We are seeking a market research agency to conduct online focus groups with members of the public to help inform a project we are carrying out into reforming our system of optical business regulation. It is important that we hear from members of the public on the policy changes we intend to make.
We have an approved budget of up to £20,000 including VAT and all other contractor costs. Proposals over £20,000 will not be considered. We also have a budget of £5,000 including VAT available for some omnibus questions that we may do as follow up.
The deadline for tenders is 5pm 6 November, with a view to delivering the final report by the 14 March 2025.
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
1.1 The General Optical Council (GOC) seeks to secure an internal audit service that provides independent, objective assurance and advice to support effective governance, risk management and internal control, in line with professional standards and good regulatory practice.
The General Optical Council (GOC) seeks an external provider to independently review a sample of decisions made in connection with its fitness to practise referrals. The provider will be engaged to provide independent, objective assurance and advice to support the GOC in discharging its duties in relation to protection of the public. This activity will be undertaken on an 18-month cycle with a sample of cases from the previous 12-18 months.
The purpose of the review is to provide the GOC with assurance over the quality, consistency and reasoning of its fitness to practise decisions. This includes how risk, proportionality and public protection are considered and recorded within decisions. Reviews are also intended to monitor compliance with legal, technical and procedural requirements.
The activity undertaken will consider decisions made across our fitness to practise processes. The provider will work closely with our management team to take a risk-based approach to assurance, identifying common themes and areas for scrutiny to ensure that the GOC has a comprehensive view of how its decisions on individual cases contribute to its regulatory and strategic objectives.
The GOC is committed to ensuring the highest standards of governance, assurance and value for money. These statement of requirements is for an independent provider to deliver high-quality services from June 2026 with a view to producing a draft report of the first review by September 2026.
Total value: £140,000 maximum (tenders submitted above this will be automatically discounted)
Contract length: a maximum of six years (delivery of four independent reviews on an 18-month cycle, with the first review commencing summer 2026)
Additional information: the contract will be reviewed after two independent reviews, with parties having an option extend the contract for a further two independent reviews.