TenderlineUK
Procurement Intelligence
Search
Find a TenderAwarded
Published 5 Sept 2025, 16:01 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Sight Testing and Dispensing of Spectacles to Children and Young People in Special Educational Settings across the South East

Official notice

Authority: Thames Valley Integrated Care Board (ICB) (NHS & healthcare)·Consortium: 14 public authorities

6 lotsServicesOpen procedure
Sectors: Health & Social Care (85) Delivery: South East (UKJ)
Published estimate£15,967,000total for 6 lots · 1 value update
Submissions closed 6 Feb 2026awarded 8 May 2026
Awarded to SeeAbility5 awards

What is being bought6 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

The South East Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) sought suitably qualified Providers to deliver at scale sight testing and dispensing of spectacles services for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Special Educational Settings (SES) across the region.

This procurement was divided into Lots:

  • Lot 1: Thames Valley - Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire West and Berkshire East
  • Lot 2: Hampshire and Isle of Wight, including North East Hampshire
  • Lot 3: Kent and Medway
  • Lot 4: Surrey, including Surrey Heath and Farnham
  • Lot 5: Sussex

At the time of the procurement, the South East comprised six Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). From 1 April 2026, these reduced to four ICBs:

  • NHS Thames Valley ICB - bringing together Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire West and Berkshire East (formerly BOB ICB and part of Frimley ICB)
  • Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB, which expanded to include North East Hampshire
  • Kent and Medway ICB, which remained unchanged
  • Surrey and Sussex ICB - bringing together Surrey and Sussex, including Surrey Heath and Farnham

These changes were designed to improve integration, reduce health inequalities, and align services with local government boundaries to support the delivery of more sustainable care.

Children and young people with autism and/or learning disabilities face significant barriers to accessing routine eye care. Evidence from the 2021 NHS England Proof of Concept (POC) programme demonstrated that delivering sight tests and dispensing services directly within Special Educational Settings (SES) was both effective and impactful.

The service aims to ensure that eligible children and young people in SES across the South East are offered an annual sight test, unless clinically inappropriate. The goal is to reduce health inequalities, improve educational outcomes, and support better quality of life through timely identification and management of vision needs.

Further information is available in the service specification and the engagement report published on the NHS England website:

The contracts will be for an initial duration of 5 years (60 months) with an optional extension of 2 years (1 x 24 months). Services are expected to commence in 2026.

The maximum total budget available for the initial five year period (excluding the optional two year extension) for each Lot was as follows:

  • Lot 1: £2,355,000
  • Lot 2: £2,180,000
  • Lot 3: £3,265,000
  • Lot 4: £1,625,000
  • Lot 5: £1,980,000

The maximum total budget available including the optional two year extension (five years plus two years) for each Lot was as follows:

  • Lot 1: £3,297,000
  • Lot 2: £3,052,000
  • Lot 3: £4,571,000
  • Lot 4: £2,275,000
  • Lot 5: £2,772,000

The Commissioner will be contracting for the services using the General Ophthalmic Additional Services Model Contract - Special Educational Setting (SES). Contracts may be amended during the term to reflect co-commissioning, mandated directives, or service changes with associated funding.

The Commissioners were of the view that the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) did not apply. Bidders were required to undertake their own independent assessment of TUPE applicability.

This notice serves as an intention to award contracts for Lots 1 to 5 under the competitive process of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR).

This procurement exercise was carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW CSU) on behalf of the Commissioners.

CPV: Health services · Optician services

Lots and requirements (6)Procurement structure

6 lots · 5 with a published value (£15,967,000 together) · same evaluation weights on every lot
Lot #1Thames Valley - Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire West and Berkshire EastAwardedRenewalPublished value£3,297,000
  1. NHS Thames Valley ICB - bringing together Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire West and Berkshire East (formerly BOB ICB and part of Frimley ICB) sought to appoint a Prime Provider with the capability and capacity to deliver a continuous, integrated General Ophthalmic Service (GOS) for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in designated Special Educational Settings (SES) across the Thames Valley region (Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire West and Berkshire East).
  2. The contract will be for an initial 5 years (60 months), with the option to extend for a further 2 years (1 x 24 months). Services are expected to commence in 2026.
  3. The contract value for the initial term is £2,355,000. The total contract value including the optional two year extension (five years plus two years) is £3,297,000.
  4. The Services procured through this tender process are healthcare services subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, (PSR), and the process has been undertaken in full accordance with the law. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 do not apply.
  5. The procurement followed the Competitive Process, in accordance with Regulation 11.
  6. This notice serves as an intention to award a contract under the competitive process of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR).
  7. This procurement has been carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.
Delivery: South East
Extensions: The contract will be for an initial 60-month period, with the option to extend for a further 24 months (1 x 24 month extension). · Subject to renewal at the end of the initial term/optional extension period.Variant bids: not allowed
85160000 Optician services
Lot #2Hampshire and Isle of Wight, including North East HampshireAwardedRenewalPublished value£3,052,000
  1. Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB, which expanded to include North East Hampshire sought to appoint a Prime Provider with the capability and capacity to deliver a continuous, integrated General Ophthalmic Service (GOS) for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in designated Special Educational Settings (SES) across the Hampshire and Isle of Wight area including North East Hampshire.
  2. The contract will be for an initial 5 years (60 months), with the option to extend for a further 2 years (1 x 24 months). Services are expected to commence in 2026.
  3. The contract value for the initial term is £2,180,000. The total contract value including the optional two year extension (five years plus two years) is £3,052,000.
  4. The Services procured through this tender process are healthcare services subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, (PSR), and the process has been undertaken in full accordance with the law. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 do not apply.
  5. The procurement followed the Competitive Process, in accordance with Regulation 11.
  6. This notice serves as an intention to award a contract under the competitive process of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR).
  7. This procurement has been carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.
Delivery: South East
Extensions: The contract will be for an initial 60-month period, with the option to extend for a further 24 months (1 x 24 month extension). · Subject to renewal at the end of the initial term/optional extension period.Variant bids: not allowed
85160000 Optician services
Lot #3Kent and MedwayAwardedRenewalPublished value£4,571,000
  1. NHS Kent and Medway ICB sought to appoint a Prime Provider with the capability and capacity to deliver a continuous, integrated General Ophthalmic Service (GOS) for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in designated Special Educational Settings (SES) across the Kent and Medway area.
  2. The contract will be for an initial 5 years (60 months), with the option to extend for a further 2 years (1 x 24 months). Services are expected to commence in 2026.
  3. The contract value for the initial term is £3,265,000. The total contract value including the optional two year extension (five years plus two years) is £4,571,000.
  4. The Services procured through this tender process are healthcare services subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, (PSR), and the process has been undertaken in full accordance with the law. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 do not apply.
  5. The procurement followed the Competitive Process, in accordance with Regulation 11.
  6. This notice serves as an intention to award a contract under the competitive process of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR).
  7. This procurement has been carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.
Delivery: South East
Extensions: The contract will be for an initial 60-month period, with the option to extend for a further 24 months (1 x 24 month extension). · Subject to renewal at the end of the initial term/optional extension period.Variant bids: not allowed
85160000 Optician services
Lot #4Surrey, including Surrey Heath and FarnhamAwardedRenewalPublished value£2,275,000
  1. Surrey and Sussex ICB - bringing together Surrey and Sussex, including Surrey Heath and Farnham sought to appoint a Prime Provider with the capability and capacity to deliver a continuous, integrated General Ophthalmic Service (GOS) for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in designated Special Educational Settings (SES) across Surrey, including the Surrey Heath and Farnham areas.
  2. The contract will be for an initial 5 years (60 months), with the option to extend for a further 2 years (1 x 24 months). Services are expected to commence in 2026.
  3. The contract value for the initial term is £1,625,000. The total contract value including the optional two year extension (five years plus two years) is £2,275,000.
  4. The Services procured through this tender process are healthcare services subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, (PSR), and the process has been undertaken in full accordance with the law. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 do not apply.
  5. The procurement followed the Competitive Process, in accordance with Regulation 11.
  6. This notice serves as an intention to award a contract under the competitive process of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR).
  7. This procurement has been carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners
Delivery: South East
Extensions: The contract will be for an initial 60-month period, with the option to extend for a further 24 months (1 x 24 month extension). · Subject to renewal at the end of the initial term/optional extension period.Variant bids: not allowed
85160000 Optician services
Lot #5SussexAwardedRenewalPublished value£2,772,000
  1. Surrey and Sussex ICB - bringing together Surrey and Sussex, including Surrey Heath and Farnham sought to appoint a Prime Provider with the capability and capacity to deliver a continuous, integrated General Ophthalmic Service (GOS) for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in designated Special Educational Settings (SES) across the Sussex area.
  2. The contract will be for an initial 5 years (60 months), with the option to extend for a further 2 years (1 x 24 months). Services are expected to commence in 2026.
  3. The contract value for the initial term is £1,980,000. The total contract value including the optional two year extension (five years plus two years) is £2,772,000.
  4. The Services procured through this tender process are healthcare services subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, (PSR), and the process has been undertaken in full accordance with the law. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 do not apply.
  5. The procurement followed the Competitive Process, in accordance with Regulation 11.
  6. This notice serves as an intention to award a contract under the competitive process of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR).
  7. This procurement has been carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners
Delivery: South East
Extensions: The contract will be for an initial 60-month period, with the option to extend for a further 24 months (1 x 24 month extension). · Subject to renewal at the end of the initial term/optional extension period.Variant bids: not allowed
85160000 Optician services
Lot #6This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice and relates to a virtual…PlannedLot estimate not published

This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice and relates to a virtual pre-procurement market briefing event on 1st October 2025 at 16:30-17:30.

NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB) invites expressions of interest (EOI) from suitably qualified and experienced providers to provide Sight Testing and Dispensing of Spectacles to Children and Young People in Special Educational Settings.

If you wish to secure your place at the market briefing event, please click on the link and complete the questionnaire before 12:00 noon on 23rd September 2025: forms.office.com/e/Vz0N3Bm7B0 ↗

Providers are reminded that all information regarding lots is indicative only and subject to change. Providers should not rely upon these lot descriptions when submitting any future bids, instead referring to the tender documentation released with the relevant tender opportunity.

This exercise is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner.

Delivery: South East
85160000 Optician services

What it takes to win
i

How this buyer will score bids.

The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).

Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add more
How bids were scored · same split on all 5 lots
Quality: 66%Price: 5%Social value: 10%Environmental: 19%
Published sub-criteria (5)
  • Quality and Innovation: 52%
  • Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities, and Facilitating Choice: 14%
  • Value: 5%
  • Social Value: 10%
  • Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability: 19%
Published award criteria (5)
  • Quality and Innovation: 52%
  • Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability: 19%
  • Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities, and Facilitating Choice: 14%
  • Social Value: 10%
  • Value: 5%
Lot distribution rule: The contracting authorities plan to award five individual contracts, one for each lot, however, they reserve the right to merge lots at their discretion prior to award.
Conditions of participation3
  • Suitability

    Professional Registration:

    All ophthalmic practitioners delivering services under the contract must:

    • Be included on the Ophthalmic Performers List (as per the Performers Lists (England) Regulations 2013)
    • Hold current registration with the appropriate regulatory body:

    o Optometrists: Registered under the Opticians Act 1989.

    o Ophthalmic Medical Practitioners: Registered under the Medical Act 1983

    • Provide their professional registration number and confirm they are not suspended or subject to conditions that would prevent safe practice

    Compliance with NHS Regulations:

    The Provider must satisfy the conditions set out in Regulation 4 of the General Ophthalmic Services Contracts Regulations 2008, including:

    • No disqualification or suspension by a licensing body
    • No national or contract disqualification orders
    • No restrictions that would affect ability to deliver services

    Additional Requirements:

    • All clinical staff must have an enhanced DBS certificate (including barred list checks for children and vulnerable adults)
    • Evidence of mandatory training (e.g., Oliver McGowan Training for learning disability and autism)
    • Appropriate indemnity arrangements and public liability insurance

    Additional Governance and Quality Requirements:

    By submitting a tender, providers confirm they will comply with key governance and quality standards, which include (but are not limited to):

    • Provider and performer compliance, governance, and operational checks prior to contract award
    • Signin…
  • Economic & financial standing

    Details regarding the selection criteria are described within the ITT Bidder Instructions document. This includes details on the economic and financial standing tests that will be managed including the 'pass' score.

  • Technical & professional ability

    Details regarding the selection criteria are provided within the e-tendering portal with further details in the ITT Bidder Instructions document. This includes pass/fail questions on the technical and professional ability.

What this means for your bid
  • Price carries 5 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 0.5 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.

Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record · publisher note attached
Procedure method
Open procedure
Legal basis
CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Yes
First published
5 Sept 2025, 16:01 BST
Last source update
8 May 2026, 16:37 BST
Award evaluation window
6 Feb 2026 – …
Authority reference
C401955
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-042717
Classification (CPV)
Health servicesOptician services
Delivery area
South East (UKJ)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-059537 Find a Tender

Publisher note: The decision to award this contract in line with Competitive Process was based on evaluation against the basic selection criteria (in the form of a Selection Questionnaire), which was assessed on a pass/fail basis, and the PSR 5 key criteria, which were assessed on a 0-4 scale, with the below weightings. Several tender questions were asked under each of the key criteria. Quality & Innovation - 52% Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability - 19% Improving access, reducing health inequalities, and facilitating choice - 14% Social Value - 10% Value - 5% After conducting a thorough Competitive Process, taking into account the key criteria and applying the basic selection criteria, the South East ICBs are content that SeeAbility's bid sufficiently met the key criteria and thus can proceed to contract award under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. Award decisions have been recommended by Thames Valley ICB, Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB, Kent and Medway ICB and Surrey and Sussex ICB. Four declarations of potential conflict of interest were made via the conflict of interest process and recorded accordingly. Two of these declared interests were deemed as not being likely to arise, and managed accordingly, with appropriate mitigating action planned if required. The remaining two declarations were deemed to be potential / perceived personal conflicts and were managed accordingly with appropriate mitigations put into place to enable the declarants to remain on the evaluation panel while removing the potential for any undue influence. 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 and The Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by midnight on Thursday 21st May 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award a contract under the competitive process of the PSR. Written representations should be sent to [email protected]

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: Atamis (Health Family) · Who buys & how to bid on Atamis
Supplier login requiredLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free · one account PER buying organisation portal · password resets come "from Salesforce.com" (check spam)
Submission deadline
6 Feb 2026, 12:00 GMT
Submission channel
{"electronicSubmission"}
Accepted languages
en
Bids opened
6 Feb 2026, 12:01 GMT
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

atamis-1928.my.site.com/s/Welcome ↗

Timeline

3 Nov 2025 → 8 May 2026 · 4 dates
  1. Next notice expected353 days ago
    3 Nov 2025
  2. Submission deadline258 days ago
    6 Feb 2026, 12:00 GMT
  3. Bids opened258 days ago
    6 Feb 2026, 12:01 GMT
  4. Notice published167 days ago
    8 May 2026, 16:37 BST

Notice history

7 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 5 Jan 2026
  1. Published value published: £15,967,000
    5 Jan 2026, 12:21 GMT
  2. Status changed to active
    5 Jan 2026, 12:21 GMT
  3. Procurement method changed
    5 Jan 2026, 12:21 GMT
  4. Deadline published: 6 Feb 2026, 12:00 GMT
    5 Jan 2026, 12:21 GMT
  5. Buyer details updated
    5 Jan 2026, 12:21 GMT
  6. Status changed to complete
    8 May 2026, 16:37 BST
  7. Buyer details updated
    8 May 2026, 16:37 BST

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 5
Awarded value £15,967,0005 contracts exc. VAT
Bids received 21
Contracts signed 5latest 8 May 2026
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Lot 1 · Thames Valley - Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire West and Berkshire East1 award
SeeAbilitySME£3,297,000 †—Awarded
Lot 2 · Hampshire and Isle of Wight, including North East Hampshire1 award
SeeAbilitySME£3,052,000 †—Awarded
Lot 3 · Kent and Medway1 award
SeeAbilitySME£4,571,000 †—Awarded
Lot 4 · Surrey, including Surrey Heath and Farnham1 award
SeeAbilitySME£2,275,000 †—Awarded
Lot 5 · Sussex1 award
SeeAbilitySME£2,772,000 †—Awarded

Contracts

  • Thames Valley - Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire West and Berkshire East · SeeAbilitySME

    Signed
    8 May 2026
    Value
    £3,297,000
    Status
    active

  • Hampshire and Isle of Wight, including North East Hampshire · SeeAbilitySME

    Signed
    8 May 2026
    Value
    £3,052,000
    Status
    active

  • Kent and Medway · SeeAbilitySME

    Signed
    8 May 2026
    Value
    £4,571,000
    Status
    active

  • Surrey, including Surrey Heath and Farnham · SeeAbilitySME

    Signed
    8 May 2026
    Value
    £2,275,000
    Status
    active

  • Sussex · SeeAbilitySME

    Signed
    8 May 2026
    Value
    £2,772,000
    Status
    active

Bid statistics published by the authority

LotBidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
1 · Thames Valley - Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire West and Berkshire East6bids———
2 · Hampshire and Isle of Wight, including North East Hampshire3bids———
3 · Kent and Medway4bids———
4 · Surrey, including Surrey Heath and Farnham4bids———
5 · Sussex4bids———

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

8 public bodies on the notice

Thames Valley Integrated Care Board (ICB)

Contracting authorityNHS & healthcareBody governed by public lawHealth Cowley, South East, OX4 2PGContact email

Consortium members and other public bodies

Dispute resolution & review bodies

  • South East Commissioning Hub (hosted by NHS Thames Valley ICB)Review body Cowley
  • South East Integrated Care Boards (ICBs)Review body Windsor

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • SeeAbility LtdAwarded supplierGB-COH: 02780575 Wesley House, Bull Hill, Leatherhead,, Surrey, South East, KT22 7AH

Official documents & specifications

Official links; attachments are not copied

No document links were published on the notice.