Sight Testing and Dispensing of Spectacles to Children and Young People in Special Educational Settings (SES) – South West

Four NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) are seeking providers to deliver sight testing and spectacle dispensing services for children and young people attending Special Educational Settings (SES) across the South West of England.

The procurement has an estimated total value of £3,280,000 excluding VAT and is divided into two lots covering Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Service Lots

The contract is divided into two lots, and providers may submit tenders for both.

• Lot 1 – Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) and Gloucestershire: £306,000 annual value, with a maximum contract value of £1,530,000 including the extension option.
• Lot 2 – Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly: £350,000 annual value, with a maximum contract value of £1,750,000 including the extension option.

A maximum of two lots may be awarded to one supplier.

Service Requirements

The successful providers will deliver sight testing and spectacle dispensing services to children and young people attending residential and day special educational settings.

The services will include:

• Annual sight tests, unless a more frequent interval is clinically indicated.
• Providing corrective lenses where required.
• Arranging prompt onward referrals through appropriate care pathways when further checks or treatment are needed.
• Allowing parents, carers and guardians to attend sight tests and help children select frames if they wish.
• Providing eye health outcome and vision reports.

Providers must deliver person-centred services, make reasonable adjustments and create a supportive environment that responds to individual needs.

They will also be expected to work closely with school staff to accommodate school schedules and engage with children and young people, parents and carers, commissioners, local eye health networks and optical committees.

Additional mobilisation funding is available to support the establishment of services, up to £39,170 for Lot 1 and £44,803 for Lot 2. This funding is not guaranteed and will be subject to scrutiny during the mobilisation phase.

Contract Information

• Buyers: NHS Devon Integrated Care Board; NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board; NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board; NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board.
• Deadline: 10 December 2026, 12:00pm
• Contract Value: £3,280,000 (excluding VAT)
• Lot 1 Value: £1,530,000 (excluding VAT)
• Lot 2 Value: £1,750,000 (excluding VAT)
• Annual Value: £306,000 for Lot 1 and £350,000 for Lot 2
• Contract Start: 1 April 2027
• Service Delivery Start: Anticipated from 1 September 2027
• Delivery Length: 3 years and 5 months, including mobilisation, with an optional extension of up to 2 further years (65 months in total)
• Tender Reference: C468739
• Tender Link: Access the Atamis procurement portal
• Location: South West England

Supplier Requirements

Providers must meet the basic selection criteria detailed in the procurement documents, covering:

• Professional suitability and relevant registration requirements.
• Economic and financial standing.
• Technical and professional ability.

Suppliers must demonstrate the capacity and capability to deliver person-centred sight testing and dispensing services for children and young people with additional needs.

Interested providers must register on the Atamis e-procurement system and select ‘Register interest’ to access the full tender documentation and questionnaires.

Evaluation Criteria

Both lots will be assessed using the following weightings:

• Quality: 93%
• Cost: 7%

Quality and cost will be assessed in accordance with the procurement documents.

Commercial Relevance

This opportunity provides opticians, optical service providers and specialist eye care organisations with an opportunity to deliver NHS-commissioned services across the South West. The two lots offer opportunities to provide accessible eye care to children and young people in special educational settings across several ICB areas.

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