Prior information notice
This notice is for prior information only
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board
NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board Alpha Tower, 8th Floor, Suffolk Street Queensway
Birmingham
B1 1TT
UK
Contact person: Claire Pickard
E-mail: claire.pickard@nhs.net
NUTS: UKG31
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.birminghamsolihull.icb.nhs.uk/
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.birminghamsolihull.icb.nhs.uk/
I.1) Name and addresses
NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board
Civic Centre, St Peter's Square
Wolverhampton
WV1 1SH
UK
E-mail: claire.pickard@nhs.net
NUTS: UKG39
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.blackcountry.icb.nhs.uk/
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.blackcountry.icb.nhs.uk/
I.1) Name and addresses
NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care Board
Wellington Civic Offices, Larkin Way, Tan Bank, Wellington
Telford
TF1 1LX
UK
E-mail: claire.pickard@nhs.net
NUTS: UKG21
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.shropshiretelfordandwrekin.nhs.uk/
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.shropshiretelfordandwrekin.nhs.uk/
I.1) Name and addresses
NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board
1 Staffordshire Place
Stafford
ST16 2LP
UK
E-mail: claire.pickard@nhs.net
NUTS: UKG24
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.staffsstoke.icb.nhs.uk/
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.staffsstoke.icb.nhs.uk/
I.1) Name and addresses
NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board
Kirkham House, John Comyn Drive, Perdiswell
Worcester
WR3 7NS
UK
E-mail: claire.pickard@nhs.net
NUTS: UKG12
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.herefordshireandworcestershire.icb.nhs.uk/
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.herefordshireandworcestershire.icb.nhs.uk/
I.1) Name and addresses
NHS Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board
Westgate House Market Street
Warwick
CV34 4DE
UK
E-mail: claire.pickard@nhs.net
NUTS: UKG13
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.happyhealthylives.uk/
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.happyhealthylives.uk/
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract involves joint procurement
In the case of joint procurement involving different countries – applicable national procurement law:
UK
I.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at:
https://atamis-1928.my.site.com/s/Welcome
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Health
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Virtual Market Engagement Event for Sight testing and dispensing of spectacles to CYP with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in Special Educational Settings in the West Midlands
Reference number: AG25035
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85160000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit (AGCSU) on behalf of Six (6) Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) across the West Midlands region as listed in section <br/>II.2.4.1 (who are referred to as the Commissioner(s)) would like to invite potential providers to attend a Virtual Market Engagement Event via Microsoft Teams, which will take place at 1pm and finish no later than 3pm on Tuesday 5th May 2026.<br/><br/>Access to a revised DRAFT service specification will also be available once you have registered your interest on the Atamis e-tendering portal.<br/><br/>The purpose of this event is to brief the market on this potential opportunity, hear from the programme team and key stakeholders as to the importance of this service for this cohort of patients, and encourage potential collaborative working amongst providers.<br/><br/>Please note the deadline for registering attendance is 12:00pm (Mid-day) on Thursday 30th April 2026.<br/><br/>**PLEASE NOTE** This is a second PIN Notice following the publication of a previous PIN published on 11th September 2025 (2025/S 000-055724).
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKG
Main site or place of performance:
West Midlands Region
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit (AGCSU) on behalf of the following 6 West Midlands NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICB) (referred to as the Commissioner) wish to inform the market of a future procurement opportunity for Sight Testing and Spectacle Dispensing Services for all Special Education Settings across the West Midlands Region and invite all interested providers to attend a virtual market engagement event which will take place at 1pm on Tuesday 5th May 2026.<br/><br/>The Six (6) Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) across the West Midlands region are listed below (respective NUTS codes in brackets for your information):<br/><br/>West Midlands<br/>• NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB (UKG31 & UKG32)<br/>• NHS Black Country ICB (UKG36, UKG37, UKG38, UKG39)<br/>• NHS Coventry and Warwickshire ICB (UKG33 & UKG13)<br/>• NHS Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin ICB (UKG21 & UKG22)<br/>• NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB (UKG23 & UKG24)<br/>• NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB (UKG11, UKG12)<br/><br/>At the time of publication of this notice, it is envisaged that there will be 6 lots, 1 per ICB. A separate contract will be awarded to each lot. The Commissioners reserve the right to amend the lotting strategy prior to publication.<br/><br/>The 6 West Midlands ICB Commissioners would like to invite interested providers to register to attend this virtual event by completing the questionnaire via the Atamis e-tendering portal. Once registered each Provider will have access to the latest West Midlands DRAFT Service Specification.<br/><br/>We would like to encourage all Providers to review the DRAFT Service Specification prior to attending the event.<br/><br/>If your organisation is interested in this opportunity, then please respond to the questionnaire on Atamis to register your attendance by following the instructions given below in section VI.3.0.1 Additional information. <br/><br/>Please note the deadline for interested Providers to complete the early market engagement questionnaire is 12 noon (Mid-day) on Thursday 30th April 2026.<br/><br/>PLEASE NOTE: each organisation can register up to a maximum of 3 representatives. <br/><br/>We recommend the 3 attendees to be: <br/>1) your organisation's/department's optometry clinical lead, <br/>2) your optometry operational lead and <br/>3) your finance/commercial lead.
II.2.14) Additional information
Please note the Contract Notice Publish date is only indicative at this time and is subject to change.
II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:
09/06/2026
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
The Contracting Authority will be using an eTendering system for this Virtual Market Engagement Event. To express an interest and access the questionnaire go to the ‘Live Opportunities’ list on the e-tendering portal at the following link:<br/><br/>https://health-family-contract-search.secure.force.com/?searchtype=Projects and register your interest.<br/><br/>You can search for the opportunity by entering the following contract reference: C440391: ME: Sight Tests & Spectacle Dispensing to CYP in Special Educational Settings<br/><br/>Please note the deadline for expressions of interest and registration for the Virtual Market Engagement Event is12:00PM (Mid-day) on Thursday 30th April 2026.<br/><br/>Dial in details for the Virtual Market Engagement Event will be circulated to delegates once the registration process closes 12:00PM (Mid-day) on Thursday 30th April 2026 and only organisations that have completed the questionnaire will be sent details of how to access the Virtual Market Engagement Event.<br/><br/>NOTE:• An expression of interest in response to this notice will not automatically entitle your involvement in any future procurement exercise that may take in relation to the opportunity described herewith. Any procurement conducted as a result of this notice will be advertised separately. All organisations wanting to participate will need to respond to the procurement advertisement as and when it is published.
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
21/04/2026