Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board
QHM
Sunderland
UK
E-mail: necsu.neprocurement@nhs.net
NUTS: UKC
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://northeastnorthcumbria.nhs.uk/
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
NHSE986 - Eye Testing in Special Education Settings in North East and Cumbria - CP
Reference number: NHSE986
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85160000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
This is an INTENTION TO AWARD Notice following The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 - Competitive Process.
North of England Commissioning Support (NECS) is a commissioning support service working for and on behalf of NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (the Relevant Authority) who have undertaken a competition process to provide Provision of Eye Testing Services in Special Education Settings (SES) in the North East and North Cumbria.
Contract Start Date: 01 December 2026
Contract End Date: 30 November 2029
The contract term is for an period of 3 years.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
Yes
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Lowest offer:
134 369.00
GBP/ Highest offer:
1 416 104.00
GBP
II.2) Description
Lot No: 1
II.2.1) Title
Lot 1 - North Cumbria
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85160000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKD
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
This is an INTENTION TO AWARD Notice following The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 - Competitive Process.
This is an intention to award notice to advise that the relevant authority intends to award a contract under a competitive process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Regulations 2024 (Procurement Act 2023) and/ or Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award.
Provision of Eye Testing Services in Special Education Settings (SES) in North Cumbria.
Contract Start Date: 01 December 2026
Contract End Date: 30 November 2029
The contract term is for an initial period of 3 years, with an option to extend for a further 2 years at the discretion of the Relevant Authority and subject to satisfactory contractual and financial performance.
Annual Contract value: £26,874 (Total value over 3 year Term: £134,369)
This is a New Service.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Quality and Innovation
/ Weighting: 40
Quality criterion: Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities and Facilitating Choice
/ Weighting: 30
Quality criterion: Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability
/ Weighting: 10
Quality criterion: Social Value
/ Weighting: 10
Cost criterion: Value
/ Weighting: 10
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
II.2.14) Additional information
The contract term is for an initial period of 3 years, with an option to extend for a further 2 years at the discretion of the Relevant Authority and subject to satisfactory contractual and financial performance.
Lot No: 2
II.2.1) Title
Lot 2 - Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Newcastle Gateshead
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85160000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKC
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
This is an INTENTION TO AWARD Notice following The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 - Competitive Process.
This is an intention to award notice to advise that the relevant authority intends to award a contract under a competitive process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Regulations 2024 (Procurement Act 2023) and/ or Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award.
Provision of Eye Testing Services in Special Education Settings (SES) in Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Newcastle Gateshead.
Contract Start Date: 01 December 2026
Contract End Date: 30 November 2029
The contract term is for an initial period of 3 years, with an option to extend for a further 2 years at the discretion of the Relevant Authority and subject to satisfactory contractual and financial performance.
Annual Contract value: £277,910 (Total value over 3 year Term: £1,386,552)
This is a New Service.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Quality and Innovation
/ Weighting: 40
Quality criterion: Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities and Facilitating Choice
/ Weighting: 30
Quality criterion: Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability
/ Weighting: 10
Quality criterion: Social Value
/ Weighting: 10
Cost criterion: Value
/ Weighting: 10
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
The contract term is for an initial period of 3years commencing on 01 December 2026 with an option to extend for a further 2years at the discretion of the Relevant Authority and subject to satisfactory contractual and financial performance
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Lot No: 3
II.2.1) Title
Lot 3 - Durham and Tees and Sunderland
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85160000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKC
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
This is an INTENTION TO AWARD Notice following The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 - Competitive Process.
This is an intention to award notice to advise that the relevant authority intends to award a contract under a competitive process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Regulations 2024 (Procurement Act 2023) and/ or Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award.
Provision of Eye Testing Services in Special Education Settings (SES) in Durham and Tees and Sunderland.
Contract Start Date: 01 December 2026
Contract End Date: 30 November 2029
The contract term is for an initial period of 3 years, with an option to extend for a further 2 years at the discretion of the Relevant Authority and subject to satisfactory contractual and financial performance.
Annual Contract value: Annual Contract value: £283,221 (Total value over 3 year Term: £1,416,104)
This is a New Service.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Quality and Innovation
/ Weighting: 40
Quality criterion: Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities and Facilitating Choice
/ Weighting: 30
Quality criterion: Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability
/ Weighting: 10
Quality criterion: Social Value
/ Weighting: 10
Cost criterion: Value
/ Weighting: 10
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
The contract term is for an initial period of 3years commencing on 01 December 2026 with an option to extend for a further 2 years at the discretion of the Relevant Authority and subject to satisfactory contractual and financial performance
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2026/S 000-038133
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: 1
Contract No: 1
Title: Lot 1 - North Cumbria
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
31/07/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 3
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
FCJ Opticals Ltd
10034787
9 Grenfell Drive
Bradford
BD3 7EN
UK
NUTS: UKD
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot:
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 134 369.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: 2
Contract No: 2
Title: Lot 2 - Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Newcastle Gateshead
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
31/07/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 3
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
FCJ Opticals Ltd
10034787
9 Grenfell Drive
Bradford
BD3 7EN
UK
NUTS: UKC
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot:
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 1 386 552.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: 3
Contract No: 3
Title: Lot 3 - Durham and Tees and Sunderland
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
31/07/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 3
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
FCJ Opticals Ltd
10034787
9 Grenfell Drive
Bradford
BD3 7EN
UK
NUTS: UKC
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot:
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 1 416 104.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
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 Procurement Regulations 2024 (Procurement Act 2023) and/ or Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award.
This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR. A contract will not be awarded until after the 9th working day following standstill. The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by midnight 19 August 2026. Any representations should be sent via the Atamis messaging portal and/or via email to necsu.neprocurement@nhs.net
The individual(s) making the award decision are:
• NENC ICB Primary Care Sub Committee
• NENC ICB Neighbourhood Health Sub Committee
• Strategic Head Pharmacy and Optometry Contracting
• Commissioning Manager x 3
• Quality and Safety Officer x 2
• Commissioning Manager (Pharmacy and Optometry)
• Senior Finance Manager - Primary Care
• Primary Care Manager
• Clinical Lead Optometry
• Senior Commissioning Manager (Optometry)
Conflicts of interest were completed by all involved in the process. There was a conflict of interest identified regarding the Clinical Lead Optometry. The Clinical Lead Optometry was previously a Director for Primary Eyecare (North East), a dormant company tangentially linked to one of the bidders. As the potential CoI relates to 2017 and the actual company does not exist anymore it was deemed by NENC ICB that the Clinical Lead Optometry could continue as a project team member.
There were no other declared of potential conflicts of interest of individuals making the award decision.
The scoring criteria for the Basic Selection Criteria Questions were either evaluated as Pass/Fail or For Information.
The Relevant Authority considered the five key criteria against the service requirements and determined the relative importance of each, as outlined below and detailed within in the provider response documentation.
Quality and Innovation - 40&
Value - 10%
Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability - 10%
Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities and Facilitating Choice - 30%
Social Value - 10%
The successful provider(s) were selected based on offering the most advantageous Provider response by scoring the highest combined score for quality (key criteria) and finance, evaluated against the published evaluation criteria as detailed within the provider response documentation. As a result, they are the recommended provider(s) and have been awarded the contract, subject to final agreement.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board
Sunderland
UK
E-mail: necsu.psrprocurement@nhs.net
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
07/08/2026