Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Cambridgeshire County Council
New Shire Hall Emery Crescent Enterprise Campus,
Alconbury Weald, Huntingdon
PE284YE
UK
E-mail: sarah.fuller@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
NUTS: UKH12
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
25120 Stop Smoking Seminars
Reference number: 25120
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85100000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Cambridgeshire County Council is appointing a provider to deliver 760 drug-free, evidence-based Stop Smoking Seminars between 1st March 2026 - 28th February 2027. The service will complement existing local stop smoking support and offer an alternative approach for individuals who prefer not to use pharmacological aids.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
374 800.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKH12
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
This notice is an intention to award a contract under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) most suitable provider process.
Key requirements:
• Deliver structured, interactive group seminars (approx. 5-6 hours) in-person and virtually.
• Provide two optional follow-up sessions and ongoing support via phone/email.
• Target priority groups including routine and manual workers, people with mental health conditions, and communities with high smoking prevalence.
• Ensure accessibility, including reasonable adjustments and compliance with equality and digital standards.
• Monitor and report quit outcomes at 4, 12, 26, and 52 weeks.
• Ensure the intervention complies with NICE guideline NG209.
The initial contract period is 12 months with two further optional extensions for up to 535 additional places, subject to performance and ongoing need:
Extension 1 - 12 months
Extension 2 - 6 months
Cambridgeshire County Council has previously commissioned this service from the awarded provider, but we do not currently have an active contract for the service.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Most suitable provider process
/ Weighting: 100
Price
/ Weighting:
N/A
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition
Justification for selected award procedure:
The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the Directive
Explanation
This a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. 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 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
Section V: Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
16/02/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 3
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Allen Carrs Easyway Ltd
02423347
Park House, 14 Pepys Road
London
SW20 8NH
UK
NUTS: UKI
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 374 800.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. 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 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 or Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award. The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by midnight at the end of the 2nd March 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.
Representations can be sent to sarah.fuller@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Award decision-makers:
Public Health Principal - Prevention;
Executive Director: Adults, Health and Commissioning;
Head of Procurement and Commercial.
There were no conflicts of interest declared.
Relative importance of key criteria:
Quality and innovation - 45%;
Value - 30%;
Integration, collaboration and service sustainability - 10%;
Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice - 10%;
Social value - 5%
The evaluation model reflects the five PSR criteria and places just over half the weighting on quality related factors, which is appropriate for a specialist behavioural intervention.
Quality and innovation (45%) is weighted the highest to ensure the provider can deliver an effective evidence-based service aligned with NICE NG209. Value (30%) maintains focus on value for money, recognising limited cost variation for this proprietary intervention. Overall the model is proportionate and ensures a high quality, accessible and value for money service is selected.
Allen Carr Easyway has been selected as the most suitable provider as they are the only provider offering a NICE recommended behavioural intervention (NG209) supported by a strong peer reviewed evidence base. It meets all specification requirements, including seminar length, structure, booster sessions and full follow up reporting up to 12 months, and has already delivered successfully in Cambridgeshire with outcomes meeting or exceeding expectations. The model is cost effective, easy to integrate into local pathways, and has proven effectiveness across priority populations.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
17/02/2026