--- title: "Community Ophthalmology Service / Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS)" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-04546f" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04546f" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04546f.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04546f.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "NHS HERTFORDSHIRE AND WEST ESSEX INTEGRATED CARE BOARD" published: "2024-04-23" --- # Community Ophthalmology Service / Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS) Buyer: NHS HERTFORDSHIRE AND WEST ESSEX INTEGRATED CARE BOARD Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04546f [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04546f) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04546f.json) ## Summary The NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board has awarded a contract for the Community Ophthalmology Service / Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS). The contract, valued at £1,086,480, will be in place from 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2026, with the option to extend for another year. This procurement falls under the 'Health services' industry category and is based in West Essex. The procurement stage is 'Award', and the contracting authority has provided a detailed description of the services to be provided. This tender presents an opportunity for businesses involved in health services to engage in providing Community Ophthalmology and Eye Conditions services in the West Essex region. The procurement method for this contract is a limited award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition. Businesses with expertise in optometry and healthcare services may find this tender particularly suitable for bidding. The Authority has provided rationale for selecting the existing provider, Primary EyeCare Services Limited, outlining the unique capabilities required for the delivery of MECS. ## Notice This is a Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency Notice and as such provides notification of the intention of the Authority to enter into a contract for the Community Ophthalmology Service / Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS) to be provided to the population of West Essex (and Essex wide) by the incumbent provider, Primary Eyecare Services Limited. The new contract is intended to begin on 1st April 2024 and end on 31st March 2026 with the option to extend for a further 12 months. The value of the new contract is PS1,086,480 (excl. VAT). Please note that these are expected values and may be amended post contract finalisation with the provider. The service has been in place since 1st April 2021 and has a total cumulative value of approximately PS920,455 (excluding the value of this new contract). ### Lot Information Lot 1 This is a Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency Notice and as such provides notification of the intention of the Authority to enter into a contract for the Community Ophthalmology Service / Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS) to be provided to the population of West Essex (and Essex wide) by the incumbent provider, Primary Eyecare Services Limited. The new contract is intended to begin on 1st April 2024 and end on 31st March 2026 with the option to extend for a further 12 months. The value of the new contract is PS1,086,480 (excl. VAT). Please note that these are expected values and may be amended post contract finalisation with the provider. The service has been in place since 1st April 2021 and has a total cumulative value of approximately PS920,455 (excluding the value of this new contract). Primary Eyecare Services Limited provide the following Community Ophthalmology Service / Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS) pathways of care for West Essex Place patients: * Advice and guidance to health care professionals with regard to the MEC service * Telephone and face-to-face triage to ensure patients are suitable for the MEC service and to assess urgency of treatment required * Patient advice and education * Full diagnostic service and management of results * Appropriate treatment for the diagnosed clinical condition * One stop shop approach where appropriate * Timely onward referrals when clinically necessary * Make appropriate recommendations for medication in line with the agreed formulary * Planned discharge with guidance for continuing self-care * Follow up where clinically necessary. Additional information: In line with best practice, the Authority will observe a voluntary 10-day standstill period prior to concluding the proposed contract with Primary Eyecare Services Limited. Options: Option to extend for a further year from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2027 ### Procurement Information Rationale to explain why the proposed contracting arrangements can only be delivered by the existing provider: * The supplier/provider for the MECS is being sought from is Primary EyeCare Services, they are the non-profit organisation of the Essex LOC (Local Ophthalmology Community) * The model is an optometrist-led model delivered by the local optometrists through sub-contractual arrangements with Primary EyeCare Services * PES are the only provider who can deliver this as it's a coordinating role through which no other provider has those existing arrangements in place with the local optometrists * An alternative provider could not deliver the service as the local optometrists are unlikely to engage with an alternative provider given their relationship with PES * Without a provider to deliver that coordinating role with those existing arrangements, the optometrist-led model could not be delivered * An alternative model for the service is not being considered as it has achieved significant benefits as demonstrated by the outcomes achieved ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013129-2024 | | 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 | | All stages | Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 23 Apr 2024 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 31 Mar 2024 | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | £1,086,480 | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Cancelled | | Awards status | Active | | Contracts status | Active | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | NHS HERTFORDSHIRE AND WEST ESSEX INTEGRATED CARE BOARD | | Locality | WELWYN GARDEN CITY | | Post town | St Albans | | Postcode | AL8 6JL | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLH East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire | | ITL 3 | TLH26 North and East Hertfordshire | | Local authority | Welwyn Hatfield | | Electoral ward | Handside | | Westminster constituency | Welwyn Hatfield | | Delivery location | TLH23 Hertfordshire CC | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | PRIMARY EYECARE SERVICES | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 85100000 - Health services ## Release History - 23 Apr 2024 at 11:17 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013129-2024 ## Notice URLs - https://www.hertsandwestessex.icb.nhs.uk/ ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04546f. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04546f.json.