---
title: "Preliminary Market Engagement for Optometry Services for NI Prison population"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-065dda"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-065dda"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-065dda.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-065dda.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "BUSINESS SERVICES ORGANISATION PROCUREMENT AND LOGISTICS SERVICE"
published: "2026-02-27"
---

# Preliminary Market Engagement for Optometry Services for NI Prison population

Buyer: BUSINESS SERVICES ORGANISATION PROCUREMENT AND LOGISTICS SERVICE  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-065dda

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## Summary

The Business Services Organisation Procurement and Logistics Service is currently in the planning stage for a procurement process titled "Preliminary Market Engagement for Optometry Services for NI Prison Population". This tender falls under the services category and is directed towards health services, including optician and ophthalmologist services, with a focus on the optometric care within prison healthcare settings across Northern Ireland, specifically Maghaberry Prison, Hydebank Wood Secure College, and Magilligan Prison. The process is governed by Northern Irish devolved regulations and aims to encourage service provision comparable to community primary care. Key deadlines include the submission of responses to the Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) questionnaire by 15:00 on Friday, 13th March 2026. The potential contract term is scheduled to run from 1st November 2027 to 31st October 2030. Interested parties should note this is part of information-gathering efforts, with current activities focused on securing feedback on barriers in delivering such services within prisons.

This tender offers numerous opportunities for growth for businesses capable of delivering comprehensive optometry services with a focus on assessment, diagnosis, management of eye health, and provision of spectacles within secure environments. Companies specialising in health services, particularly those with expertise in optometry or ophthalmology, are well-suited for this procurement endeavour. Additionally, businesses experienced in prison service provision, capable of operational adaptability for prison settings, and equipped with qualified professionals will find this tender of notable interest. Moreover, the inclusion of preliminary market engagement encourages suppliers to influence the tendering specifications by outlining potential challenges and solutions, thus positioning their business as a key service provider within the Northern Ireland prison healthcare sector.

## Notice

The purpose of this Prior Information Notice is to inform the market of our envisaged procurement plan for the provision of optometry services for the Northern Ireland Prison (NIP) population. Optometry services are required to support the assessment, diagnosis and management of eye health and vision needs and to ensure access to optometric care comparable to that available within community primary care. It is envisaged that the Supplier(s) will be expected to provide a comprehensive optometry service on behalf of Health and Social Care (HSC) in Northern Ireland, delivered within prison healthcare settings. The service is expected to be delivered across the following Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) sites: Maghaberry Prison Hydebank Wood Secure College Magilligan Prison This may include, but will not be restricted to: 1. Provision of routine and urgent optometric assessments and examinations. 2. Detection and diagnosis of ocular conditions and referral to appropriate healthcare services where clinically indicated. 3. Prescription, supply, fitting, repair and replacement of spectacles. 4. Provision of appropriately qualified and registered optometry professionals, able to work within a secure prison environment. 5. Use of suitable clinical equipment and systems to support safe and effective service delivery. 6. Administrative, record-keeping and governance arrangements to support service oversight and continuity of care. We hope that the Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) will help encourage supplier interest in this tender. It will also help us understand any barriers to tendering that suppliers currently face, including challenges associated with delivering optometry services within prison settings, so these can be considered when drafting the HSC tender.

### Planning Information

The PME is an information-gathering exercise designed to help inform the development of
the future tender. It includes the CP12 - Preliminary Market Engagement Questionnaire
v1.0 and CP13 - Explanatory Document v1.0.
What you need to do now:
1) If you are not registered on eTendersNI, please do so as soon as possible
(https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps/home.do).
2) Those interested in participating in such preliminary market engagement should access
the 'Preliminary Market Engagement for Optometry Services for NI Prison population ' via eTendersNI
(https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps/home.do) at their earliest convenience, by searching for
Resource ID / CfT Reference Number 6359685
3) Using the eTendersNI secure messaging service, please see a broadcasted copy of the CP12 PME Questionnaire and a copy of the CP13 PME Explanatory Document.
All completed responses must be submitted via the secure eTendersNI messaging area of the CFT no later than 15:00, Friday 13th March 2026. 
Please note that with reference to the information containing estimated date of publication of contract notice - this is only an anticipated date and subject to change.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017708-2026 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 27 Feb 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 13 Mar 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Nov 2027 - 31 Oct 2030 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planning |
| Lots status | Planning |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | BUSINESS SERVICES ORGANISATION PROCUREMENT AND LOGISTICS SERVICE |
| Locality | BELFAST |
| Post town | Northern Ireland |
| Postcode | BT12 6HU |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| ITL 1 | TLN Northern Ireland |
| ITL 2 | TLN0 Northern Ireland |
| ITL 3 | TLN06 Belfast |
| Local authority | Belfast |
| Electoral ward | Blackstaff |
| Westminster constituency | Belfast South and Mid Down |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 75 - Administration, defence and social security services
- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 75231230 - Prison services
- 85100000 - Health services
- 85121281 - Ophthalmologist services
- 85160000 - Optician services

## Release History

- 27 Feb 2026 at 09:56 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017708-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017708-2026
  27th February 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps/home.do
- 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-065dda. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-065dda.json.