Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
NHS England - North West
Q75
Merseyside
L3 4BL
UK
E-mail: necsu.neprocurement@nhs.net
NUTS: UKD
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.england.nhs.uk/north-west/
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://health-family.force.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
NHSE987 - Eye Testing in Special Education Settings in North West - CP
Reference number: NHSE987
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
North of England Commissioning Support (NECS) is a commissioning support service working for and on behalf of NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board (ICB), NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB and NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB (the Relevant Authorities) who are undertaking a competition to provide Eye Testing Services in Special Education Settings (SES) in the North West.
Contract Start Date: 01 September 2026
Contract End Date: 31 August 2029
The contract term is for a period of 3 years.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
5 367 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
Yes
Tenders may be submitted for all lots
II.2) Description
Lot No: 1
II.2.1) Title
Lot 1 - Greater Manchester
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85160000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKD
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Provision of Eye Testing Services in Special Education Settings (SES) in Greater Manchester.
The contract term is for a period of 3 years commencing on 01 September 2026.
Annual Contract value: £730,000 (Total value over 3 year Term: £2,190,000)
This is a New Service.
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Contract Notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Healthcare 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.
The closing date for submission of competition response is by 12noon on 30 April 2026.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality & Innovation
/ Weighting: 40
Quality criterion: Integration, Collaboration & Service Sustainability
/ Weighting: 10
Quality criterion: Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities & Facilitating Choice
/ Weighting: 30
Quality criterion: Social Value
/ Weighting: 10
Cost criterion: Value
/ Weighting: 10
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
2 190 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 36
This contract is subject to renewal: No
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
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 Relevant Authority has assessed the five key criteria against the service requirements and determined the relative importance of each, as outlined above and in the provider response documentation.
Lot No: 2
II.2.1) Title
Lot 2 - Cheshire and Merseyside
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85160000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKD
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Provision of Eye Testing Services in Special Education Settings (SES) in Cheshire and Merseyside.
The contract term is for a period of 3 years commencing on 01 September 2026.
Annual Contract value: £641,000 (Total value over 3 year Term: £1,923,000)
This is a New Service.
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Contract Notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Healthcare 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.
The closing date for submission of competition response is by 12noon on 30 April 2026.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality & Innovation
/ Weighting: 40
Quality criterion: Integration, Collaboration & Service Sustainability
/ Weighting: 10
Quality criterion: Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities & Facilitating Choice
/ Weighting: 30
Quality criterion: Social Value
/ Weighting: 10
Cost criterion: Value
/ Weighting: 10
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
1 923 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 36
This contract is subject to renewal: No
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
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 Relevant Authority has assessed the five key criteria against the service requirements and determined the relative importance of each, as outlined above and in the provider response documentation.
Lot No: 3
II.2.1) Title
Lot 3 - Lancashire and South 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
Provision of Eye Testing Services in Special Education Settings (SES) in Lancashire and South Cumbria.
The contract term is for a period of 3 years commencing on 01 September 2026.
Annual Contract value: £418,000 (Total value over 3 year Term: £1,254,000)
This is a New Service.
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Contract Notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Healthcare 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.
The closing date for submission of competition response is by 12noon on 30 April 2026.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality & Innovation
/ Weighting: 40
Quality criterion: Integration, Collaboration & Service Sustainability
/ Weighting: 10
Quality criterion: Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities & Facilitating Choice
/ Weighting: 30
Quality criterion: Social Value
/ Weighting: 10
Cost criterion: Value
/ Weighting: 10
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
1 254 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 36
This contract is subject to renewal: No
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
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 Relevant Authority has assessed the five key criteria against the service requirements and determined the relative importance of each, as outlined above and in the provider response documentation.
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions:
The Provider Response Documentation includes the contract award criteria, including the agreed relative importance of key criteria (for example, weightings apportioned to questions within the key criteria) against which responses will be evaluated. The providers will be assessed against the relevant 5 key criteria.
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
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:
2025/S 000-053553
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
30/04/2026
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
30/04/2026
Local time: 13:00
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.3) Additional information
NECS is utilising an electronic tendering tool to manage this competition and communicate with potential providers. Accordingly, there will be no hard copy documents issued to potential providers and all communications with NECS, including response submissions, will be conducted via the Atamis portal at:
https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
It is free to register on the portal and it can be accessed at any time of day providing you have a working internet connection. Should providers have any queries, or are having problems registering on the portal; they should contact the Atamis helpdesk via:
Support-health@Atamis.co.uk or phone number 0800 0988201
The helpdesk is open Monday - Friday between 08.00 am - 06.00 pm
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
NHS England - North West
Merseyside
UK
E-mail: necsu.neprocurement@nhs.net
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
27/03/2026