Tender

Community Ear Wax Removal (Aural Care) Service

  • NHS South East London Integrated Care Board

F21: Social and other specific services – public contracts (prior information notice with call for competition)

Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-014781

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-065718 (view related notices)

Published 18 February 2026, 1:31pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

NHS South East London Integrated Care Board

160 Tooley Street

London

SE1 2TZ

Contact

Joyel Shaju

Email

joyel.maledath-shaju@nhs.net

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKI - London

NHS Organisation Data Service

QKK

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.selondonics.org/icb/

Buyer's address

https://www.selondonics.org/icb/

one.3) Communication

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at

https://forms.office.com/e/zwHqfmk70m

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the above-mentioned address

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 Ear Wax Removal (Aural Care) Service

Reference number

PRJ-2248

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 85100000 - Health services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

NHS South East London Integrated Care Board (SEL ICB) intends to procure a Community Ear Wax Removal (Aural Care) Service for patients registered with a GP practice within the South East London ICB area (Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark).

The service will provide safe, community-based clinical management of impacted cerumen (ear wax) for adults aged 18 years and over. The aim of the service is to improve hearing and communication, support appropriate ear examination, prevent complications associated with ear wax impaction, and enable care to be delivered closer to home.

Please note that the contract value specified in the notice is an indicative value with potential to change.

Market engagement detail:

Date: Monday 10 March 2026

Time: 10:30 to 12.00

Location: MS Teams (we will be sending the calendar invite for the event closer to the time.)

The market engagement will cover the following:

• present the proposed service model

• test deliverability

• understand workforce and supply chain capacity

• Procurement guidance and tips

Who should attend?

Any organisation interested in delivering or partnering for the commissioning of Community Ear Wax Removal (Aural Care) in the London Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark.

Please note that the market engagement sessions will not be recorded, and attendees are not permitted to record the sessions or use AI tools/bots to transcribe the event.

Registration:

Please complete the Market Engagement Event Registration Form by no later than 12:00pm (Noon) on Tuesday 03 March 2026, if you are interested to attend the event:

https://forms.office.com/e/zwHqfmk70m

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £4,000,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKI - London

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

NHS South East London Integrated Care Board (SEL ICB) intends to procure a Community Ear Wax Removal (Aural Care) Service for patients registered with a GP practice within the South East London ICB area (Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark).

The service will provide safe, community-based clinical management of impacted cerumen (ear wax) for adults aged 18 years and over. The aim of the service is to improve hearing and communication, support appropriate ear examination, prevent complications associated with ear wax impaction, and enable care to be delivered closer to home.

The provider will be required to deliver:

Clinical care

- otoscopic examination and assessment

- clinical suitability assessment

- identification of red-flag symptoms and escalation

- advice regarding conservative management

- ear wax removal using micro-suction

- manual removal techniques where clinically appropriate

Access and delivery

- community clinic provision across all six boroughs

- accessible booking and communication arrangements

- reasonable adjustments for patients with additional needs

- domiciliary visits for eligible housebound patients and care home residents

Pathway management

- referral acceptance via e-RS or authorised referrers

- communication with referring GP

- onward referral to audiology or ENT services where clinically indicated

- agreed escalation protocols

Quality and governance

- named clinical lead

- safeguarding processes

- infection prevention and control compliance

- incident reporting and patient safety arrangements

- activity and performance reporting

Please note that the contract value specified in the notice is an indicative value with potential to change.

Market engagement detail:

Date: Monday 10 March 2026

Time: 10:30 to 12.00.

Location: MS Teams (we will be sending the calendar invite for the event closer to the time.)

The market engagement will cover the following:

• present the proposed service model

• test deliverability

• understand workforce and supply chain capacity

• Procurement guidance and tips

Who should attend?

Any organisation interested in delivering or partnering for the commissioning of Community Ear Wax Removal (Aural Care) in the London Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark.

Please note that the market engagement sessions will not be recorded, and attendees are not permitted to record the sessions or use AI tools/bots to transcribe the event.

Registration:

Please complete the Market Engagement Event Registration Form by no later than 12:00pm (Noon) on Tuesday 03 March 2026, if you are interested to attend the event:

https://forms.office.com/e/zwHqfmk70m


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Form of procedure

Open procedure

four.2) Administrative information

four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of expressions of interest

Date

3 March 2026

Local time

12:00pm

four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted

English


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

The Procurement is being managed by the NHS London Commercial Hub (NHS LCH) hosted by NEL ICB, on behalf of the Authority.

The procurement will be undertaken in accordance with the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.

The Authority intends to use the Competitive Process.