Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Woodland House, Maes Y Coed Road
Cardiff
CF14 4HH
UK
Telephone: +44 2921500207
E-mail: Michael.Groves@wales.nhs.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://nwssp.nhs.wales/ourservices/procurement-services/
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0221
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
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
PROVISION OF OPTOMETRY SERVICES FOR HMP CARDIFF
Reference number: CAV-MSPP-(26-27) 97
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85160000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is seeking a provider to deliver comprehensive optometry services at HMP Cardiff, including eye examinations, diagnosis and management of visual and ocular conditions, provision of spectacles where required, and referrals to secondary care. The service will support equitable access to high-quality eye care for prisoners and contribute to improved health and well-being outcomes within the custodial setting.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
32 400.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85160000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKL22
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board intends to award a contract under the Most Suitable Provider Process for the provision of comprehensive optometry services at HMP Cardiff.
This is an existing service with an existing provider that will continue to provide timely access to routine and clinically necessary eye care for the prison population. The intention is to award the contract to an existing provider, subject to completion of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) requirements and approval processes.
The contract is intended to commence on 01/12/2026 and continue for an initial period of one year, with the option, at the Health Board's discretion, to extend for up to two further periods of 12 months.
The service will provide routine sight tests, assessment, diagnosis and management of visual and ocular conditions, provision of spectacles where clinically required, and referral to secondary care ophthalmology services where appropriate. The provider will deliver regular on-site clinics within HMP Cardiff and will supply all necessary equipment, consumables and professional expertise required to undertake examinations and deliver patient-centred optometry care.
The provider will be expected to work collaboratively with prison healthcare teams to support effective care pathways, continuity of care, accurate clinical record keeping and timely referral management. The service aims to improve visual health outcomes for prisoners, many of whom present with unmet eye care needs upon entry into custody. By supporting the early identification, treatment and ongoing management of eye conditions, the service contributes to improved health, wellbeing, participation in education and rehabilitation activities, and overall quality of life within the prison environment.
Services will be delivered in accordance with all relevant professional, clinical and regulatory requirements, including applicable standards of the General Optical Council and NHS Wales policies. The contract will be subject to appropriate contract management and performance monitoring arrangements to ensure the delivery of safe, effective and high-quality services throughout the contract term.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price
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
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition
Justification for selected award procedure:
The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the Directive
Explanation
This is a Provider Selection Regime Wales (PSR Wales) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Services (Provider Selection Regime) (Wales) Regulations 2025. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015/Procurement Act 2023 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 13th November 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR Wales.
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 000-096508
Section V: Award of contract
Contract No: CAV-MSPP-(26-27) 97
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
03/11/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 1
Number of tenders received from tenderers from EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 0
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
The Prison Opticians Company
County House, 35 Earl Street
Maidstone
ME141PF
UK
Telephone: +44 7833123590
NUTS: UKL22
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 32 400.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
This is a Provider Selection Regime Wales (PSR Wales) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Services (Provider Selection Regime) (Wales) Regulations 2025. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015/Procurement Act 2023 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 13th November 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded, this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR Wales.
Representations by providers during the standstill period must be submitted by email to michael.groves@wales.nhs.uk.
The award decision-makers for this process were representatives of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.
The contract is for the provision of optometry services at HMP Cardiff. The decision to utilise the Most Suitable Provider Process and select the incumbent provider was based on the following considerations:
- The provider currently delivers the optometry service at HMP Cardiff and is fully operational within the prison setting.
- Continuity and stability of service provision are important to ensure uninterrupted access to healthcare within HMP Cardiff.
- The provider has established safeguarding, governance, reporting and operational arrangements which are embedded within the service and enable service delivery to continue safely and efficiently.
- Appointment of the incumbent provider avoids service disruption, mobilisation risks and delays associated with transitioning to a new provider.
- The review of contract performance found that the provider has consistently delivered all commissioned clinics, maintained a positive safety record and developed effective operational relationships within HMP Cardiff.
In determining the most suitable provider, the decision-makers placed particular importance on service continuity, operational readiness, patient safety, governance arrangements, service quality and the ability to continue delivering care without disruption. These considerations were judged to be of greater significance than the potential benefits of undertaking a provider transition given the specialist prison environment and the risks associated with service interruption.
The review identified opportunities for improvement which will be addressed through a renewed agreement, including strengthened KPIs, enhanced monitoring of waiting times and service utilisation, management of DNA rates, revised reporting requirements and consideration of service redesign to improve access and value for money.
No providers were excluded from the process.
The contract has not been awarded to an excluded provider.
No actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest were declared by those involved in the decision-making process.
All individuals involved in the decision-making process were required to consider and declare any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest before participating in the process. No conflicts were identified that required mitigation or management.
No information has been withheld under Regulation 23(1) of the Health Services (Provider Selection Regime) (Wales) Regulations 2025.
(WA Ref:172875)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
High Court
Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
UK
Telephone: +44 2079477501
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
04/11/2026