Tender: Sight Testing and Spectacle Dispensing for SEND Children in Special Educational Settings — South East (Lots 1–5)

About

The South East Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) is seeking suitably qualified providers to deliver at-scale sight testing and dispensing of spectacles for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Special Educational Settings (SES) across the South East. The procurement is split into five lots: Lot 1 Thames Valley (Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire West and Berkshire East), Lot 2 Hampshire and Isle of Wight (including North East Hampshire), Lot 3 Kent and Medway, Lot 4 Surrey (including Surrey Heath and Farnham) and Lot 5 Sussex. From 1 April 2026 the current six ICBs will reorganise into four ICBs (NHS Thames Valley ICB; expanded Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB including North East Hampshire; Kent and Medway ICB unchanged; and Surrey and Sussex ICB). The service aims to offer eligible children and young people in SES an annual sight test unless clinically inappropriate, reduce health inequalities and support better educational and quality-of-life outcomes. Contracts are for an initial 5 years (60 months) with an optional 2-year extension; services are due to commence in 2026. Maximum total contract values for the initial 5 years are: Lot 1 £2,355,000; Lot 2 £2,180,000; Lot 3 £3,265,000; Lot 4 £1,625,000; Lot 5 £1,980,000. Including the optional 2-year extension the totals are: Lot 1 £3,297,000; Lot 2 £3,052,000; Lot 3 £4,571,000; Lot 4 £2,275,000; Lot 5 £2,772,000. ITT responses must be returned by 12 noon on 6 February 2026. Further details are available in the published service specification and engagement report on the NHS England website.