Single Point of Access (SPoA) Eye Care Service

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board is seeking to appoint a single provider to deliver a Single Point of Access (SPoA) Eye Care Service across Cheshire and Merseyside. The procurement is being undertaken through a Competitive Process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.

The commissioned service will provide a clinically led referral management and triage function for ophthalmology referrals from primary care. Supported by a digital referral platform, the service is intended to improve referral quality, support patient choice, optimise onward clinical pathways, reduce unnecessary secondary care demand, and improve equitable access to eye care services across the region through a consistent system-wide approach.

Service Overview

The appointed provider will deliver a clinically led referral management and triage service for ophthalmology referrals across Cheshire and Merseyside.

According to the procurement documentation, the service will:

• Provide referral management and triage for ophthalmology referrals from primary care.
• Operate through a digital referral platform.
• Improve referral quality.
• Support patient choice.
• Direct patients to the most appropriate clinical pathway.
• Reduce unnecessary demand on secondary care services.
• Improve equitable access to eye care services across Cheshire and Merseyside.

The contract will be awarded to a single provider and is not divided into lots.

Contract Information

Buyer – NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board

Deadline – 28 August 2026 – 12:00pm

Contract Value – £2,000,000 (excluding VAT)

Delivery Length – 1 December 2026 to 30 November 2031

Initial contract period: 36 months with an optional 24-month extension.

Tender Link – Click here

Evaluation Criteria

Price is not the only award criterion. All evaluation criteria are set out within the procurement documents.

Participation Requirements

Suppliers must meet the requirements specified within the Invitation to Tender (ITT), including:

• Selection Questionnaire (SQ) requirements.
• Supplementary Selection Questionnaire requirements.
• Technical criteria.
• Financial criteria.
• System demonstration requirements.

Contract performance conditions are set out within the Service Specification and the NHS Terms and Conditions included in the ITT documentation.

The procurement represents an opportunity for providers with experience in clinically led ophthalmology referral management services to deliver a region-wide Single Point of Access service supporting improved patient pathways across Cheshire and Merseyside.

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