Stop Smoking Enhanced Digital Intervention Service (PSR MSPP)

Description

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Notice of Intention to make an award. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 and the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this contract. For this contract, Norfolk County Council has used the Most Suitable Provider Process as defined in the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. In April 2024, Local Authorities were given additional money as part of the Smokefree Generation to support smokers in their community access support and increase the number of quit attempts . The funding can also be used to support pathways and drive capacity within the system. Digital health and care has become a model of not only necessity but also preference in recent years. With on-going issues around waiting times and restrictions of accessing traditional services (e.g. specific clinic times and locations), it is vital that we allow our health services to evolve with demand. Digital health services empower users to take a more active role in managing their own health, promoting self-management. Ultimately, smarter health care provision will lead to improved quality, more efficient working, improved outcomes and higher service user satisfaction. Developments in the provision of health and well-being services mean that people are looking for new and innovative approaches to accessing all types of services, stop smoking services included. By providing digital support to smokers we would expect not only an increase in local people accessing stop smoking support who might not have otherwise attended a stop smoking service, but also the opportunity to improve the efficiency of stop smoking service provision. In July 2025 the 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future was published. focusing on three shifts: moving care from hospitals to communities, embracing digital technology, and prioritising prevention over sickness. The government will launch the Health Coach programme in late 2025 to help people manage smoking and vaping, providing guidance and resources. Additionally, effective third-party stop-smoking tools will be offered via HealthStore and opt-out smoking cessation interventions will be integrated into all routine hospital care. Norfolk County Council is seeking to award the contract to the most suitable provider to deliver services which provide mobile application based digital smoking cessation intervention with behavioural support and the supply of pharmacotherapy nicotine products. The provider will deliver a stop smoking service in accordance with Russell Standards and National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training guidelines. This notice will be published to mark the beginning of the standstill period (8 working days) as per the requirements of the Provider Selection Regime 2023, ending midnight on 2 December 2025. Lot 1: Norfolk County Council intend to award a contract under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, 'Most Suitable Provider Process' for the provision of smoking cessation services. The key criteria that provider's were submitting an application for are: 1. Quality and innovation; 2. Value; 3. Integration, collaboration, and service sustainability; 4. Improving access, reducing health inequalities, and facilitating choice; 5. Social Value; A notice (2025/S 000-062011) was published for 14 days informing the market of the intention to follow the Most Suitable Provider Process. The Council sought a providers who were suitable and capable to continue the delivery of this work. Officers followed a robust evaluation against the above key criteria, after which the most suitable provider was selected. The service awarded via the Most Suitable Provider process is for a new service with a new provider. The initial contract term will be 16 months (pro rated to 31 March 2027) with the option to extend for a further 12 months. The overall contract value will not exceed £425,425.00.