Preliminary Market Engagement for Optometry Services for NI Prison population

The purpose of this Prior Information Notice is to inform the market of our envisaged procurement plan for the provision of optometry services for the Northern Ireland Prison (NIP) population.

Optometry services are required to support the assessment, diagnosis and management of eye health and vision needs and to ensure access to optometric care comparable to that available within community primary care. It is envisaged that the Supplier(s) will be expected to provide a comprehensive optometry service on behalf of Health and Social Care (HSC) in Northern Ireland, delivered within prison healthcare settings.

The service is expected to be delivered across the following Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) sites:

Maghaberry Prison

Hydebank Wood Secure College

Magilligan Prison

This may include, but will not be restricted to:

1. Provision of routine and urgent optometric assessments and examinations.
2. Detection and diagnosis of ocular conditions and referral to appropriate healthcare services where clinically indicated.
3. Prescription, supply, fitting, repair and replacement of spectacles.
4. Provision of appropriately qualified and registered optometry professionals, able to work within a secure prison environment.
5. Use of suitable clinical equipment and systems to support safe and effective service delivery.
6. Administrative, record‑keeping and governance arrangements to support service oversight and continuity of care.

We hope that the Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) will help encourage supplier interest in this tender. It will also help us understand any barriers to tendering that suppliers currently face, including challenges associated with delivering optometry services within prison settings, so these can be considered when drafting the HSC tender.