Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Lincolnshire County Council
County Offices, Newland
Lincoln
LN1 1YL
Contact
Miss Katie Turner
katie.turner@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 1522555431
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk
Buyer's address
https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Smoke Free Generation
Reference number
DN795046
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85100000 - Health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Prime Minister announced a national vision for a ‘Smokefree Generation’, supported by the publication of the command paper Stopping the Start: Our New Plan to Create a Smokefree Generation. As part of this initiative, a significant funding programme was introduced to help current smokers quit, providing additional annual investment to strengthen local stop smoking services.
Lincolnshire County Council entered into a grant agreement with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) to support this ambition. The funding is being used to enhance locally commissioned smoking cessation services, while ensuring that existing public health grant allocations for these services are maintained.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £388,090
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85100000 - Health services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKF3 - Lincolnshire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Council intends to award this contract to the incumbent provider via the Direct Award C route under PSR
Contract Title: Smoke Free Generation
Name of Incumbent: Thrive Tribe Ltd
Description of Service: The Smoke Free Generation (SFG) grant is a national initiative aimed at accelerating progress towards a smokefree future. In Lincolnshire, the primary objective of this service is to significantly increase the number of individuals who initiate a quit attempt or set a formal quit date through targeted smoking cessation support.
Approx. lifetime value of contract: £388,090.00
This contract will run for an initial period of 6 months between 1st October 2025 to 31st March 2026, with the option to extend by a further period of 6 months to 30th September 2026 should SFG funding be confirmed beyond 31st March 2026 to allow for the consultation to be completed, to further inform future Council decision making.
Detail of award decision makers: Council Executive delegated to Executive Director of Adult Care & Community wellbeing in conjunction with executive councillor for Adult Care and Health.
Reasons for selecting the incumbent: Under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 (“PSR”), the Council’s commercial team has undertaken an evidence-based assessment of the incumbent's capability and consistent performance in
delivering against all of the Key Criteria and contract performance KPIs.
A provider assessment has been undertaken in accordance with the PSR Key Criteria
which are:-
• Quality and innovation
• Value
• Integration, collaboration and service sustainability
• Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice
• Social value
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: The existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed contract to a sufficient standard / Weighting: 100
Price - Weighting: 100
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
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 the relevant authority by 10th
November 2025. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as
an intention to award under the PSR
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
28 October 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 1
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 0
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Thrive Tribe Ltd
London
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI - London
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £388,090
Section six. Complementary information
six.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 decision makers by 10th
November 2025. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as
an intention to award under the PSR.
- Email address for written representation: All representation must be via commercialteampeopleservices@lincolnshire.gov.uk
- Detail of award decision makers: Council Executive delegated to Executive Director of
Adult Care & Community wellbeing in conjunction with executive councillor for Adult Care
and Health.
- Explanation of importance of the key criteria that the Council used to make a decision,
along with the rationale for the relative importance of the key criteria, and the rationale for
choosing the provider with reference to the key criteria.
Under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 (“PSR”),
the Council’s commercial team has undertaken an evidence-based assessment of the
incumbent's capability and consistent performance in delivering against all of the Key
Criteria and contract performance KPIs
A provider assessment has been undertaken in accordance with the PSR Key Criteria
which are:-
• Quality and innovation
• Value
• Integration, collaboration and service sustainability
• Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice
• Social value
The provider assessment demonstrates substantial evidence of the incumbent’s proven ability and performance. The providers performance and sustainability were assessed against contractual obligations using quarterly monitoring data and narrative updates. Findings indicate the provider can continue delivering services effectively, including the enhanced stop smoking service for the proposed new contract period.
Declaration of conflict or potential conflict of interest: All relevant stakeholders completed
the Councils internal Conflict of interest forms and no conflict or potential conflict of
interest were identified.
How Conflicts of interest were managed: All relevant stakeholders completed COI forms
prior to the assessment which were kept under review during the process and no conflicts
of interest were identified.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Lincolnshire County Council
Lincoln
commercialteampeopleservices@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom