Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Specsavers AQP Audiology Service - Gateshead

NHS NORTH EAST AND NORTH CUMBRIA INTEGRATED CARE BOARD

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

23 Oct 2026 at 11:40

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board is procuring an Any Qualified Provider (AQP) audiology service for Gateshead. The service is healthcare provision in the audiology field; the scope is described as AQP audiology, with activity delivered on an ad hoc basis. This is a local service requirement for people in Gateshead, rather than a supply of equipment or a construction project. The selected provider is Specsavers Hearcare Group Limited. The procurement information describes the service as being delivered under an implied contract, and the stated purpose is to continue audiology provision through an existing provider assessed as meeting the requirements. The buyer is the regional integrated care board, based in Sunderland.

The procurement is recorded as complete, with Specsavers Hearcare Group Limited named as the selected provider for the Gateshead service. The process used a direct award under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, identified as Direct Award C; the notice states that the Procurement Act 2023 and Procurement Regulations 2024 do not apply. The stated contract value is £463,388, although the service activity is ad hoc and the value cannot be confirmed. The contract period is 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, and it was signed on 1 July 2026. The intention-to-award notice says the formal award is subject to a standstill period, with representations due by midnight on 4 November 2026 and formal award after the ninth working day following standstill. The stated evaluation assessed the provider’s performance and likelihood of meeting the proposed contract to a sufficient standard.

This award shows demand from the integrated care board for local, ad hoc audiology services in Gateshead, delivered through its Any Qualified Provider approach. A credible supplier for a future requirement would need the clinical capability and operational capacity to provide audiology services for local patients, with delivery flexible enough to respond to varying service activity. The selection rationale gives particular weight to evidence that the provider is satisfying the existing contract and is likely to deliver the proposed service to a sufficient standard; a competitor would therefore need a strong, evidenced record of reliable performance and the ability to meet the board’s service requirements. Suppliers should also be able to operate within the Provider Selection Regime framework used for this award. The contract demonstrates a continuing healthcare service requirement, rather than a one-off equipment purchase or works project.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Specsavers AQP Audiology Service - Gateshead

Notice Description

AQP - Audiology

Lot Information

Lot 1

AQP - Audiology The relevant authority intends to award a contract to an existing provider under Direct Award C under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) regulations 2023. The contract value is PS463,388. The contract value cannot be confirmed as the services carried out within this contract are ad hoc. Contract Start Date: 1/4/2026 Contract End Date: 31/3/2027 Although the contract start is 01/04/2026, the services have been delivered on an implied contract.

Procurement Information

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 and the Procurement Regulations 2024 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the Standstill Period. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by midnight on 4/11/2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR. A contract will not be awarded until after the 9th working day following standstill.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078ec4
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/100384-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£463,388 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Oct 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
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)
Local Authority
Sunderland
Electoral Ward
Castle
Westminster Constituency
Washington and Gateshead South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Specsavers Hearcare Group 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...