Official UK procurement notice
Visual Impairment Service (Adults) for South Gloucestershire
Authority: South Gloucestershire Council (Local council)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe Visual Impairment Service is to support visually impaired people to live independently in their own homes in South Gloucestershire over 18 years of age. Providing a 'one stop shop service' to people and their carers, which delivers early access to the expert support and advice they need, to enable them to come to terms with the loss of their sight including rehabilitation services and ongoing support.
The Visual Impairment Service will operate in accordance with the principles and duties set out in the Care Act 2014, including the promotion of wellbeing, prevention, independence, choice, and control. The service will work in a strengths based, person centred manner and ensure that people with sight loss receive timely, proportionate and outcome focused support. The service will be free at the point of entry.
Due to the complex nature of sight loss rehabilitation, service delivery must be carried out by qualified, accredited specialists with appropriate experience, technical capability and local knowledge. Market knowledge within South Gloucestershire indicates only one provider can meet these requirements that works within the Local Authority area and delivers the services required.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedProcedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Direct award
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Light touch regime
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Direct award (no call for competition)
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 23 Mar 2026, 09:46 GMT
- Last source update
- 8 May 2026, 14:31 BST
- Authority reference
DN810361- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-042570- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0670fbFind a Tender
- Why no open competition
- Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
- Published justification
South Gloucestershire Council is responsible for providing statutory and preventative support to individuals with Visual impairments (adults), requiring:
- Rehabilitation services
- Orientation and mobility training
- Assistive technology intervention
- Highly specialised professional expertise
- Maintaining and administering is Visual Impairment and Deafblind Registers
Due to the complex nature of sight loss rehabilitation, service delivery must be carried out by qualified, accredited specialists with appropriate experience, technical capability and local knowledge. Market knowledge within South Gloucestershire indicates only one provider can meet these requirements that works within the Local Authority area and delivers the services required.
- Risks
A Service Specification has been developed with the intended provider to establish Key Performance Indicators to evidence the standards and successes of the service.
Key Performance Indicators will be reviewed quarterly with the intended provider to ensure the service is meeting its requirements.
The Council will also develop an internal Contract Management Plan for the oversight of the service.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- —
Timeline
15 Apr 2026 → 8 May 2026 · 2 dates- Standstill ends189 days ago15 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Notice published166 days ago8 May 2026, 14:31 BST
Notice history
4 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 23 Mar 2026- Transparency notice published23 Mar 2026, 09:46 GMTUK5
- Contract award notice published2 Apr 2026, 10:18 BSTUK6
- Contract signature expected16 Apr 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published8 May 2026, 14:31 BSTUK7
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sight Support West of EnglandVCSE16 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2029 · up to 31 Mar 2031Extensions: Contract can be extended by a further 24 months from the initial period. · Options: Within the contract we are able to include additional purchases to meet the requirements of the service specification and the defined population in South Gloucestershire with appropriate internal governance. | £685,000 | 23 Mar 2026 | Awarded |
Contracts
Visual Impairment Service (Adults) for South Gloucestershire · Sight Support West of EnglandVCSE
- Signed
- 29 Apr 2026
- Value
- £685,000
- Period
- 29 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2029 · up to 31 Mar 2031 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- Contract can be extended by a further 24 months from the initial period.
- Options
- The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid. Within the contract we are able to include additional purchases to meet the requirements of the service specification and the defined population in South Gloucestershire with appropriate internal governance.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Sight Support West of EnglandAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender