---
title: "Special Educational Setting (SES) Sight Test Service for Children and Young People"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06006d"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06006d"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06006d.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06006d.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NHS ESSEX INTEGRATED CARE BOARD"
published: "2026-04-01"
---

# Special Educational Setting (SES) Sight Test Service for Children and Young People

Buyer: NHS ESSEX INTEGRATED CARE BOARD  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06006d

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## Summary

NHS Essex Integrated Care Board has initiated the tender process for awarding an Integrator contract to deliver sight test services specifically for the Special Educational Setting (SES) for children and young people across Essex. The procurement falls under the health services category, focusing on schools catering to pupils with special educational needs. As of 1st April 2026, the commissioning responsibility transitioned from NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board to NHS Essex Integrated Care Board. The tender employs a Most Suitable Provider (MSP) procurement method, aligned with the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, and involves the legal and logistical coordination of local optometry practices by a leading organisation rather than multiple direct contracts with individual optometrists. The contract commences on 27 March 2026 and spans 24 months, with possibilities for modifications such as geographical expansion and activity adjustments in line with national policy or demand within the Essex ICB area.

This procurement presents significant growth opportunities for optometry practices, particularly those with a strong local presence and experience with NHS eye care services. The contractual framework aims to support Essex-specific partnerships, fostering accountability, integration, and social impact while harnessing the benefits of recurrent funding allocated to Integrated Care Boards from 2025/26. With an estimated lifetime value of £763,478 excluding VAT, providers capable of demonstrating innovation, value, and integration in community eye care services stand well-poised to benefit. Ideal contenders will have a General Optical Council (GOC)-registered optometrist in leadership, established local partnership ties, and a proven track record in managing NHS eye care services, thereby supporting local economic resilience and sustainable employment models. The integration of digital infrastructures for booking and consent tracking further equips providers to optimise service delivery efficiently and foster community healthcare advancements.

## Notice

This Corrigendum Notice is published to communicate that NHS Essex Integrated Care Board (the Authority) have awarded an Integrator contract to deliver the Special Educational Setting (SES) Sight Test Service for children and young people through local accredited optometry practices, following a Most Suitable Provider (MSP) process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. This notice supersedes the previous notice published on 27 January 2026 in relation to NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board's intention to award an Integrator contract to deliver the Special Educational Setting (SES) Sight Test Service for children and young people through local accredited optometry practices, following a Most Suitable Provider (MSP) process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. Pursuant to the statutory changes effective from 1 April 2026, the commissioning responsibility for this service transferred from NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board to NHS Essex Integrated Care Board. Accordingly, the service constitutes an inherited commissioning arrangement arising directly from the organisational transition.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

This notice is an intention to award a contract under the most suitable provider process in accordance with the Provider Selection Regime 2023 (PSR). The contract will be a block contract commencing 10 February 2026 - 9 February 2028. This is a new service, and a new provider of such service in Mid and South Essex. Scope and Responsibilities The Integrator will: * Validate pupil numbers and financial assumptions during mobilisation. * Establish IT systems and reporting mechanisms. * Engage schools to promote service uptake. * Recruit and train subcontractors (optometrists). * Ensure delivery of annual sight tests for pupils in special education schools across Essex. Contractual Framework * The Integrator contract will use the Standard NHS Contract (short form), covering all performance and risk requirements. * Subcontractor agreements will be governed by the General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) Contract, per the national model. * Delivered under a block funding model, capped at NHS England allocation. Activity above the cap is at the Integrator's risk; underspend will be reinvested into service improvement. * Provisions allow permitted modifications under Regulations and NHS Standard Contract change control. Known future modification: geographic expansion beyond Mid and South Essex to the wider Essex ICB footprint. Estimated Value The estimated lifetime value (including known modifications) of the contract is PS570,000. The Authority only considered organisations that: * Met basic selection criteria (Reg 19). * Are not excluded or excludable (Reg 20). * Demonstrated capability across the five key criteria (Reg 5). Basic Selection Criteria Providers needed to: * Have a General Optical Council (GOC)-registered optometrist in senior leadership. * Hold an existing local contract for ease of mobilisation. * Demonstrate a proven track record in: o Partnerships with local accredited optometry practices. o Collaboration with independent and national opticians. o Working with the Local Optical Committee (LOC). o Commissioning and managing NHS eye care services, including subcontracting. * Ensure compliance with specification and contract terms across subcontractors, operating within the fixed tariff of at least PS85 per sight test. * Show strong experience of and understanding of the GOS contract and governance. Key Criteria Assessment Providers needed to demonstrate capability across five areas: 1. Quality and Innovation (20%) o Experience delivering large-scale community eye care. o Proven model integrating independent and multiple practices with robust assurance. o Innovative digital platforms for referral and coordination. o Integration with hospital ophthalmology services. o Delivery of enhanced services (e.g., MECS, post-cataract care, glaucoma monitoring). 2. Value (20%) o Financial model reinvesting into NHS eye care. o Leveraging local infrastructure to minimise costs. o Centralised contracting and IT systems for efficiency. o Evidence of cost savings through reduced hospital reliance. 3. Integration, Collaboration, Sustainability (20%) o Strong relationships with local services and LOC. o Governance structures to sustain delivery across diverse networks. 4. Access and Health Inequalities (20%) o Accessible care close to home, including rural areas. o Contracting with independent and multiple practices. o Enhanced services for vulnerable groups. 5. Social Value (20%) o Commitment to reinvestment, workforce development, and local economic resilience. o Funded clinical training for subcontractors. o Subcontracting model supporting local economies and sustainable employment. Additional information: Further details can be found at sections VI.3.

### 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 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 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 9th February 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/030540-2026 |
| Notice type | Planning 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 | SME |
| All stages | Planning, Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 1 Apr 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 6 Jan 2026 |
| Award date | 27 Jan 2026 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £570,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £570,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NHS ESSEX INTEGRATED CARE BOARD |
| Additional buyers | NHS MID AND SOUTH ESSEX INTEGRATED CARE BOARD |
| Locality | BASILDON |
| Post town | Southend-on-Sea |
| Postcode | SS14 0UG |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLH East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLH3 Essex |
| ITL 3 | TLH36 Heart of Essex |
| Local authority | Chelmsford |
| Electoral ward | Moulsham and Central |
| Westminster constituency | Chelmsford |
| Delivery location | TLH3 Essex |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | PRIMARY EYECARE SERVICES |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85000000 - Health and social work services
- 85100000 - Health services
- 85120000 - Medical practice and related services
- 85121000 - Medical practice services
- 85121200 - Medical specialist services
- 85140000 - Miscellaneous health services
- 85141000 - Services provided by medical personnel
- 85323000 - Community health services

## Release History

- 1 Apr 2026 at 15:21 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/030540-2026
- 12 Feb 2026 at 08:44 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/012665-2026
- 27 Jan 2026 at 20:07 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007340-2026
- 6 Jan 2026 at 16:55 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000831-2026

## Notice URLs

- https://attain.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html
- https://primaryeyecare.co.uk/
- https://www.england.nhs.uk
- https://www.midandsouthessex.ics.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-06006d. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06006d.json.