Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Darlington Borough Council
Town Hall, Feethams
Darlington
DL15QT
UK
Contact person: Rachael Johnson
E-mail: rachael.johnson@darlington.gov.uk
NUTS: UKC13
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.darlington.gov.uk
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
Health
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Darlington Stop Smoking Service
Reference number: PB2026-00320
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85312500
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
This notice is an intention to award the contract under the Provider Selection Regime - Most Suitable Provider process.
Darlington Borough Council is looking to award a contract for the provision of Darlington Stop Smoking Service.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
1 210 916.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKC13
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The description of the service is as follows:
1) Delivery of a Stop Smoking Service within Darlington to the population of the Borough: to provide evidence-based smoking cessation service with expert support, including treatments and intensive behavioural advice - specialist service provide support to smokers and to have independent prescriber(s) to prescribe NICE approved prescription drugs;
2) Training & support to other providers: to provide training and competency support to other stop smoking service providers, e.g. pharmacies, based on the latest evidence; and workforce development to ensure health and social care professionals have the skills and knowledge to provide Very Brief Advice to smokers and encourage smokers to quit;
3) Prescribing, medicines, equipment and data management: to validate the data from other providers e.g. Pharmacy, co-ordination and administration of pharmacological prescription (FP10 & NRT vouchers) and calibration of CO monitors.
This notice is an intention to award the contract under the Provider Selection Regime - Most Suitable Provider process.
The approximate lifetime of the contract is five years and the value of the contract for the existing service is £1,210,916.
Existing provider.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Most suitable provider process with regard to the key criteria
/ Weighting: 100
Price
/ Weighting:
0
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
If the Authority wishes to extend this Contract, it shall give the Provider written notice of such intention before the expiry date.
Option to extend 2 x 12 months
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
II.2.14) Additional information
This notice is an intention to award the contract under the Provider Selection Regime - Most Suitable Provider process.
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 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 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 decision makers by 27th March 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
Section V: Award of contract
Contract No: PB2026-00320
Title: Darlington Stop Smoking Service
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
16/03/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 2
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
RXP
Hollyhurst Road
Darlington
DL3 6HX
UK
NUTS: UKC13
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot:
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 1 210 916.00
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 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 27th March 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.
Decision-makers:
Lorraine Hughes - Director of Public Health
Abbie Kelly - Public Health Portfolio Lead
Conflicts of interest:
1 potential/perceived Conflict of Interest recorded for/by Lorraine Hughes.
This has been recorded, and non-conflicted members of the project group have assessed
the nature of this conflict and have determined that there is no risk or impact on this process, and that no further mitigating actions are required.
CDDFT offers face to face appointments five days a week and telephone evening appointments. The Services use a variety of community venues across Darlington, to enable easier access. The Services provides high quality support to service users making a quit attempt and to remain quit. Adopting the NE Regional PGD and smokefree app offer has enabled the Service to adapt further and increase the number of venues for appointments, provide telephone support and workplace clinics. The criteria used, including value for money, consistency of service and performance.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Darlington Borough Council
Town Hall
Darlington
DL1 5QT
UK
E-mail: corporate.procurement@darlington.gov.uk
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
17/03/2026