Award

General Optical Council ITT commercial practices and patient safety

GENERAL OPTICAL COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

22 Dec 2025 at 15:56

Award Notice
Tender

03 Nov 2025 at 12:09

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The General Optical Council (GOC), based in London, is commissioning qualitative research into commercial practices within the eye care sector and their potential effects on patient safety. This procurement falls under the "Research and development services and related consultancy services" category, with the procurement being conducted as an open procedure. The contract, valued at £40,000, commenced on 22 December 2025 and will conclude on 1 April 2026. Tenders were required to be submitted by 27 November 2025. The project aims to gather insights from various stakeholders including optometrists, opticians, and patient groups, to better understand the impact of commercial practices on patient safety and propose mitigatory actions.

This tender presents significant opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) engaged in research and consultancy, particularly those with experience in the healthcare sector. Businesses with expertise in conducting and analysing qualitative research would find this project well-suited to their capabilities. The procurement could expand such firms' portfolios by enabling them to engage deeply with regulatory bodies while contributing to enhancements in service delivery and patient safety in the eye care industry. Shift Insight Ltd, a small to medium enterprise, secured the contract, highlighting the potential for similarly positioned firms to successfully compete in these opportunities.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

General Optical Council ITT commercial practices and patient safety

Notice Description

We are looking to commission qualitative research to understand the nature and extent of commercial practices in the eye care sector and any impact this has on patient safety. We would like to hear views of GOC registrants (optometrists and dispensing opticians), non-GOC regulated eye care staff (for example, optical assistants), optical businesses (both GOC registered and non-GOC registered), and patient representative groups. The research will involve designing and conducting the research, then analysing and reporting on the findings. The aim of the research is to help us better understand: the nature and extent of commercial practices in the eye care sector; any detrimental impact on patients and the public; any detrimental impact on individual registrants (i.e. optometrists and dispensing opticians); the views of businesses, for example, the balance between providing safe patient care whilst operating in a commercial environment; and what actions the GOC and the wider eye care sector could take to help mitigate against any detrimental impacts on patients and the public and registrants. We have an approved budget of up to a total cost of PS40,000 including VAT and all other contractor costs. Proposals over PS40,000 will not be considered. The deadline for tenders is 5pm 27 November 2025. Please send tenders and direct any questions to Angharad Jones (Policy Manager) by email to: ajones@optical.org

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-661b6163-357a-4db5-be8a-39d6a04b6e8f
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/60ef9763-4ab6-4b44-b95a-617199859689
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure (below threshold)
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£40,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£39,801 Under £100K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Dec 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
27 Nov 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
22 Dec 20252 months ago
Contract Period
22 Dec 2025 - 1 Apr 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
GENERAL OPTICAL COUNCIL
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
E14 5AA
Post Town
East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI42 Tower Hamlets
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Tower Hamlets
Electoral Ward
Canary Wharf
Westminster Constituency
Poplar and Limehouse

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

SHIFT INSIGHT

Further Information

Notice URLs

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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