NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit (AGCSU) are inviting suitably qualified and experienced providers to deliver Sight testing and dispensing of spectacles to Children and Young People (CYP) with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Special Educational Settings (SES) within the West Midlands on on behalf of Six (6) Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) across the West Midlands region as listed in section I.1 (who are referred to as the Commissioner(s).

Details of the 6 lots and respective Integrated Care System (ICB) and Contracting Authority across the West Midlands are as follows;

Lot 1 - Birmingham and Solihull ICB

Lot 2 - Black Country ICB

Lot 3 - Coventry and Warwickshire ICB

Lot 4 - Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB

Lot 5 - Shropshire ,Telford and Wrekin ICB

Lot 6 - Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB

The NHS Long Term Plan (2019) set out a commitment to provide sight tests for Children and Young People (CYP) with learning disabilities and autism in residential Special Educational Settings (SES).

While the NHS Long Term Plan commitment related specifically to CYP in residential SES, NHS England – in conjunction with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) – announced on 19 June 2023 that the Sight Testing Service will be extended to day schools.

This Service shall support the statutory duties placed on health commissioners under the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice (0–25 years), including the identification of visual needs contributing to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

The Commissioner(s) are each looking for Provider(s) to conduct Sight Tests with CYP within SES premises, delivered by a clinical and non-clinical workforce who have been fully trained to work with this cohort of Patients.

The contract duration for each individual lot is for a period of 5 years with the Commissioner having the option to extend the Contract for a period or periods of up to a further 4 years (total maximum contract duration 9 years).

A separate General Ophthalmic Additional Services Model Contract - Special Educational Settings will be established with the preferred provider for each Lot.

C. Lot 1 - Birmingham and Solihull

Approximately 53 Special Educational Settings, providing services with a target number of Children and Young People (CYP) of 5,682.

The contract duration for each individual lot is for a period of 5 years with the Commissioner having the option to extend the Contract for a period or periods of up to a further 4 years (total maximum contract duration 9 years).

The contract will have an estimated annual value of £482, 970 (£4, 346, 730 over the lifetime of the contract including extensions).

D. Lot 2 - Black Country

Approximately 45 Special Educational Settings, providing services with a target number of Children and Young People (CYP) of 3, 777.

The contract duration for each individual lot is for a period of 5 years with the Commissioner having the option to extend the Contract for a period or periods of up to a further 4 years(total maximum contract duration 9 years).

The contract will have an estimated annual value of £321, 045 (£2, 889, 405 over the lifetime of the contract including extensions).

E. Lot 3 - Coventry and Warwickshire

Approximately 32 Special Educational Settings, providing services with a target number of Children and Young People (CYP) of 2, 914.

The contract duration for each individual lot is for a period of 5 years with the Commissioner having the option to extend the Contract for a period or periods of up to a further 4 years(total maximum contract duration 9 years).

The contract will have an estimated annual value of £247, 690 (£2, 229, 210 over the lifetime of the contract including extensions).

F. Lot 4 - Herefordshire and Worcestershire

Approximately 36 Special Educational Settings, providing services with a target number of Children and Young People (CYP) of 2, 395.

The contract duration for each individual lot is for a period of 5 years with the Commissioner having the option to extend the Contract for a period or periods of up to a further 4 years(total maximum contract duration 9 years).

The contract will have an estimated annual value of £203, 575 (£1, 832, 175 over the lifetime of the contract including extensions).

G. Lot 5 - Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin

Approximately 33 Special Educational Settings, providing services with a target number of Children and Young People (CYP) of 1, 753.

The contract duration for each individual lot is for a period of 5 years with the Commissioner having the option to extend the Contract for a period or periods of up to a further 4 years(total maximum contract duration 9 years).

The contract will have an estimated annual value of £149, 005 (£1, 341, 045 over the lifetime of the contract including extensions).

H. Lot 6 - Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent

Approximately 67 Special Educational Settings, providing services with a target number of Children and Young People (CYP) of 4,726.

The contract duration for each individual lot is for a period of 5 years with the Commissioner having the option to extend the Contract for a period or periods of up to a further 4 years(total maximum contract duration 9 years).

The contract will have an estimated annual value of £401, 710 (£3, 615, 390 over the lifetime of the contract including extensions).