Tender

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

ESCC - MA - Sensory Impairment Equipment and Support Services

East Sussex County Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

10 Sep 2026 at 15:28

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

28 Jul 2026 at 15:17

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

East Sussex County Council is procuring sensory impairment equipment and support services for adults aged 18 and over. The requirement combines delivery of support services with the provision of equipment based on demand, serving people across East Sussex. It is a health and social care service (CPV 85000000) under the light-touch regime. The council describes the opportunity as suitable for suitably qualified and experienced providers, and staff transfer may apply. The contract is intended to support adults with sensory impairments through the supply of appropriate equipment and related support. This may suit specialist sensory impairment organisations, adult social care providers, equipment suppliers with support capability, or partnerships combining these skills. The opportunity is a single service lot and is identified as suitable for both SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises.

The procurement has reached tender: the council invited bids through an open procedure. Enquiries had to be submitted by 23 September 2026 at 17:00, and bids by 8 October 2026 at 11:00, with electronic submission allowed in English. The contract is scheduled to run from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2032, with an option to extend by up to 24 months, to 31 March 2034. Its estimated total value is £2,464,000 excluding VAT, or £2,956,800 including VAT, comprising an annual service value of £252,000 and £100,000 per year for equipment. Award is expected by 14 December 2026. Evaluation is weighted 80% quality and 20% price.

This opportunity suits providers with demonstrable experience delivering sensory impairment support and supplying or managing related equipment for adults. The successful organisation will need the operational capacity to deliver a county-wide service, manage equipment demand and maintain service continuity over a multi-year contract. Staff transfer may apply, so bidders should be able to assess and manage employment transition obligations. Required safeguards include appropriate safeguarding policies and procedures, together with a Business Continuity Plan. Before the service starts, the provider must hold or commit to obtain Employers’ Liability insurance of £10 million, Public Liability insurance of £10 million, Professional Indemnity insurance of £1 million and Product Liability insurance of £5 million. Strong quality provision will be particularly important because quality carries most of the evaluation weighting.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

ESCC - MA - Sensory Impairment Equipment and Support Services

Notice Description

East Sussex County Council (The Council) invites bids from suitably qualified and experienced providers to deliver Sensory Impairment Equipment and Support services to Adults over aged 18. The contract will be for Five (5) years with an option to extend for up to twenty-four (24) months. Please note that the transfer of staff may apply. The annual contract value of the service is PS252,000 and an additional PS100,000 per annum will be allocated for equipment based on historic demand.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: A possible extension of up to 24 months will be included in the contract.

Planning Information

Pre-Market Engagement was undertaken in two phases in the week ending 19 June 2026. In Phase One an online market engagement event was held by the East Sussex County Council Adult Social Care team and was attended by a number of known local providers in the market (including the incumbents). The attendees were invited to ask any questions and feedback on the proposed new service structure. The event was held in order to understand the level of interest from the market in taking part in a future tender activity, after providing initial high level information. In Phase Two of the market engagement the Council shared the draft Specification and data pack with the attendees of the first market engagement event via email. The attendees were then invited to ask any questions on the information provided and feedback on whether they felt the Specification was fully deliverable within the proposed term and budget. The purpose of the two phases of market engagement activity was also to determine the proposed route to market. If any interested Providers wish to receive a copy of the documents shared during the Market Engagement period please contact michelle.anderson@eastsussex.gov.uk. The documents will also be published with the tender pack.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d581
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086021-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85000000 - Health and social work services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,464,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£2,464,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Sep 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
8 Oct 20261 day to go
Future Notice Date
14 Sep 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2032 Over 5 years
Recurrence
2031-09-01

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
East Sussex County 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
LEWES
Postcode
BN7 1UE
Postcode Area
Brighton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ22 East Sussex CC
Delivery Location
TLJ22 East Sussex CC
Local Authority
Lewes
Electoral Ward
Lewes Priory
Westminster Constituency
Lewes

Further Information

Notice Documents

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...