The provision of NRT, E-Cigarettes and Stop Smoking Medication Solution

Leicester City Council is seeking a provider to support its Public Health integrated lifestyle service, Live Well, through the storage, dispensing and distribution of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), e-cigarettes and stop smoking medications.

The contract has an estimated value of £305,000 excluding VAT and is intended to replace the Council’s existing in-house stock management and postal distribution arrangements with a comprehensive outsourced solution.

The appointed provider will be responsible for managing stock levels and distributing NRT and e-cigarette products directly to Leicester residents within agreed timescales.

The service will also include pharmacist-led prescribing and dispensing arrangements for stop smoking medications, including:

• Varenicline
• Cytisine
• Bupropion

Alongside product distribution and medication services, the successful provider will be required to supply a secure and user-friendly digital system supporting the management of orders, appointments, inventory, prescription activity, reporting and delivery tracking.

Staff training and ongoing support must also be provided as part of the solution.

The Council intends the service to improve access to stop smoking treatments, reduce delays for clients and strengthen the clinical governance and efficiency of its stop smoking provision.

Contract Information

• Buyer: Leicester City Council
• Deadline: 1st Oct 2026 00:00
• Enquiry Deadline: 25th Sep 2026 00:00
• Contract Value: £305,000 excluding VAT / £366,000 including VAT
• Delivery Length: 1st Apr 2027 to 31st Mar 2030, with options to extend for a further 1 + 1 years to 31st Mar 2032
• Tender Link: https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=24730845-aba7-f111-813c-005056b64545

Evaluation Criteria

Tenders will be evaluated using the following criteria:

• Quality – 70%
• Price – 30%

The procurement is being conducted through an open procedure and is identified as particularly suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Regulatory and Clinical Governance Requirements

The service must operate in accordance with the relevant clinical, regulatory and governance requirements identified by the Council.

These include:

• NICE guidance
• Patient Group Directions (PGDs)
• UK GDPR requirements
• General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) standards
• Leicester City Council’s Public Health Clinical Governance Framework

Further legal and financial capacity requirements are contained within Appendix A of the procurement documents, while technical ability requirements are set out within Appendix C.

The opportunity combines pharmaceutical distribution, prescribing and dispensing arrangements with digital systems and operational support, providing an opportunity for suppliers capable of delivering an integrated and clinically governed stop smoking solution.

The contract will support Leicester’s wider smokefree ambitions by improving the accessibility and efficiency of treatment for residents using the Council’s Live Well service.

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