Multiple wins DLVA tender

Specsavers has retained the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s (DVLA) vision testing service contract estimated to be worth up to £19.1m.

The multiple’s UK and Ireland managing director, Paul Marshall told Optician: ‘We are pleased and honoured that the DVLA has chosen to award Specsavers a new contract following a competitive and extensive tender process.

The company said 420 of its practices participated in the provision of the contract, with around 70,000 group 1 and group 2 drivers tested every year.

Primary Eyecare Services (PES), which tabled a rival bid for the tender, said it was naturally disappointed not to have been selected. PES chief officer Dharmesh Patel said its tender would have delivered a convenient local, flexible service for the public and high-quality reporting for the DVLA, via the 2,500 optical practices situated across the UK that were included in the proposal.