DVLA puts visual fields testing out to tender

A new commercial arrangement for visual fields testing has been put out to tender by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

'The service provider will primarily assist in medical enquiries relating to the fitness to drive of licence holders and applicants, who may not meet the vision standards required for driving within the UK,' said the DVLA in a letter sent to practitioners last week.

It said it aimed to test the market for a contract which would satisfy national coverage, but that it could develop into a regional service provision with multiple suppliers.

Details of the tender revealed on www.tender-service.co.uk showed the estimated cost of the contract to be between £1.6m and £2.0m - with no division of lots. The DVLA said the tender would be conducted in accordance with public procurement rules and, as such, in an open and transparent manner that promoted and encouraged competition.