The procurement process, tagged as "ocds-h6vhtk-05a150", focuses on understanding the market for pharmacological treatments such as Cytisinicline, Varenicline, and Bupropion. This initiative is underpinned by an engagement milestone where interested suppliers are invited to submit a questionnaire by the deadline of 15 October 2025.

The council, situated at The Corby Cube in Corby, United Kingdom, is looking to gauge supplier interest and service models for direct-to-client delivery across multiple UK regions, including UKC, UKD, UKE, and more. The industry category involved is health services, with a light-touch procurement regime specified. This market engagement offers significant opportunities for businesses specialising in pharmaceutical services and direct-to-client healthcare delivery.

It is particularly suited for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) capable of providing nicotine-free medication products and managing related clinical services. By participating, businesses can gain insights into potential future procurement opportunities and expand their foothold in the health services sector across various UK regions. Moreover, this exercise is a chance for these entities to influence the development of an online stop smoking medicine provision, aligning their offerings with the needs of North Northamptonshire Council's public health initiatives.