The requirements of the service are:- conduct of investigative work on the General Optical Council's behalf in relation to fitness to practise allegations relating to registered opticians and optical businesses- preparation for, and presentation of, the GOC's case at substantive Fitness to Practise Committee hearings- occasional preparation for, and presentation of the GOC's case at non-substantive hearings (interim order applications/reviews/extensions, substantive order reviews) and Registration Appeal Committee hearings- provision of advice relating to the conduct of individual investigations into the fitness to practise of GOC registrants, and relating to interpretation of GOC legislation and rules- provision of training to Committee members, Case Examiners and GOC staff.
We are seeking to procure a supplier to develop an electronic Case Management System (CMS) to support the management of Fitness to Practise (FtP) cases by our Regulatory Operations directorate. The CMS must cover all areas of the FtP process.We have developed a working list of needs (Annex A to the Expression of Interest document), but we stress that this is not a specification document (more detailed specifications of our requirements will be provided within the pack at the full tender stage of the procurement process). This working list is provided at this stage to help you to understand the extent of our CMS requirements, so that you can decide whether to express an interest.
1.1 The General Optical Council (GOC) is conducting a Procurement for External Audit Services. This procurement is run on behalf of the GOC, referred to as 'the Authority'.
1.2 This procurement is being run under the Public Contract Regulation 2015 Open Procedure.
1.3 The Authority is looking to commence Contracts in April 2024. The Contract will be for an initial period of 3 years, with the option for the Contract to be extended in increments of at least 12 months, with a maximum Contract duration of five (5) years in total.
1.4 The Authority is looking to award Contracts to one Supplier
2.1 The GOC is the UK-wide statutory regulator for the optical professions in the UK and our mission is to protect and promote the health and safety of the public. We currently register around 33,000 optometrists, dispensing opticians, student optometrists, student dispensing opticians and optical businesses. For more information, please visit our website: https://www.optical.org.
2.2 The GOC is a registered charity and is overseen by a Council of 12 members, 6 lay and 6 optical professionals.
2.3 Our charitable purpose and statutory role are to protect and promote the health and safety of members of the public by promoting high standards of professional education, conduct and performance among optometrists and dispensing opticians and those training to be optometrists and dispensing opticians. We have four core functions:
- setting standards for optical education and tra... ensure that there are regular liaison meetings between the Auditors team and the GOC's lead contact.
2.6 Whilst audit activity is to be based on the Supplier's audit risk assessment in any year, the excepted annual audit activity that will support this requirement is expected to be in the region of:
Activity (Days)
Planning meeting (0.5)
Attendance at Audit and Risk Committee (4.0)
Interim Audit fieldwork (1 week) (5.0)
Final Audit fieldwork (circa 2-3 weeks) (15.0)
Interim and Final Completion meetings (0.5)
GOC Offices
2.7 The Authority has one office at 10 Old Bailey, London EC4M 7NG. The Finance team is located here. Although we work in a hybrid fashion, it is our expectation that any onsite fieldwork will take place at our office.
Sources of information
2.8 The following sources of information may support your knowledge of GOC and the requirement:
- The GOC Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22
- The GOC Strategic Plan 2020-25
- The GOC Business Plan and Budget 2023-24
- The GOC Contract and Procurement Policy
Management arrangements
2.9 The Supplier is required to provide a representative who will be responsible for the delivery of the Service. The Supplier's Manager will liaise with GOC's Authority's Manager.
2.10 The GOC will provide access to the necessary staff, systems, and financial records in facilitation of the Contract.
2.11 Quarterly Contract management meetings between the Supplier's Manager and the Authority's Manger are required.
General Optical Council (GOC) wants to buy 65 units of Lenovo laptop computers as per the below description.
Item Details
Brand & Model: Lenovo P14s/21HF000UUK.
Minimum HD Specifications: Minimum 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, 14" screen size, Minimum i7 processor.
Warranty:3Y Premier Support Plus upgrade from 3Y Courier/Carry-in (5WS1L39388)
Delivery Service: The bid must offer delivery to the GOC London office at 10 Old Bailey, with option to deliver each laptop to users' home addresses (all within the UK).
Extra services: To get the hardware ID for each laptop for them to be enrolled into Autopilot.
Date Posted; 12th of March 2024
Deadline for Suppliers Questions 15th of March 2024
Deadline for bids submission: By 5pm on the 20th of March 2024.
We are looking to commission qualitative research to understand the nature and extent of commercial practices in the eye care sector and any impact this has on patient safety.
We would like to hear views of GOC registrants (optometrists and dispensing opticians), non-GOC regulated eye care staff (for example, optical assistants), optical businesses (both GOC registered and non-GOC registered), and patient representative groups.
The research will involve designing and conducting the research, then analysing and reporting on the findings.
The aim of the research is to help us better understand:
the nature and extent of commercial practices in the eye care sector;
any detrimental impact on patients and the public;
any detrimental impact on individual registrants (i.e. optometrists and dispensing opticians);
the views of businesses, for example, the balance between providing safe patient care whilst operating in a commercial environment; and
what actions the GOC and the wider eye care sector could take to help mitigate against any detrimental impacts on patients and the public and registrants.
We have an approved budget of up to a total cost of £40,000 including VAT and all other contractor costs. Proposals over £40,000 will not be considered.
The deadline for tenders is 5pm 27 November 2025.
Please send tenders and direct any questions to Angharad Jones (Policy Manager) by email to: ajones@optical.org
We are seeking to procure a supplier to develop an electronic Case Management System (CMS) to support the management of Fitness to Practise (FtP) cases by our Regulatory Operations directorate. The CMS must cover all areas of the FtP process.
We have developed a working list of needs (Annex A to the Expression of Interest document), but we stress that this is not a specification document (more detailed specifications of our requirements will be provided within the pack at the full tender stage of the procurement process). This working list is provided at this stage to help you to understand the extent of our CMS requirements, so that you can decide whether to express an interest.
The requirements of the service are:
- conduct of investigative work on the General Optical Council's behalf in relation to fitness to practise allegations relating to registered opticians and optical businesses
- preparation for, and presentation of, the GOC's case at substantive Fitness to Practise Committee hearings
- occasional preparation for, and presentation of the GOC's case at non-substantive hearings (interim order applications/reviews/extensions, substantive order reviews) and Registration Appeal Committee hearings
- provision of advice relating to the conduct of individual investigations into the fitness to practise of GOC registrants, and relating to interpretation of GOC legislation and rules
- provision of training to Committee members, Case Examiners and GOC staff.
General Optical Council wants to replace current MyGOC System with new MyGOC System, Registrant/Professional Membership System. This tender is to find a supplier for the development/implementation (ready made or custom built) of new MyGOC and support the system. the procurement is 2 stage -- a) Expression of Interest (this stage) and b) Invitation to Tender for shortlisted suppliers at stage1.