Special Educational Setting (SES) Sight Test Service for Children and Young People

{
  "awards": [
    {
      "id": "007340-2026-1",
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      "status": "active",
      "suppliers": [
        {
          "id": "GB-FTS-172794",
          "name": "PRIMARY EYECARE SERVICES LIMITED"
        }
      ],
      "title": "Special Educational Setting (SES) Sight Test Service for Children and Young People"
    }
  ],
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  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-FTS-172793",
    "name": "NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board"
  },
  "contracts": [
    {
      "awardID": "007340-2026-1",
      "dateSigned": "2026-01-27T00:00:00Z",
      "id": "007340-2026-1",
      "status": "active",
      "title": "Special Educational Setting (SES) Sight Test Service for Children and Young People",
      "value": {
        "amount": 570000,
        "currency": "GBP"
      }
    }
  ],
  "date": "2026-01-27T20:07:48Z",
  "description": "The Authority  published a Transparency Notice announcing its intention to follow the MSP process, based on the output of its MSP assessment, on 06/01/2026. The Authority observed a 14-day period to ensure suitably qualified and experienced providers could make themselves known in writing to the Authority. The Authority\u0027s MSP Process indicated its initial analysis was correct and the Authority is able to identify the most suitable provider without competition, and therefore will proceed to award the contract. \nThe Authority only considered organisations that:\n\u2022\tMet the basic selection criteria (Reg 19) as described at II.2.4) Description of the procurement\n\u2022\tIs not excluded or excludable (Reg 20).\n\u2022\tDemonstrated capability across the five key criteria (Reg 5) as described at II.2.4) Description of the procurement.\nThe decision makers for this MSP Process were NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board Executive Team.\nIn accordance with Regulation 21 of the PSR, the Authority has maintained a Conflicts of Interest (COI) Register throughout this Process. A perceived, indirect professional conflict was identified for one project team member who also serves on the Essex Local Optometry Committee (LOC), which represents all Optical Contractors in Essex. This raised a potential perception of conflict should a local provider\u2014particularly one participating in enhanced services across Essex\u2014be awarded a contract via the MSP Process. All project team members completed COI declarations, which were duly recorded. No member of the team, including the LOC representative, had any financial interests in optical practices, held roles within provider organisations, or stood to gain any remuneration linked to procurement outcomes. The LOC representative\u2019s involvement was limited to representing practices at a local professional level. Mitigations were clearly documented, monitored throughout the Process, and updated upon receipt of MSP responses. Following review, the Authority determined that the declared interest presented a low or negligible risk. The mitigations in place were sufficient to manage any perceived conflict, and the LOC member\u2019s sector expertise and understanding of the provider landscape were considered essential to ensuring a robust and informed MSP Process.\nIn accordance with Regulation 13 of PSR, Modification of contracts during their term, the Authority may introduce contract modifications during the contract term, provided these changes remain proportionate, aligned with the original scope, and do not alter the contract\u2019s essential nature, risk profile, or core systems. Such changes will follow NHS Standard Contract change\u2011control processes. A summary of the information that was available and published in the MSP Process documentation follows:\n-Adding complementary services or expanding delivery within the Essex ICB area.\n-Adjusting funding or tariffs in response to demand or national policy.\n-Updating delivery models, including subcontracting and payment structures.\n-Changes to workforce requirements, skills, and training.\n-Operational flexibility at school level and KPI updates.\n-Enhancements to governance, social value commitments, and regulatory compliance.\n-Provisions for exit, continuity, and handling changes in organisational footprint or novation.",
  "id": "007340-2026",
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  "language": "en",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-06006d",
  "parties": [
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      "address": {
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "locality": "Basildon",
        "postalCode": "SS14 3HG",
        "region": "UKH3",
        "streetAddress": "Unit 10 Phoenix Court,  Christopher Martin Road"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "amy.wilson@attain.co.uk"
      },
      "details": {
        "buyerProfile": "https://attain.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html",
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            "description": "Health",
            "id": "07",
            "scheme": "COFOG"
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        ],
        "url": "https://www.midandsouthessex.ics.nhs.uk/"
      },
      "id": "GB-FTS-172793",
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        "legalName": "NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board"
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      "name": "NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board",
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    {
      "address": {
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "locality": "Manchester",
        "postalCode": "M4 6LN",
        "region": "UKD33",
        "streetAddress": "Waulk Mill (2.2) 51 Bengal Street"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "info@primaryeyecare.co.uk"
      },
      "details": {
        "scale": "sme",
        "url": "https://primaryeyecare.co.uk/"
      },
      "id": "GB-FTS-172794",
      "identifier": {
        "id": "06722353",
        "legalName": "PRIMARY EYECARE SERVICES LIMITED"
      },
      "name": "PRIMARY EYECARE SERVICES LIMITED",
      "roles": [
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    },
    {
      "address": {
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "locality": "London",
        "postalCode": "SE1 8UG",
        "streetAddress": "Wellington House"
      },
      "details": {
        "url": "https://www.england.nhs.uk"
      },
      "id": "GB-FTS-114606",
      "identifier": {
        "legalName": "Independent Choice and Procurement Panel"
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      "name": "Independent Choice and Procurement Panel",
      "roles": [
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      "address": {
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "locality": "Basildon",
        "postalCode": "SS14 3HG",
        "streetAddress": "Unit 10 Phoenix Court,  Christopher Martin Road"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "amy.wilson@attain.co.uk"
      },
      "id": "GB-FTS-99647",
      "identifier": {
        "legalName": "NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board"
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      "name": "NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board",
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  "tender": {
    "classification": {
      "description": "Health and social work services",
      "id": "85000000",
      "scheme": "CPV"
    },
    "description": "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 a Most Suitable Provider (MSP) process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.\nChildren 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.\nThe ICB considered 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 believed it can identify the MSP without a competitive process.\nThe scope of the service is to deliver sight tests for pupils attending special education schools across Essex (including activity associated with the Authority\u0027s successor Essex ICB\u0027s 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.\nFurther details are available in sections II.2.4), II.2.14), and VI.3).",
    "id": "ACE-0849-MSE-SES Optical",
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          {
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            "id": "85121000",
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          {
            "description": "Medical specialist services",
            "id": "85121200",
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            "description": "Miscellaneous health services",
            "id": "85140000",
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            "id": "85141000",
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            "description": "Community health services",
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        ],
        "deliveryAddresses": [
          {
            "region": "UKH3"
          }
        ],
        "deliveryLocation": {
          "description": "Mid and South Essex, West Essex and North East Essex"
        },
        "id": "1",
        "relatedLot": "1"
      }
    ],
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "32014L0024",
      "scheme": "CELEX"
    },
    "lots": [
      {
        "awardCriteria": {
          "criteria": [
            {
              "description": "100",
              "name": "Most suitable provider process with regard to the key criteria",
              "type": "quality"
            },
            {
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              "type": "price"
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        },
        "description": "This notice is an intention to award a contract under the most suitable provider process in accordance with the Provider Selection Regime 2023 (PSR). The contract will be a block contract commencing 10 February 2026 - 9 February 2028. This is a new service, and a new provider of such service in Mid and South Essex.\nScope and Responsibilities\nThe Integrator will:\n\u2022 Validate pupil numbers and financial assumptions during mobilisation.\n\u2022 Establish IT systems and reporting mechanisms.\n\u2022 Engage schools to promote service uptake.\n\u2022 Recruit and train subcontractors (optometrists).\n\u2022 Ensure delivery of annual sight tests for pupils in special education schools across Essex.\nContractual Framework\n\u2022 The Integrator contract will use the Standard NHS Contract (short form), covering all performance and risk requirements.\n\u2022 Subcontractor agreements will be governed by the General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) Contract, per the national model.\n\u2022 Delivered under a block funding model, capped at NHS England allocation. Activity above the cap is at the Integrator\u0027s risk; underspend will be reinvested into service improvement.\n\u2022 Provisions allow permitted modifications under Regulations and NHS Standard Contract change control. Known future modification: geographic expansion beyond Mid and South Essex to the wider Essex ICB footprint.\nEstimated Value\nThe estimated lifetime value (including known modifications) of the contract is \u00a3570,000.\nThe Authority only considered organisations that:\n\u2022 Met basic selection criteria (Reg 19).\n\u2022 Are not excluded or excludable (Reg 20).\n\u2022 Demonstrated capability across the five key criteria (Reg 5).\nBasic Selection Criteria\nProviders needed to:\n\u2022 Have a General Optical Council (GOC)-registered optometrist in senior leadership.\n\u2022 Hold an existing local contract for ease of mobilisation.\n\u2022 Demonstrate a proven track record in:\no Partnerships with local accredited optometry practices.\no Collaboration with independent and national opticians.\no Working with the Local Optical Committee (LOC).\no Commissioning and managing NHS eye care services, including subcontracting.\n\u2022 Ensure compliance with specification and contract terms across subcontractors, operating within the fixed tariff of at least \u00a385 per sight test.\n\u2022 Show strong experience of and understanding of the GOS contract and governance.\nKey Criteria Assessment\nProviders needed to demonstrate capability across five areas:\n1. Quality and Innovation (20%)\no Experience delivering large-scale community eye care.\no Proven model integrating independent and multiple practices with robust assurance.\no Innovative digital platforms for referral and coordination.\no Integration with hospital ophthalmology services.\no Delivery of enhanced services (e.g., MECS, post-cataract care, glaucoma monitoring).\n2. Value (20%)\no Financial model reinvesting into NHS eye care.\no Leveraging local infrastructure to minimise costs.\no Centralised contracting and IT systems for efficiency.\no Evidence of cost savings through reduced hospital reliance.\n3. Integration, Collaboration, Sustainability (20%)\no Strong relationships with local services and LOC.\no Governance structures to sustain delivery across diverse networks.\n4. Access and Health Inequalities (20%)\no Accessible care close to home, including rural areas.\no Contracting with independent and multiple practices.\no Enhanced services for vulnerable groups.\n5. Social Value (20%)\no Commitment to reinvestment, workforce development, and local economic resilience.\no Funded clinical training for subcontractors.\no Subcontracting model supporting local economies and sustainable employment. Additional information: Further details can be found at sections VI.3.",
        "hasOptions": false,
        "id": "1",
        "status": "cancelled"
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    ],
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
    "procurementMethod": "limited",
    "procurementMethodDetails": "Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition",
    "procurementMethodRationale": "This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award 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 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by midnight on 9th February 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.",
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        "id": "D_OUTSIDE_SCOPE",
        "scheme": "TED_PT_AWARD_CONTRACT_WITHOUT_CALL"
      }
    ],
    "status": "complete",
    "title": "Special Educational Setting (SES) Sight Test Service for Children and Young People"
  }
}