Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

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 4 releases in its history.

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 in special education settings for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. The requirement covers three geographical areas: North Cumbria; Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Newcastle Gateshead; and Durham, Tees and Sunderland. The work is an optician service, delivered across special education settings in these areas. North of England Commissioning Support conducted the competition on behalf of the Integrated Care Board. The requirement is divided into three regional lots, allowing suppliers to provide services in one or more defined areas. The service is described as a new service and concerns sight testing rather than general optical retail or unrelated healthcare provision.

The competitive Provider Selection Regime process has reached award, with FCJ Opticals Ltd selected for all three lots and contracts signed on 31 July 2026. The contract period is 1 December 2026 to 30 November 2029, with a possible two-year extension for Lots 2 and 3 subject to satisfactory contractual and financial performance. Lot 1, North Cumbria, is valued at £134,369. Lot 2, covering Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Newcastle Gateshead, is valued at £1,386,552. Lot 3, covering Durham, Tees and Sunderland, is valued at £1,416,104. The open procedure was evaluated using quality and innovation (40%), access and health inequalities (30%), integration and sustainability (10%), social value (10%) and value (10%).

This procurement shows a substantial regional requirement for providers able to deliver eye testing in special education settings across the North East and Cumbria. A credible future competitor would need practical capacity to operate across the relevant local area, arrange sight-testing services in specialist educational environments, and work effectively with schools, commissioners and wider health and care partners. The evaluation placed greater emphasis on service quality, innovation, access, reducing health inequalities, integration and sustainability than on price alone. Evidence of social value was also required. Providers should therefore be able to demonstrate an inclusive service model, reliable delivery for children and young people with additional needs, collaborative working, and the ability to sustain provision across a defined regional footprint.

How relevant is this notice?

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/075077-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning 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
7 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
26 May 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
1 Apr 2026Expired
Award Date
31 Jul 20263 weeks ago
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)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...