HAC6119 Stop Smoking London Integrated Digital Smoking Cessation Service Pilot Extension

The government is currently taking legislation through Parliament (the Tobacco and Vapes Bill) with a number of measures designed to reduce the prevalence of smoking. Supporting this has been ringfenced funding to Local Authority public health departments for stop smoking support provision to accelerate a reduction in smoking, totalling approx. £10 million per annum across London’s 33 boroughs.

This is provided under a Section 31 local authority grant for local stop smoking services and support, using Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) calculations based on smoking prevalence and population size in each borough. The new contract duration would be for 12 months from September 2025 - end August 2026, on the basis that it is dependent on 2026/27 funding agreed from the DsPH of the 33 London Boroughs.

If not all of the boroughs agree to the programme for 2026/27, then the total contract value will be the total value of agreed funding from the contributing boroughs only. Therefore the contract will state that the contract values will be up to a maximum of £835,000 This contract is in scope for the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) process, and we hope to be able to directly award this new contract to the existing provider, under PSR Most Suitable Provider as we are satisfied that they are the only provider that is able to provide the 24/7 service that is a key criteria of both the existing contract and the new contract.

This is the approach intended to be used and therefore not a competitive tendering process. The existing provider will have contractual arrangement put in place which mirror those of the existing service to ensure continued performance.