Planning

Sight Testing and Dispensing of Spectacles to Children and Young People in Special Educational Settings across the South East - Market Briefing Event

  • NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West (BOB) Integrated Care Board (ICB)
  • NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board (ICB)
  • NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB)
  • NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB)
  • NHS Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board (ICB)
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  • NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB)

F01: Prior information notice (prior information only)

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-054400

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-059537

Published 5 September 2025, 4:01pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West (BOB) Integrated Care Board (ICB)

Cowley

OX42PG

Email

scwcsu.procurement@nhs.net

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKJ1 - Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.bucksoxonberksw.icb.nhs.uk/

one.1) Name and addresses

NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board (ICB)

Windsor

SL43DP

Email

scwcsu.procurement@nhs.net

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKJ - South East (England)

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.frimley.icb.nhs.uk/

one.1) Name and addresses

NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB)

Eastleigh

SO50 5PB

Email

scwcsu.procurement@nhs.net

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKJ3 - Hampshire and Isle of Wight

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.hantsiow.icb.nhs.uk/icb

one.1) Name and addresses

NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB)

Maidstone

ME15 6NB

Email

scwcsu.procurement@nhs.net

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKJ4 - Kent

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.kentandmedway.icb.nhs.uk/

one.1) Name and addresses

NHS Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board (ICB)

Woking

GU21 5BH

Email

scwcsu.procurement@nhs.net

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKJ2 - Surrey, East and West Sussex

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.surreyheartlands.org/nhs-surrey-heartlands-board

one.1) Name and addresses

NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB)

Lewes

BN7 2FZ

Email

scwcsu.procurement@nhs.net

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKJ2 - Surrey, East and West Sussex

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.sussex.ics.nhs.uk/

one.2) Information about joint procurement

The contract involves joint procurement

one.3) Communication

Additional information can be obtained from 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

Sight Testing and Dispensing of Spectacles to Children and Young People in Special Educational Settings across the South East - Market Briefing Event

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 85100000 - Health services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice and relates to a virtual pre-procurement market briefing event on 1st October 2025 at 16:30-17:30.

The ICBs in the South East invites expressions of interest (EOI) from suitably qualified and experienced providers to provide Sight Testing and Dispensing of Spectacles to Children and Young People in Special Educational Settings across the South East. The ICB areas involved are:

1. Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West

2. Frimley

3. Hampshire and Isle of Wight

4. Kent and Medway

5. Surrey Heartlands

6. Sussex

Children and young people with autism and/or learning disabilities face significant barriers to accessing routine eye care. Evidence from the 2021 NHS England Proof of Concept (POC) programme showed that delivering sight tests and dispensing services directly within Special Educational Settings (SES) is both effective and impactful. This service aims to ensure that every eligible child in SES across the South East is offered an annual sight test, unless clinically inappropriate. The goal is to reduce health inequalities, improve educational outcomes, and support better quality of life through timely identification and management of vision needs. For further information please see the service specification and the engagement report published on the NHS England website.

Service specification link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/cyp-send-oral-and-sight-testing-service-specifications/

Engagement report link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/engagement-report-for-sight-testing-and-dispensing-of-spectacles-to-send-children-and-young-people-in-a-special-educational-setting-across-england/

If you wish to secure your place at the market briefing event, please click on the link and complete the questionnaire before 12:00 noon on 23rd September 2025: https://forms.office.com/e/Vz0N3Bm7B0

Please note, it is anticipated that this procurement will be split into lots, however, the contracting and commissioning strategy is yet to be finalised. This market briefing event is an opportunity for potential providers to help inform the contracting and commissioning strategy for Sight Testing and Dispensing of Spectacles to Children and Young People in Special Educational Settings across the South East.

This exercise is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: Yes

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Lot No

1

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85160000 - Optician services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKJ1 - Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice and relates to a virtual pre-procurement market briefing event on 1st October 2025 at 16:30-17:30.

NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West (BOB) Integrated Care Board (ICB) invites expressions of interest (EOI) from suitably qualified and experienced providers to provide Sight Testing and Dispensing of Spectacles to Children and Young People in Special Educational Settings.

If you wish to secure your place at the market briefing event, please click on the link and complete the questionnaire before 12:00 noon on 23rd September 2025: https://forms.office.com/e/Vz0N3Bm7B0

Providers are reminded that all information regarding lots is indicative only and subject to change. Providers should not rely upon these lot descriptions when submitting any future bids, instead referring to the tender documentation released with the relevant tender opportunity.

This exercise is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner.

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Lot No

2

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85160000 - Optician services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKJ - South East (England)

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice and relates to a virtual pre-procurement market briefing event on 1st October 2025 at 16:30-17:30.

NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board (ICB) invites expressions of interest (EOI) from suitably qualified and experienced providers to provide Sight Testing and Dispensing of Spectacles to Children and Young People in Special Educational Settings.

If you wish to secure your place at the market briefing event, please click on the link and complete the questionnaire before 12:00 noon on 23rd September 2025: https://forms.office.com/e/Vz0N3Bm7B0

Providers are reminded that all information regarding lots is indicative only and subject to change. Providers should not rely upon these lot descriptions when submitting any future bids, instead referring to the tender documentation released with the relevant tender opportunity.

This exercise is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner.

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Lot No

3

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85160000 - Optician services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKJ3 - Hampshire and Isle of Wight

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice and relates to a virtual pre-procurement market briefing event on 1st October 2025 at 16:30-17:30.

NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) invites expressions of interest (EOI) from suitably qualified and experienced providers to provide Sight Testing and Dispensing of Spectacles to Children and Young People in Special Educational Settings.

If you wish to secure your place at the market briefing event, please click on the link and complete the questionnaire before 12:00 noon on 23rd September 2025: https://forms.office.com/e/Vz0N3Bm7B0

Providers are reminded that all information regarding lots is indicative only and subject to change. Providers should not rely upon these lot descriptions when submitting any future bids, instead referring to the tender documentation released with the relevant tender opportunity.

This exercise is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner.

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Lot No

4

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85160000 - Optician services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKJ4 - Kent

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice and relates to a virtual pre-procurement market briefing event on 1st October 2025 at 16:30-17:30.

NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) invites expressions of interest (EOI) from suitably qualified and experienced providers to provide Sight Testing and Dispensing of Spectacles to Children and Young People in Special Educational Settings.

If you wish to secure your place at the market briefing event, please click on the link and complete the questionnaire before 12:00 noon on 23rd September 2025: https://forms.office.com/e/Vz0N3Bm7B0

Providers are reminded that all information regarding lots is indicative only and subject to change. Providers should not rely upon these lot descriptions when submitting any future bids, instead referring to the tender documentation released with the relevant tender opportunity.

This exercise is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner.

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Lot No

5

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85160000 - Optician services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKJ2 - Surrey, East and West Sussex

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice and relates to a virtual pre-procurement market briefing event on 1st October 2025 at 16:30-17:30.

NHS Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board (ICB) invites expressions of interest (EOI) from suitably qualified and experienced providers to provide Sight Testing and Dispensing of Spectacles to Children and Young People in Special Educational Settings.

If you wish to secure your place at the market briefing event, please click on the link and complete the questionnaire before 12:00 noon on 23rd September 2025: https://forms.office.com/e/Vz0N3Bm7B0

Providers are reminded that all information regarding lots is indicative only and subject to change. Providers should not rely upon these lot descriptions when submitting any future bids, instead referring to the tender documentation released with the relevant tender opportunity.

This exercise is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner.

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Lot No

6

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85160000 - Optician services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKJ2 - Surrey, East and West Sussex

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice and relates to a virtual pre-procurement market briefing event on 1st October 2025 at 16:30-17:30.

NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB) invites expressions of interest (EOI) from suitably qualified and experienced providers to provide Sight Testing and Dispensing of Spectacles to Children and Young People in Special Educational Settings.

If you wish to secure your place at the market briefing event, please click on the link and complete the questionnaire before 12:00 noon on 23rd September 2025: https://forms.office.com/e/Vz0N3Bm7B0

Providers are reminded that all information regarding lots is indicative only and subject to change. Providers should not rely upon these lot descriptions when submitting any future bids, instead referring to the tender documentation released with the relevant tender opportunity.

This exercise is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner.

two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice

3 November 2025


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

This notice is an information gathering exercise rather than a call for competition in its own right, and therefore publication or response does not commit the Authority or respondents to a future procurement, nor provide any process exemptions or preferential treatment to any parties expressing an interest. The Authority will not be liable for costs incurred by any interested party in participating in this exercise.

The intention is to award the contracts using the competitive process.

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) prior information notice. The 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.