Planning

Preliminary Market Engagement for Optometry Services for NI Prison population

BUSINESS SERVICES ORGANISATION PROCUREMENT AND LOGISTICS SERVICE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

27 Feb 2026 at 09:56

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Business Services Organisation Procurement and Logistics Service is currently in the planning stage for a procurement process titled "Preliminary Market Engagement for Optometry Services for NI Prison Population". This tender falls under the services category and is directed towards health services, including optician and ophthalmologist services, with a focus on the optometric care within prison healthcare settings across Northern Ireland, specifically Maghaberry Prison, Hydebank Wood Secure College, and Magilligan Prison. The process is governed by Northern Irish devolved regulations and aims to encourage service provision comparable to community primary care. Key deadlines include the submission of responses to the Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) questionnaire by 15:00 on Friday, 13th March 2026. The potential contract term is scheduled to run from 1st November 2027 to 31st October 2030. Interested parties should note this is part of information-gathering efforts, with current activities focused on securing feedback on barriers in delivering such services within prisons.

This tender offers numerous opportunities for growth for businesses capable of delivering comprehensive optometry services with a focus on assessment, diagnosis, management of eye health, and provision of spectacles within secure environments. Companies specialising in health services, particularly those with expertise in optometry or ophthalmology, are well-suited for this procurement endeavour. Additionally, businesses experienced in prison service provision, capable of operational adaptability for prison settings, and equipped with qualified professionals will find this tender of notable interest. Moreover, the inclusion of preliminary market engagement encourages suppliers to influence the tendering specifications by outlining potential challenges and solutions, thus positioning their business as a key service provider within the Northern Ireland prison healthcare sector.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Preliminary Market Engagement for Optometry Services for NI Prison population

Notice Description

The purpose of this Prior Information Notice is to inform the market of our envisaged procurement plan for the provision of optometry services for the Northern Ireland Prison (NIP) population. Optometry services are required to support the assessment, diagnosis and management of eye health and vision needs and to ensure access to optometric care comparable to that available within community primary care. It is envisaged that the Supplier(s) will be expected to provide a comprehensive optometry service on behalf of Health and Social Care (HSC) in Northern Ireland, delivered within prison healthcare settings. The service is expected to be delivered across the following Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) sites: Maghaberry Prison Hydebank Wood Secure College Magilligan Prison This may include, but will not be restricted to: 1. Provision of routine and urgent optometric assessments and examinations. 2. Detection and diagnosis of ocular conditions and referral to appropriate healthcare services where clinically indicated. 3. Prescription, supply, fitting, repair and replacement of spectacles. 4. Provision of appropriately qualified and registered optometry professionals, able to work within a secure prison environment. 5. Use of suitable clinical equipment and systems to support safe and effective service delivery. 6. Administrative, record-keeping and governance arrangements to support service oversight and continuity of care. We hope that the Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) will help encourage supplier interest in this tender. It will also help us understand any barriers to tendering that suppliers currently face, including challenges associated with delivering optometry services within prison settings, so these can be considered when drafting the HSC tender.

Planning Information

The PME is an information-gathering exercise designed to help inform the development of the future tender. It includes the CP12 - Preliminary Market Engagement Questionnaire v1.0 and CP13 - Explanatory Document v1.0. What you need to do now: 1) If you are not registered on eTendersNI, please do so as soon as possible (https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps/home.do). 2) Those interested in participating in such preliminary market engagement should access the 'Preliminary Market Engagement for Optometry Services for NI Prison population ' via eTendersNI (https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps/home.do) at their earliest convenience, by searching for Resource ID / CfT Reference Number 6359685 3) Using the eTendersNI secure messaging service, please see a broadcasted copy of the CP12 PME Questionnaire and a copy of the CP13 PME Explanatory Document. All completed responses must be submitted via the secure eTendersNI messaging area of the CFT no later than 15:00, Friday 13th March 2026. Please note that with reference to the information containing estimated date of publication of contract notice - this is only an anticipated date and subject to change.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-065dda
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017708-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

75231230 - Prison services

85100000 - Health services

85121281 - Ophthalmologist services

85160000 - Optician services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Feb 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
13 Mar 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Nov 2027 - 31 Oct 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
BUSINESS SERVICES ORGANISATION PROCUREMENT AND LOGISTICS SERVICE
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT12 6HU
Post Town
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Blackstaff
Westminster Constituency
Belfast South and Mid Down

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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