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

Notice summary

Interested providers will be able to view this opportunity via the live opportunities list on the 'Health Family' e-procurement system, Atamis. Click on 'View our Live Opportunities' from the home page, available on the following link: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome. Once you have found the opportunity (via the search function, using the title or reference number), to gain full access to the bid documentation (including questionnaires), you will need to click on 'Register interest' - this will take you to the log-in page. If you are not already registered on the system, you will need to do so before gaining full access to the documentation and be able to submit a bid. An early engagement market notice was published in relation to this procurement on 1st September 2026. Although those who responded to that notice may be advised that this contract notice has been published, there will be no process exemptions or preferential treatment afforded to any parties who expressed an interest at that stage. This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Contract 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 and The Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award.

Opportunity overview

This notice is inform the market of an opportunity to deliver Sight Testing and Dispensing of Spectacles to Children and Young People in Special Educational Settings within the South West region, covering Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly (CIOS), Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) and Gloucestershire Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). BNSSG, Gloucestershire, Devon and CIOS ICBs ('the Commissioner') are the contracting authorities for this procurement. The Commissioner may be subject to a restructure of its functions during or following this procurement process. In such circumstances, the functions to which this contract relates may be transferred to a successor or replacement public body. Bidders will be informed of any such change, and any changes because of it. The procurement is divided into the following Lots: • Lot 1: BNSSG and Gloucestershire • Lot 2: Devon and CIOS The contract(s) term will be for 3 years and 5 months (inclusive of the mobilisation period) plus a possible extension of up to a period of a further 2 years. Both contract(s) are due to commence on 01 April 2027 with service delivery anticipated to commence from 01 September 2027. The annual contract value for Lot 1 is £306,000 with a total maximum contract value of £1,530,000 (including extension option). The annual contract value for Lot 2 is £350,000 with a total maximum contract value of £1,750,000 (including extension option). Interested parties who wish to take part in the procurement are invited to take part in an Invitation to Tender (ITT) process, based on the competitive 'open' procedure. All ITT responses must be returned by 12 noon on 10th December 2026. Interested providers will be able to view the opportunity and access the tender documentation via the 'Live Opportunities' list on the e-procurement system, Atamis, available on the following link: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome This exercise is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner. SCW is currently subject to restructuring, and the management of this procurement may therefore move to a successor at some point during the procurement process. Bidders will be informed of any such change, and any administrative changes because of it.

Lot 1 — Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) and Gloucestershire

Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) and Gloucestershire Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) are seeking to commission sight testing and dispensing services for children and young people in Special Educational Setting (SES) across the ICB geographies. Interested providers should have the capacity and capability to provide services which are person centred with reasonable adjustments and create a supportive needs-led environment to meet the needs of individual children and young people. The sight testing service will provide in-school sight testing and dispensing to all children and young people in residential and day SES and comprises of: • Annual sight tests, unless a more frequent interval is clinically indicated. • Offering corrective lenses where required. • Manage prompt and appropriate onward referral into appropriate established care pathways if further checks or treatment are required. • Providing access for any parents/carers/guardians to attend the sight test and selection of frames if they wish to do so. • Provide an eye health outcome and vision report. The provider must work closely with SES staff to ensure the service flexibly aligns with school capacity and schedules. The provider will be expected to engage with: o the SES school staff o parents/carers/guardians o children and young people attending the SES o Commissioners o the local eye health network (where they exist) o local optical committees The service is being commissioned in line with the national specification, (which can be found within Atamis). The contract term will be for 3 years and 5 months (inclusive of the mobilisation period) plus a possible extension of up to a period of a further 2 years. The contract is due to commence on 01 April 2027 with service delivery anticipated to commence from 01 September 2027. The annual contract value is £306,000 with a total maximum contract value of £1,530,000 (including extension option). Additional funding has been allocated for mobilisation of services, up to a maximum of £39,170. Bidders should consider the initial purchasing of relevant and necessary equipment and other items needed to establish the service that may be covered by the mobilisation budget. The total funding approved is not guaranteed and will be subject to scrutiny during the mobilisation phase.

Estimated lot value including VAT: £1.5m

Award criterion: Quality

Award criterion: Cost

Lot 2 — Devon and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

Devon and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) are seeking to commission sight testing and dispensing services for children and young people in Special Educational Setting (SES) across the ICB geographies. Interested providers should have the capacity and capability to provide services which are person centred with reasonable adjustments and create a supportive needs-led environment to meet the needs of individual children and young people. The sight testing service will provide in-school sight testing and dispensing to all children and young people in residential and day SES and comprises of: • Annual sight tests, unless a more frequent interval is clinically indicated. • Offering corrective lenses where required. • Manage prompt and appropriate onward referral into appropriate established care pathways if further checks or treatment are required. • Providing access for any parents/carers/guardians to attend the sight test and selection of frames if they wish to do so. • Provide an eye health outcome and vision report. The provider must work closely with SES staff to ensure the service flexibly aligns with school capacity and schedules. The provider will be expected to engage with: o the SES school staff o parents/carers/guardians o children and young people attending the SES o Commissioners o the local eye health network (where they exist) o local optical committees The service is being commissioned in line with the national specification, (which can be found within Atamis). The contract term will be for 3 years and 5 months (inclusive of the mobilisation period) plus a possible extension of up to a period of a further 2 years. The contract is due to commence on 01 April 2027 with service delivery anticipated to commence from 01 September 2027. The annual contract value is £350,000 with a total maximum contract value of £1,750,000 (including extension option). Additional funding has been allocated for mobilisation of services, up to a maximum of £44,803. Bidders should consider the initial purchasing of relevant and necessary equipment and other items needed to establish the service that may be covered by the mobilisation budget. The total funding approved is not guaranteed and will be subject to scrutiny during the mobilisation phase.

Estimated lot value including VAT: £1.8m

Award criterion: Quality

Award criterion: Cost

Contracting authority

NHS Devon Integrated Care Board Aperture House, Pynes Hill, Rydon Lane, Exeter, EX2 5AZ, UKK, United Kingdom Contact: Alexandra Searle Email: Scwcsu.procurement@nhs.net Website: https://onedevon.org.uk

Procurement timetable and procedure

Procedure: Open procedure

Legal basis: 32014L0024

Submission deadline: 10 December 2026 at 12:00 pm

Submission language: EN

CPV Classification

85100000 — Health services; 85160000 — Optician services

How to submit

The official Find a Tender notice directs suppliers to Atamis. The procurement documents, clarifications and response area are managed there.

Open Atamis ↗

TenderLab qualification first

Before we write, we establish whether the opportunity fits.

We examine the published participation conditions, service scope, geography, regulatory position, available evidence, mobilisation demands and commercial exposure with your team. We only confirm a full tender-writing engagement when the available information supports a responsible view that the provider meets the tender requirements.

If Sight Testing and Dispensing of Spectacles to Children and Young People in Special Educational Settings (SES) - South West is a credible fit, we can map the scored requirements, gather operational evidence and build the response around the buyer documents. The qualification check and any writing support do not guarantee an award; the contracting authority makes the final decision.