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NHSE986 - Eye Testing in Special Education Settings in North East and Cumbria - CP

NHS NORTH EAST AND NORTH CUMBRIA INTEGRATED CARE BOARD

This public procurement record has 5 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

24 Sep 2026 at 08:51

Tender Notice
Award

07 Aug 2026 at 09:21

Award Notice
Tender

27 Apr 2026 at 15:15

Tender Notice
TenderUpdate

04 Aug 2025 at 09:49

Tender Notice
Planning

04 Aug 2025 at 09:34

Planning Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board commissioned eye-testing services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in special education settings. The work covers three areas: North Cumbria; Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Newcastle Gateshead; and Durham, Tees and Sunderland. The service is intended to provide sight testing in these settings. North of England Commissioning Support managed the competition on the ICB’s behalf. This is a healthcare service delivered across special education settings in the named areas, rather than a supply of optical goods. The contract was divided into three geographical lots, each covering one of the areas above.

The contracts have been awarded through a competitive process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. FCJ Opticals Ltd was selected for all three lots; each attracted three bids. Contracts were signed on 31 July 2026. The contract period runs from 1 December 2026 to 30 November 2029, with the lot descriptions stating an option to extend by a further two years at the authority’s discretion, subject to satisfactory contractual and financial performance. Awarded values are £134,369 for North Cumbria, £1,386,552 for Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Newcastle Gateshead, and £1,416,104 for Durham, Tees and Sunderland. Evaluation weighted quality and innovation at 40%, access, health inequalities and choice at 30%, integration and sustainability at 10%, social value at 10%, and value at 10%.

This award shows demand for a specialist eye-testing service delivered to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities within special education settings across North East England and Cumbria. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need to demonstrate the capacity to cover the relevant geography and deliver appointments in educational settings, alongside strong clinical quality and innovation. The evaluation also placed substantial emphasis on improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice. Providers should be able to show how their service can integrate and collaborate with local partners and remain sustainable, as well as deliver social value and value for money. FCJ Opticals Ltd, an SME, won all three geographical lots, indicating that a smaller provider competed successfully across the full service area.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

NHSE986 - Eye Testing in Special Education Settings in North East and Cumbria - CP

Notice Description

This is an INTENTION TO AWARD Notice following The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 - Competitive Process. North of England Commissioning Support (NECS) is a commissioning support service working for and on behalf of NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (the Relevant Authority) who have undertaken a competition process to provide Provision of Eye Testing Services in Special Education Settings (SES) in the North East and North Cumbria. Contract Start Date: 01 December 2026 Contract End Date: 30 November 2029 The contract term is for an period of 3 years.

Lot Information

Lot 1 - North Cumbria

This is an INTENTION TO AWARD Notice following The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 - Competitive Process. This is an intention to award notice to advise that the relevant authority intends to award a contract under a competitive process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Regulations 2024 (Procurement Act 2023) and/ or Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. Provision of Eye Testing Services in Special Education Settings (SES) in North Cumbria. Contract Start Date: 01 December 2026 Contract End Date: 30 November 2029 The contract term is for an initial period of 3 years, with an option to extend for a further 2 years at the discretion of the Relevant Authority and subject to satisfactory contractual and financial performance. Annual Contract value: PS26,874 (Total value over 3 year Term: PS134,369) This is a New Service. Additional information: The contract term is for an initial period of 3 years, with an option to extend for a further 2 years at the discretion of the Relevant Authority and subject to satisfactory contractual and financial performance.

Options: The contract term is for an initial period of 3 years, with an option to extend for a further 2 years at the discretion of the Relevant Authority and subject to satisfactory contractual and financial performance.

Lot 2 - Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Newcastle Gateshead

This is an INTENTION TO AWARD Notice following The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 - Competitive Process. This is an intention to award notice to advise that the relevant authority intends to award a contract under a competitive process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Regulations 2024 (Procurement Act 2023) and/ or Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. Provision of Eye Testing Services in Special Education Settings (SES) in Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Newcastle Gateshead. Contract Start Date: 01 December 2026 Contract End Date: 30 November 2029 The contract term is for an initial period of 3 years, with an option to extend for a further 2 years at the discretion of the Relevant Authority and subject to satisfactory contractual and financial performance. Annual Contract value: PS277,910 (Total value over 3 year Term: PS1,386,552) This is a New Service.

Options: The contract term is for an initial period of 3years commencing on 01 December 2026 with an option to extend for a further 2years at the discretion of the Relevant Authority and subject to satisfactory contractual and financial performance

Lot 3 - Durham and Tees and Sunderland

This is an INTENTION TO AWARD Notice following The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 - Competitive Process. This is an intention to award notice to advise that the relevant authority intends to award a contract under a competitive process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Regulations 2024 (Procurement Act 2023) and/ or Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. Provision of Eye Testing Services in Special Education Settings (SES) in Durham and Tees and Sunderland. Contract Start Date: 01 December 2026 Contract End Date: 30 November 2029 The contract term is for an initial period of 3 years, with an option to extend for a further 2 years at the discretion of the Relevant Authority and subject to satisfactory contractual and financial performance. Annual Contract value: Annual Contract value: PS283,221 (Total value over 3 year Term: PS1,416,104) This is a New Service.

Options: The contract term is for an initial period of 3years commencing on 01 December 2026 with an option to extend for a further 2 years at the discretion of the Relevant Authority and subject to satisfactory contractual and financial performance

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-056bf4
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/090381-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85160000 - Optician services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£2,937,025 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
24 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
26 May 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
1 Apr 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NHS NORTH EAST AND NORTH CUMBRIA INTEGRATED CARE BOARD
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SUNDERLAND
Postcode
SR5 3XB
Postcode Area
Sunderland
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC44 Sunderland
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England)
Local Authority
Sunderland
Electoral Ward
Castle
Westminster Constituency
Washington and Gateshead South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

FCJ OPTICALS LTD

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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