---
title: "Closing the Gap 2 Visual Impairment Support Service"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0506b1"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0506b1"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0506b1.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0506b1.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "READING BOROUGH COUNCIL"
published: "2025-08-07"
---

# Closing the Gap 2 Visual Impairment Support Service

Buyer: READING BOROUGH COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0506b1

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0506b1.json)

## Summary

The procurement process commissioned by Reading Borough Council, a sub-central government public authority based in Reading, United Kingdom, involved the tender titled "Closing the Gap 2 Visual Impairment Support Service." This initiative focused on delivering community-centric, preventative support to individuals with sight loss, aiming for improved well-being and social interaction. The procurement went through an open competition method under the "light touch" regime and has reached the award stage as of 7th August 2025. The awarded contract, valued at £320,000, was granted on 28th July 2025, and will span from 1st November 2025 to 31st October 2028, with potential for a 2-year extension. The procurement falls under the services category, specifically related to social and other community services, with an expression of interest deadline that was on 27th May 2025 and a tender submission deadline of 3rd June 2025.

This tender presents substantial growth opportunities for businesses specialising in providing tailored care or support services, particularly those with experience in handling visual impairment or social work. The awarded supplier, the Berkshire County Blind Society, exemplifies the kind of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that can successfully compete in such procurements, offering person-centred services. Given the contract's focus on social value and quality, enterprises that prioritise improving health outcomes and reducing social isolation are well-positioned to benefit from similar future opportunities. Engaging in this market not only aligns with community service objectives but also expands business portfolios to include long-term, socially impactful projects.

## Notice

RBC are completing a ITT exercise for the provision of Closing the Gap 2 Visual Impairment Support Service - Offer person centred, tailored support to adults who live with sight loss, with a focus on information and advice and increased social interaction, improved wellbeing and reduced social isolation and loneliness. Full details of the requirement can be found in the Specification in Annexe 1. Services under the Closing the Gap programme are commissioned in line with RBC's Council Strategy, Health and Wellbeing Strategy, Poverty Needs Analysis and the Berkshire Joint Strategic Needs Analysis, and focus on community-based, preventative work. These services are commissioned to reduce differences around healthy life expectancy, reduce health inequalities and contribute to long-term change. Suppliers that would like to take part in this process are invited to "Express Interest" upon which they will be given access to the full documentation delivered through this portal. Documents can be accessed from the "My Tenders" area of this website by selecting the "View Details" button for the project. Expressions of interest will only be accepted until 27/05/2025. Any questions relating to this opportunity should be made via the correspondence link on this portal.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/046874-2025 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - open competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 7 Aug 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 3 Jun 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 27 Jul 2025 |
| Contract period | 1 Nov 2025 - 31 Oct 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £256,000 |
| Lots value | £256,000 |
| Awards value | £256,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | READING BOROUGH COUNCIL |
| Locality | READING |
| Post town | Reading |
| Postcode | RG1 2LU |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire |
| ITL 3 | TLJ16 Berkshire West |
| Local authority | Reading |
| Electoral ward | Abbey |
| Westminster constituency | Reading Central |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | BERKSHIRE COUNTY BLIND SOCIETY |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services
- 98 - Other community, social and personal services

### Codes

- 85300000 - Social work and related services
- 98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

## Release History

- 7 Aug 2025 at 11:25 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/046874-2025
- 24 Apr 2025 at 08:49 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/016673-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/046874-2025
  7th August 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/016673-2025
  24th April 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://in-tendhost.co.uk/readingbc/aspx/Home
  all submissions must be via Reading Borough Council's In-Tend portal at https://in-tendhost.co.uk/readingbc/aspx/Home

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-0506b1. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0506b1.json.