---
title: "General Optical Council ITT commercial practices and patient safety"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-661b6163-357a-4db5-be8a-39d6a04b6e8f"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-661b6163-357a-4db5-be8a-39d6a04b6e8f"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-661b6163-357a-4db5-be8a-39d6a04b6e8f.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-661b6163-357a-4db5-be8a-39d6a04b6e8f.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "GENERAL OPTICAL COUNCIL"
published: "2025-12-22"
---

# General Optical Council ITT commercial practices and patient safety

Buyer: GENERAL OPTICAL COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-661b6163-357a-4db5-be8a-39d6a04b6e8f

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## Summary

The General Optical Council (GOC), based in London, is commissioning qualitative research into commercial practices within the eye care sector and their potential effects on patient safety. This procurement falls under the "Research and development services and related consultancy services" category, with the procurement being conducted as an open procedure. The contract, valued at £40,000, commenced on 22 December 2025 and will conclude on 1 April 2026. Tenders were required to be submitted by 27 November 2025. The project aims to gather insights from various stakeholders including optometrists, opticians, and patient groups, to better understand the impact of commercial practices on patient safety and propose mitigatory actions.

This tender presents significant opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) engaged in research and consultancy, particularly those with experience in the healthcare sector. Businesses with expertise in conducting and analysing qualitative research would find this project well-suited to their capabilities. The procurement could expand such firms' portfolios by enabling them to engage deeply with regulatory bodies while contributing to enhancements in service delivery and patient safety in the eye care industry. Shift Insight Ltd, a small to medium enterprise, secured the contract, highlighting the potential for similarly positioned firms to successfully compete in these opportunities.

## Notice

We are looking to commission qualitative research to understand the nature and extent of commercial practices in the eye care sector and any impact this has on patient safety. We would like to hear views of GOC registrants (optometrists and dispensing opticians), non-GOC regulated eye care staff (for example, optical assistants), optical businesses (both GOC registered and non-GOC registered), and patient representative groups. The research will involve designing and conducting the research, then analysing and reporting on the findings. The aim of the research is to help us better understand: the nature and extent of commercial practices in the eye care sector; any detrimental impact on patients and the public; any detrimental impact on individual registrants (i.e. optometrists and dispensing opticians); the views of businesses, for example, the balance between providing safe patient care whilst operating in a commercial environment; and what actions the GOC and the wider eye care sector could take to help mitigate against any detrimental impacts on patients and the public and registrants. We have an approved budget of up to a total cost of PS40,000 including VAT and all other contractor costs. Proposals over PS40,000 will not be considered. The deadline for tenders is 5pm 27 November 2025. Please send tenders and direct any questions to Angharad Jones (Policy Manager) by email to: ajones@optical.org

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/60ef9763-4ab6-4b44-b95a-617199859689 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure (below threshold) |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 22 Dec 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 27 Nov 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 22 Dec 2025 |
| Contract period | 22 Dec 2025 - 1 Apr 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £40,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £39,801 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | GENERAL OPTICAL COUNCIL |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | East London |
| Postcode | E14 5AA |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI4 Inner London - East |
| ITL 3 | TLI42 Tower Hamlets |
| Local authority | Tower Hamlets |
| Electoral ward | Canary Wharf |
| Westminster constituency | Poplar and Limehouse |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | SHIFT INSIGHT |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

## Release History

- 22 Dec 2025 at 15:56 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/60ef9763-4ab6-4b44-b95a-617199859689
- 3 Nov 2025 at 12:09 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/3d2db9d9-074a-45c3-b15b-c2cd335bceec

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/60ef9763-4ab6-4b44-b95a-617199859689
  22nd December 2025 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/3d2db9d9-074a-45c3-b15b-c2cd335bceec
  3rd November 2025 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/bbfce404-0a0c-4dfd-ba31-4eae138b54e0

## Notice URLs

- https://optical.org/

## Provenance

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