Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
NHS England
7&8 Wellington Place
Leeds
LS1 4AP
UK
Contact person: Neelam Saroe
E-mail: neelamsaroe@nhs.net
NUTS: UKE
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.england.nhs.uk//
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.england.nhs.uk//
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
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to 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://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
Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (West Midlands)
Reference number: AG25014
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85100000
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 NHS England – Midlands (West) (referred to as the Commissioner) is inviting suitably qualified and experienced providers to deliver a Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (DESP). The DESP service is expected to cover the following ICB areas in the West Midlands region: -<br/><br/>1. NHS Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Integrated Care Board (STW ICB) and<br/>2. NHS Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (SSOT ICB).<br/><br/>The NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (DESP) is designed to reduce the risk of sight loss in people with diabetes by identifying and referring cases of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy early. This procurement aims to ensure equitable access to high-quality screening services across a diverse and geographically widespread population, supporting timely detection and intervention.<br/><br/>The Service is intended to be provided from 1st January 2027 for a period of 7 years, with the Commissioner having the option to extend the Contract for up to a further 2 years (total contract duration, including extensions is 9 years), till 31st December 2036 and will be delivered under a NHS Standard Contract.<br/><br/>Please note the deadline for responses to the Competitive Process is 10:00am on Monday 12th January 2026. If your organisation is interested in this opportunity and would like details on how you can view the tender documentation, please refer to section V1.3 – Additional Information below.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
31 000 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85121281
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKG2
Main site or place of performance:
Shropshire and Staffordshire
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
NHS England is responsible for commissioning Section 7A Public Health services which include the NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (DESP).<br/><br/>The DESP programme/service is designed to detect diabetic retinopathy and other eye conditions in people with diabetes. The programme offers eye screenings to diabetic patients aged 12 and above. Screening appointments are typically offered at local venues linked to the patient’s GP practice and HM Prison detained settings.<br/><br/>The goal is to identify any eye problems early on, allowing for timely treatment and reducing the risk of sight loss. If a positive screening result is found, patients are referred to a hospital eye service for further evaluation and management.<br/><br/>NHS England - West Midlands, has reviewed the existing DESP services delivered in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Integrated Care Board (STW ICB) and the Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (SSOT ICB). These services cater to an eligible population of 123,243 individuals.<br/><br/>The service will operate across Staffordshire, including Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire, Lichfield, Tamworth, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire Moorlands, and Newcastle-under-Lyme and in Shropshire, covering Shrewsbury, Telford and Wrekin, Bridgnorth, Oswestry, and Ludlow.<br/><br/>With the current contract nearing its end, the new procurement aims to achieve the following benefits:<br/>• Improve patient engagement and outcomes<br/>• Enhance stakeholder relationships to foster collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement in the delivery of the service.<br/>• Quality assurance<br/>• More cost-effective use of NHS resources.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
31 000 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start:
01/01/2027
End:
31/12/2036
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:
Yes
Description of options:
The contract is for a period of 7 years, with the Commissioner having the option to extend the Contract for up to a further 2 years (total contract duration, including extensions is 9 years), till 31st December 2036 and will be delivered under a NHS Standard Contract.
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 III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
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:
No
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2025/S 000-063775
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
12/01/2026
Local time: 10:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 4 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
12/01/2026
Local time: 10:00
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.3) Additional information
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Contract 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 Act 2023 do not apply to this award.<br/><br/>The Contracting Authority will be using an eTendering system for this procurement exercise. Further information and the ITT documentation can be found via the 'Live Opportunities' list on the e-tendering system at the following link:<br/><br/>https://atamis-1928.my.salesforce-sites.com/?SearchType=Projects<br/><br/>You can also register your interest via this page. You can search for the opportunity by entering the following contract reference: C384799: Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (DESP) across Shropshire and Staffordshire<br/><br/>The Basic Selection Questions are Pass/Fail and the award criteria for the Key Criteria Questions are as follows and these will be scored on a 0-5 scoring mechanism;<br/><br/>Key Criteria 1: Quality and Innovation: 25.00%<br/>Key Criteria 2: Value: 20.00%<br/>Key Criteria 3: Integration, Collaboration and Services Sustainability: 30.00%<br/>Key Criteria 4: Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities and Facilitating Choice: 15.00%<br/>Key Criteria 5: Social Value: 10.00%<br/><br/>The evaluation stages are as follows;<br/><br/>Stage 1: Preliminary compliance review<br/>Stage 2: Evaluation of the Financial Model Template<br/>Stage 3: Evaluation of the Basic Selection Question<br/>Stage 4: Evaluation of the responses to the Core Requirement Questions<br/>Stage 5: Evaluation of Key Criteria Questions<br/>Stage 6: Evaluation of Section E – Economic and Financial<br/>Stage 7: Provider Notification of Evaluation Outcome.<br/><br/>Neither the publication of this notice nor the employment of any particular terminology nor any other indication shall be taken to mean that the Contracting Authority intends to hold itself bound by any of the Regulations.<br/><br/>Please see published procurement documentation for further details.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Independent patient choice and procurement panel
Wellington House
London
SE1 8UG
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
24/11/2025