Loading page content…
Loading page content…
| Source: | Find a Tender Service (FTS) |
| Notice Type: | Pipeline / planning |
| Buyer: | NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board |
| Main Category: | Services |
| Procurement Method: | — |
| Tender Status: | Planned |
| Estimated Value (ex. VAT): | £570,000 |
| Release Date: | 6 January 2026 |
| Application Deadline: | — |
| Procurement ID (OCID): | ocds-h6vhtk-06006d |
| Notice Reference: | 000831-2026 |
All 4 notices for this procurement, oldest first.
Special Educational Setting (SES) Sight Test Service for Children and Young People
Ready to bid on this contract?
BidWriter AI writes your tender response in minutes — import this contract in one click.
View Original Notice
Access the full notice on the official portal
NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (the Authority) intends to award an Integrator contract to deliver the Special Educational Setting (SES) Sight Test Service for children and young people through local accredited optometry practices, following the Most Suitable Provider (MSP) process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. Children under 16 (or up to 19 in full-time education) are entitled to free NHS eye tests, but pupils in special education schools face barriers to access. A successful NHS England pilot demonstrated benefits of delivering sight tests and advice in school settings. The NHS Long Term Plan committed to this service for residential settings, extended in 2023 to day schools. Funding is now recurrently allocated to ICBs from 2025/26. The ICB considers an integrator model most suitable, where a lead organisation coordinates and performance-manages local optometrists rather than the ICB holding multiple contracts. This approach supports Essex-specific partnerships, supply chain accountability, integration, measurable value, and social impact. In applying the Process, the Authority has assessed the five Key Criteria and reviewed NHSE pre-market engagement data to confirm provider capability and local connections. Based on this, the Authority believes it can identify the MSP without a competitive process. The scope of the service is to deliver sight tests for pupils attending special education schools across Essex (including activity associated with the Authority’s successor Essex ICB’s geographical footprint which covers North East Essex and West Essex also). There are an estimated 4,400 pupils in total across Essex within these schools and the service is based on an assumed uptake of 80%, equating to approximately 3520 sight tests per year. Further details are available in sections II.2.4), II.2.14), and VI.3).
Published contracts in the last 12 months
70
total contracts
£173.1m
total value
£28,853,027
average contract size
Typical categories
Market Engagement: Talking Therapies and Psychological Therapies for Severe Mental Health Problems in Essex
NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board · WAC-572311
Level 1 Dental Sedation Service in Mid and South Essex
NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board · WAC-570098
Market Engagement Event: Integrated Discharge Support Scheme: Pathway Zero (0)
NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board · WAC-546489
Pipeline status
Not addedContract imported automatically · AI writes the response
Estimated Value
£570,000
Need help writing this bid?
Our specialists write winning tender responses. Free consultation, no obligation.
Book a free consultation →