ESCC - Sensory Impairment Equipment & Support Services

Invitation to Provider Market Engagement Event

East Sussex County Council Council is seeking to engage with any qualified and suitable service providers in order to inform our future delivery of Sensory Support.

You are invited to join us at our Market Engagement Event on Friday 18 July 2025, 13:00 - 14:00.

Register your place via email:

[email protected]

Please include organisation and names and email addresses of those due to attend.

Please let us know if you wish to attend by 5pm 16 July 2025.

About this Event

East Sussex County Council will be tendering (subject to final approvals) in Autumn 2025 for the delivery of the sensory support activity in East Sussex.

East Sussex County Council and our NHS Integrated Community Board (ICB) - NHS Sussex wants to commission a community-based service which gives adults with sensory loss a strong sense of being and to remain in control of their lives. The service will respond flexibly to the changing needs and preferences of people using the services.

The main responsibilities of the service provider are:

• To provide and maintain equipment for adults with sensory loss
• To provide information, advise and signposting
• To provide training, either in groups or 1:1 to adults with sensory loss and organisations that provide support to adults with sensory loss.

The contract will deliver support for adults with hearing and sight loss as well as duel sensory loss and will be split into two lots, one for hearing support and one for vision support.

The service provider will be required to deliver the service equitably across the whole of East Sussex and will have to have a base within the geographical boundaries of East Sussex.

We invite you to attend this pre-tender virtual Market Engagement Event to learn more about this procurement opportunity and to share your thoughts, ideas, and feedback. The event will:

• Set the current and future service context across East Sussex
• Outline the aims and principles of the service and the proposed service model
• Outline a proposed budget allocation for the service and longevity of the contract
• Provide information about the procurement process, including the timeline

Attendees will also have the opportunity to submit questions in an anonymised chat and we will be able to provide further feedback regarding our proposals both during and after the event. This event is targeted at experienced providers of sensory support services and interested stakeholders.

Further information:

• The event will be held online: an agenda and event link will be shared the day before to those who have registered. The duration of this event may be shorter depending on the volume and complexity of questions asked by attendees.
• Registration for the event is via email. Please email [email protected] to book a place, including your organisation name and the names and email addresses of those due to attend.