Stop Smoking and Falls Prevention Strength & Balance Services

Tender description

Lincolnshire County Council is initiating a tender opportunity for a new Stop Smoking Service and a Falls Prevention Strength and Balance Service. These two services will be procured as part of a single lotted tender process, which will result in the award of two separate contracts. Lot 1 – Stop Smoking Service: Delivery of a countywide Stop Smoking Service across Lincolnshire, providing evidence-based smoking cessation support that aligns with national policy objectives, Department of Health and Social Care funding requirements and local public health priorities. Funded through the consolidated and ringfenced smoking cessation grant, the service will offer behavioural support, access to cessation aids, digital interventions and targeted initiatives to help residents successfully quit smoking tobacco. The service will place a strong emphasis on reducing smoking-related health inequalities, increasing access for priority and underserved populations, and working collaboratively with health and community partners to maximise referrals and engagement. The service will include the delivery of a 'Swap to Stop' programme, using designated funding as part of the overall contract value to supporting smokers to move away from tobacco use through alternative nicotine products where appropriate. Lot 2 - Falls Prevention Strength and Balance Service: Delivery of a countywide Falls Prevention Strength and Balance Service across Lincolnshire, providing evidence-based interventions to help reduce falls risk, maintain independence and improve the health and wellbeing of older residents. The service will primarily support people aged 65 and over who have been identified as being at risk of falls, helping them to remain active, confident and independent for longer. It will deliver structured Falls Management Exercise (FaME) programmes led by appropriately qualified instructors, alongside home-based exercise support, referral management, pathway coordination and signposting to wider health, wellbeing and community services. A key focus of the service will be to improve physical strength, balance and mobility, reducing the likelihood and impact of falls and supporting individuals to maintain their quality of life. The procurement will be undertaken using the Competitive Process pursuant to Regulation 11 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. The tender opportunity will be published on 2 October 2026, with a tender submission deadline of 2 November 2026 at 12:00 noon. The commencement date for the new contracts will be 1st April 2027 and an initial contract period of 3 years, with options to extend the contracts by a further period or periods of up to a maximum of 36 months.