Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board
Sackville House, Brooks Close
Lewes
BN7 2FZ
Contact
Andrew Elliott
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.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://atamis-1928.my.site.com/s/Welcome
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 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 is seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced providers for the delivery of community-based hearing aid services for adults aged 55 and over. Eligible providers will be accredited to deliver services as part of an AQP multi-provider model. Successful providers will be 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.
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
Steps:
1. Interested providers submit an application demonstrating qualifications, capacity, and compliance with the NHS Sussex accreditation framework.
2. Accredited providers are listed as approved suppliers, eligible to deliver services under the approved service specification.
3. No minimum activity is guaranteed for accredited providers-each provider's participation depends on patient choice and referral volume.
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://atamis-1928.my.site.com/s/Welcome
Closing date to respond to the tender will be: Tuesday 2nd September 2025 at 12:00 (Noon).
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.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 33185000 - Hearing aids
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ2 - Surrey, East and West Sussex
Main site or place of performance
Patients within NHS Sussex ICB geographic footprint.
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
NHS Sussex is seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced providers for the delivery of community-based hearing aid services for adults aged 55 and over. Eligible providers will be accredited to deliver services as part of an AQP multi-provider model. Successful providers will be 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.
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
Steps:
1. Interested providers submit an application demonstrating qualifications, capacity, and compliance with the NHS Sussex accreditation framework.
2. Accredited providers are listed as approved suppliers, eligible to deliver services under the approved service specification.
3. No minimum activity is guaranteed for accredited providers-each provider's participation depends on patient choice and referral volume.
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://atamis-1928.my.site.com/s/Welcome
Closing date to respond to the tender will be: Tuesday 2nd September 2025 at 12:00 (Noon).
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
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
84
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
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).
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions
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).
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
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 000-014614
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
2 September 2025
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
2 September 2025
Local time
12:15pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.3) Additional information
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.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board
Sackville House, Brooks Close
Lewes
BN7 2FZ
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.sussex.ics.nhs.uk/
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
NHS England
Skipton House, 80 London Road
London
SE1 6LH
Country
United Kingdom