Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board
Sackville House, Brooks Close
Lewes
BN7 2FZ
Contact
Maggie Czapiewska
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKJ2 - Surrey, East and West Sussex
NHS Organisation Data Service
QNX
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.sussex.ics.nhs.uk/
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Community hearing aids service for age-related hearing loss - C378303
Reference number
C378303
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85121240 - ENT or audiologist services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
NHS Sussex has awarded this contract to suitably qualified and experienced providers for the delivery of community-based hearing aid services for adults aged 55 and over. Eligible providers have been accredited to deliver services as part of an AQP multi-provider model. Successful providers have been awarded contracts via Provider Selection Regime Direct Award Process B.
No minimum activity is guaranteed for accredited providers - each provider's participation depends on patient choice and referral volume.
Individual Provider contracts will be zero value and any payments made will be based on activity performed.
The annual service value total for all current AQP Providers (23/24 outturn) was approx £6.5m. So, for 7 years + 3 year option = £65,000,000.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £65,000,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ2 - Surrey, East and West Sussex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
NHS Sussex has awarded this contract to suitably qualified and experienced providers for the delivery of community-based hearing aid services for adults aged 55 and over. Eligible providers have been accredited to deliver services as part of an AQP multi-provider model. Successful providers have been awarded contracts via Provider Selection Regime Direct Award Process B.
The initial contract duration will be 7 years commencing on 1 April 2026, with the option to extend for a further 3 years, offered via an NHS standard contract.
The Commissioner reserves the right to further extend the contract beyond the 10-year maximum duration subject to:
a. The requirements of Provider Selection Regime Process B.
b. Re-confirmation of an applicant's accreditation status.
Aims and objectives:
The overall ambitions of NHS Sussex in commissioning this service are:
• To strengthen our contribution to prevention and reduce health inequalities
• To promote patient education, self-management and empowerment;
• To improve the quality and safety of care and outcomes improvement;
• To support people to age well - falls prevention, healthy and active ageing, addressing loneliness, isolation and supporting independence and reducing the need for intervention;
• Integrated working with patients, carers and the local community and voluntary sector.
The aims of the service are for people with hearing problems to have:
• access to high quality, safe and efficient NHS hearing aids services, with short waiting times and high responsiveness to the needs of local communities, free at the point of access;
• choice as to where and when their treatment is delivered
The key objectives of this service are to:
• Improve public health and occupational health through treatment of hearing loss
• Provide equitable access to consistently high-quality care for all patients using the service
• Encourage identification, diagnosis and management of age-related hearing loss through improved patient and professional education, including timely signposting to lip reading classes and assistive technologies and other rehabilitation services
• Promote inclusion and participation of people who have hearing loss
• Be compliant with clinical guidance and good practice
• Conform to the recognised quality assurance tool Improving Quality In Physiological Diagnostic Services (IQIPS)
The expected outcomes of the service are:
• Timely access to hearing assessment, fitting and follow-up
• High proportion of patients continuing to wear hearing aids
• High levels of satisfaction from patients accessing the service and health professionals referring into the service
• Reduced social isolation and consequent mental ill health
• Improved quality of life for patients, their families/carers and communication partners.
Service Requirements:
Providers should be able to offer a comprehensive, patient centred service for adults aged 55 and over with suspected or diagnosed hearing loss related with age, encompassing:
• Hearing assessment
• Hearing aid fitting and calibration to national guidelines
• After care: maintenance, repairs, consumables (batteries, tubing), and follow-up reviews
Providers are required to conform to the recognised quality assurance tool Improving Quality In Physiological Diagnostic Services (IQIPS). IQIPs accreditation must be achieved (or demonstrate willingness to achieve accreditation within 18 months of contract award).
No minimum activity is guaranteed for accredited providers - each provider's participation depends on patient choice and referral volume.
Individual Provider contracts will be zero value and any payments made will be based on activity performed.
The annual service value total for all current AQP Providers (23/24 outturn) was approx £6.5m. So, for 7 years + 3 year option = £65,000,000.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Patient choice / Weighting: 100
Price - Weighting: 0
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
This contract has a 7 year (84 month) initial term. The Commissioner at its sole discretion can extend this contract for up to an additional period of up to 3 years (36 additional months).
The Commissioner reserves the right to further extend the contract beyond the 10-year maximum duration subject to:
a. The requirements of Provider Selection Regime Process B.
b. Re-confirmation of an applicant's accreditation status.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2025/S 000-046978
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
19 December 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 4
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Audiological Science Ltd
20 Falkland Avenue
London
N3 1QR
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI - London
Companies House
09109538
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £1
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
19 December 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 4
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Modality LLP
Granville House, 2 Tettenhall Road
Wolverhampton
WV1 4SB
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
Companies House
OC422179
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £1
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
19 December 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 4
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Scrivens Ltd
Scrivens House, 60 Islington Row, Middleway
Birmingham
B15 1PH
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKG31 - Birmingham
Companies House
00377588
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £1
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
19 December 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Specsavers Optical Superstores Limited
Forum 6, Solent Business Park, Whiteley
Hampshire
PO15 7PA
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKJ3 - Hampshire and Isle of Wight
NHS Organisation Data Service
01721624
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £1
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) confirmation of contract award notice. This contract has been awarded under 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.
Award Decision Makers:
Deputy Chief Delivery and Strategy Officer, Director of Strategic Commissioning, NHS Sussex ICB
Conflicts of Interest:
No conflicts of interest have been identified in the awarding of this contract.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
NHS Sussex ICB
Sackville House, Brooks Close
Lewes
BN7 2FZ
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
NHSE
80 London Road
London
SE1 6LH
Country
United Kingdom