Planning

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

NHS SOUTH, CENTRAL AND WEST COMMISSIONING SUPPORT UNIT

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

05 Sep 2025 at 15:24

Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit is conducting a planning stage for the procurement titled "Sight Testing and Dispensing of Spectacles to Children and Young People in Special Educational Settings across the South East". Classified under the health services industry category, this process covers multiple regions within the South East of the United Kingdom, including Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire West, Frimley, Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Kent and Medway, Surrey Heartlands, and Sussex. A virtual market briefing event is scheduled for 1st October 2025, from 16:30 to 17:30, to engage potential providers. Interested parties must express their interest by 12:00 noon on 23rd September 2025, via a specified questionnaire. The current status is at the planning stage with a focus on gathering insights to shape the contracting strategy, subject to Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.

This procurement process presents significant opportunities for businesses, particularly those specialised in health services and experienced in providing care in educational settings. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) are encouraged to participate, potentially benefiting from collaboration possibilities and contracts that may be divided into lots for broader involvement. Given the aim of reducing health inequalities among children and young people with autism and learning disabilities in special educational settings, businesses with expertise in accessible eye care services can leverage this tender to expand their service offerings and develop deeper connections within the public health sector. The initiative aligns with broader efforts to enhance educational outcomes and quality of life through effective healthcare interventions.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

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

Notice Description

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. The ICBs in the South East 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 across the South East. The ICB areas involved are: 1. Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West 2. Frimley 3. Hampshire and Isle of Wight 4. Kent and Medway 5. Surrey Heartlands 6. Sussex 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 showed that delivering sight tests and dispensing services directly within Special Educational Settings (SES) is both effective and impactful. This service aims to ensure that every eligible child in SES across the South East is 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. For further information please see the service specification and the engagement report published on the NHS England website. Service specification link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/cyp-send-oral-and-sight-testing-service-specifications/ Engagement report link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/engagement-report-for-sight-testing-and-dispensing-of-spectacles-to-send-children-and-young-people-in-a-special-educational-setting-across-england/ 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: https://forms.office.com/e/Vz0N3Bm7B0 Please note, it is anticipated that this procurement will be split into lots, however, the contracting and commissioning strategy is yet to be finalised. This market briefing event is an opportunity for potential providers to help inform the contracting and commissioning strategy for Sight Testing and Dispensing of Spectacles to Children and Young People in Special Educational Settings across the South East. This exercise is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner. Additional information: This notice is an information gathering exercise rather than a call for competition in its own right, and therefore publication or response does not commit the Authority or respondents to a future procurement, nor provide any process exemptions or preferential treatment to any parties expressing an interest. The Authority will not be liable for costs incurred by any interested party in participating in this exercise. The intention is to award the contracts using the competitive process. This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) prior information notice. The 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.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-e9bbb0f5-087c-4904-a345-4b2adf186243
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/df5665da-a202-4d38-b6ea-721134a73c73
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Not specified
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85100000 - Health services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Sep 20255 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
23 Sep 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NHS SOUTH, CENTRAL AND WEST COMMISSIONING SUPPORT UNIT
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS1 6BH
Post Town
Bristol
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK51 Bristol, City of
Delivery Location
TLJ South East (England)
Local Authority
Bristol, City of
Electoral Ward
Central
Westminster Constituency
Bristol Central

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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