Coming up· published 25 Sept 2025
Soft Market Testing - Supply of Nicotine-free medication products approved for stop smoking support including: Cytisinicline (Cytisine), Varenicline and Bupropion.
North Northamptonshire Council · North Northamptonshire, East Midlands
North Northamptonshire Council is planning this contract. It is a contract for other health and social care in North Northamptonshire.
Source: Find a Tender, published 25 Sep 2025. Details are refreshed every 30 minutes.
Key dates
2025
Pipeline notice published
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice · 14:29
View notice2025
Pipeline notice updated
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice · 08:39
View notice2025
Tender notice expected
Date given in the buyer's earlier notice
2026
Contract starts
Next
2029
Contract ends
3 years after it starts
About this tender
In brief
North Northamptonshire Council is planning this contract. It is a contract for other health and social care in North Northamptonshire. The buyer has published an early notice. It gives providers time to prepare before the tender opens. The contract runs from 31 March 2026 to 31 March 2029. It lasts 3 years.
The buyer marks it as suitable for SMEs and VCSEs. Find a Tender published it on 25 September 2025. The notice number is 059504-2025. The OCDS ID is ocds-h6vhtk-05a150.
Summary of the contracting process
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.
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. 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.
The notice in full
North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) Public Health Team is exploring options for the future supply and distribution of nicotine- free medicine products. To support our local smoking cessation services. We are particularly interested in understanding the market position on pharmacological treatments such as Cytisinicline (Cytisine), Varenicline and Bupropion.
We are keen to explore the capacity of potential suppliers to deliver products direct-to-client and undertake online models of consultation and assessment of clients. Here the provider would manage clinical governance (including PGD arrangements). Notice: This is not a formal procurement process.
The purpose of this soft market engagement is to:
- Gauge supplier interest in potential future opportunities.
- Understand online service models, supply capacity and distribution models (direct-to-client delivery).
- Explore the availability and licensing status of Cytisinicline, Varenicline and Bupropion.
- Inform the development of an online stop smoking medicines provision for any future procurement. Scope of Products (indicative):
- Cytisinicline (Cytisine)
- Varenicline
- Bupropion
Lots: no lot details came through with this notice. The official notice and the tender pack have the full breakdown.
Key facts
Contract
- Service
- Other
- Procurement type
- Standard
- Category
- Services
- Contract period
- 31 Mar 2026 to 31 Mar 2029 (3 years)
- Suitable for
- Small and medium sized businesses (SMEs); Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs)
Procedure
- Notice type
- UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
- Current stage
- Planning
- Stages so far
- Planning
- Published on
- Find a Tender Service
Not stated in the notice: procurement method, awardee scale.
Values
Not stated in the notice: tender value, lots value, awards value, contracts value.
Status
- Tender
- Planning
- Lots
- Planning
Not stated in the notice: awards, contracts.
References
- Find a Tender notice
- 059504-2025
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-05a150
- CPV code
- 85100000 - Health services
- CPV division
- 85 - Health and social work services
Location
- Local authority
- North Northamptonshire
- Town
- Northampton
- Postcode
- NN17 1QG
- Electoral ward
- Lloyds
- Constituency
- Corby and East Northamptonshire
- Delivery area
- North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)
- Region
- East Midlands
- Sub-region
- North Northamptonshire
- Area
- Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
- Country
- England
Buyer
Contracting authority
- Organisation
- North Northamptonshire Council
- Category
- Services
- Address
- Corby, NN17 1QG · East Midlands · England
Not stated in the notice: contact, phone.
Documents and links
- Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tenderfind-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/059504-2025
- Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tenderfind-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/059355-2025
- Forms.office.comforms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx
- Legislation.gov.uklegislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- OCDS record ocds-h6vhtk-05a150 (JSON)find-tender.service.gov.uk/api/1.0/ocdsReleasePackages/ocds-h…
Questions about this tender
When will the Soft Market Testing - Supply of Nicotine-free medication products approved for… tender open?
North Northamptonshire Council has not yet given a date for the tender notice. An early notice is the time to answer any market engagement questions and gather the evidence a bid will need.
How long is the Soft Market Testing - Supply of Nicotine-free medication products approved for… contract?
The contract runs from 31 March 2026 to 31 March 2029 (3 years).
Who is the buyer for Soft Market Testing - Supply of Nicotine-free medication products approved for…?
North Northamptonshire Council, based in North Northamptonshire, East Midlands.
How do I bid for Soft Market Testing - Supply of Nicotine-free medication products approved for…?
Register on the buyer's portal named in the notice, download the tender pack and check every condition of participation before you start writing. The buyer has marked it as suitable for SMEs and VCSEs. Care Sync Experts writes and reviews care tender bids from £1,500 + VAT.
Want help winning this tender?
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What to do next
- Read the early notice in full.
- Answer any market engagement questions.
- Gather your evidence and case studies now.
- Check your policies are up to date.
- Watch for the tender notice.
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