Southwark CCG is issuing this tender on behalf of five CCGs; Bromley CCG, Greenwich CCG, Lambeth CCG, Lewisham CCG and Southwark CCG. The 5 CCGs wish to commission a Community Ophthalmology Service incorporating: Minor Eye Conditions Scheme (MECS); Single Provider Model and Optometrist Triage Service for their patients.

The Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS) will provide a timely and effective assessment of the needs of a patient presenting with an eye condition. The assessment will be undertaken by an accredited optometrist within suitably equipped premises who will manage the patient appropriately and safely. The Single Provider Model will involve a “Lead Provider” being responsible for sub-contracting with and management of MECS optometry practices.

Southwark CCG is issuing this tender on behalf of 5 CCGs; Bromley CCG, Greenwich CCG, Lambeth CCG, Lewisham CCG and Southwark CCG. The five CCGs wish to commission a Community Ophthalmology Service incorporating: Minor Eye Conditions Scheme (MECS); Single Provider Model and Optometrist Triage Service for their patients.

The Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS) will provide a timely and effective assessment of the needs of a patient presenting with an eye condition. The assessment will be undertaken by an accredited optometrist within suitably equipped premises who will manage the patient appropriately and safely. The Single Provider Model will involve a “Lead Provider” being responsible for sub-contracting with and management of MECS optometry practices. The Optometrist Triage Service will clinically triage all routine referrals to hospital eye services to ensure patients are directed to most appropriate service, namely MECS or appropriate sub-specialty clinic within hospital eye services. The aim of the service is to improve eye care pathways within South East London and ensure patients get timely and appropriate access to eye care.

The Service Specification has been published with this advert.

We anticipate that the maximum value over a 3-year contract period with an option to extend to a further 2 years beyond the initial contracted duration is £4.78 million GBP. This will be subject to satisfactory performance and by mutual agreement between the Commissioners and the Provider.

The services covered by the light touch regime are set out at Schedule 3 (Social and Other Specific Services) of PCR 2015. If the value of the Contract is over 589 148 GBP the Contracting Authority must advertise it in the OJEU, although there is flexibility as to the design of the remainder of the Procurement Process. The Commissioner is not voluntarily following any other part of the Regulations. The procedure that the Commissioner is following is as set out in the Invitation to Tender. The Process will be similar to the Open Procedure process under the Regulations but, for avoidance of doubt, the commissioner is not running the Process as though the Open Procedure under the Regulations applies and so reserves the right to depart from that procedure at any point.

The procurement will be advertised via OJEU and Contract Finder.

Interested parties wishing to participate must register on ProContract https://procontract.due-north.com/ as a supplier and register an interest in this Procurement. (If you are already registered as a supplier you will not need to register again, simply use your existing username and password to log into ProContract to register an interest). The deadline for submitting a tender on Procontract is Sunday 20.1.2019 at 23:59 GMT. Submissions received after the above deadline will not be considered.