Test of Professional Competence for Optometrists

AI-generated analysis of the documents. Check the official notice and any amendments for current submission details.

1. At a glance

2. Scope of Work

CORU seeks a provider to design and deliver a Test of Professional Competence (ToPC) for optometrists. This test evaluates international applicants' qualifications and experience against the Standards of Proficiency required for registration in Ireland. The objective is to ensure public protection by confirming that applicants meet the professional practice threshold.

The scope includes:

• Test Design and Delivery: Developing and administering a test that assesses an applicant's ability to meet the Standards of Proficiency for Optometry.
• In-Person Testing Facilities: Providing proctored, in-person testing facilities in Ireland. This encompasses:
• A written examination comprising Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) and scenario/case study questions.
• A clinical assessment exam involving patient examinations.
• An Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) with four stations.
• Scheduling and Coordination: Managing the scheduling and coordination of all test components.
• Candidate Liaison: Communicating with candidates regarding test formats, locations, dates, and times.
• Candidate Guidance Materials: Providing materials explaining test structure, expectations, locations, and sample questions (which must not be reused in live assessments).
• Designated Point of Contact: Appointing a contact person for both CORU and candidates.
• Quality Assurance: Implementing a robust quality assurance system to ensure the validity, reliability, consistency, and fairness of test delivery.
• Post-Assessment Reporting: Submitting detailed reports to CORU for each candidate, including summary outcomes, performance across domains, and a Pass/Fail recommendation.

The test is structured in three parts:

1. Part 1: Written Exam (Online Proctored):

• Section 1: MCQs covering Domains 1-4 of the Standards of Proficiency (40% weighting).
• Section 2: Scenario-based diagnosis and management questions covering Domain 5 (60% weighting).
• Requires an overall 50% grade in both sections to pass.

2. Part 2: Clinical Assessment Exam (In-Person Patient Exam):

• Performance of full eye examinations on two patients with different presentations.
• Includes a short oral exam presenting patient cases.
• Tests Domains 2, 3, and 5.
• This component is Pass/Fail.

3. Part 3: OSCE Stations Exam (In-Person):

• Four stations: Oral exam (clinical scenarios/management), Binocular Vision, Volk Indirect Ophthalmoscopy, and Slit lamp assessment.
• Tests Domain 5.
• This component is Pass/Fail, requiring a pass in all stations.

Candidates can repeat each component once if unsuccessful. All three parts must be passed for overall success. The estimated annual candidate volume is 100-150.

3. Background & buyer context

CORU, established under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, is Ireland's multi-profession health and social care regulator. Its mission is to protect the public by promoting high standards in professional conduct, education, training, and competence. CORU regulates professions including Optometrists, maintaining a register of professionals who meet these standards. This procurement is driven by the Optical Registration Board (ORB) to evaluate international applicants' qualifications for registration. The current system of paper-based assessment is being replaced by this in-person, multi-stage test to ensure international applicants meet the required professional practice standards for public protection.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

• Turnover requirement: Tenderers must demonstrate a minimum average annual turnover of €280,000 over each of the last three financial years.
• Insurance:
• Employer's Liability: €13 million limit per claim or series of claims arising from a single occurrence.
• Public Liability: €6.5 million limit per claim or series of claims arising from a single occurrence.
• Professional Indemnity: €1 million limit.
• Product Liability: Not applicable.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Tenderers must demonstrate previous experience of a minimum of three reference projects of a similar nature.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Parts 2 and 3 of the test must be completed in-person in an appropriate test/exam centre within the Irish State.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The contract will be awarded based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT). Tenderers must achieve a minimum score of 60% for each qualitative award criterion (Design Approach and Operational Delivery) to be considered for award. Failure to meet this threshold on any qualitative criterion will result in exclusion. The lowest cost tender meeting all qualitative minimum requirements receives the maximum cost score.

6. Submission requirements

• Method statement / response document: Tender Response Document (TRD) to be completed in line with instructions. A high-level test outline must be submitted with the tender response by 30th September 2026.
• CVs: Not specified for this tender.
• Pricing schedule: To be completed as included in the TRD.
• Case studies: Not specified for this tender, but a minimum of three reference projects of a similar nature must be demonstrated.
• Declarations:
• eESPD (European Single Procurement Document) declaring no exclusion grounds or sufficient reliability measures.
• Tax Clearance Certificate and Tax Reference Number.
• Confirmation of compliance with social security and revenue obligations.
• Declarations regarding data protection consent.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: eTenders.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Term: 2 years, with a maximum of two possible 12-month extensions.
• Payment terms: Not specified, but prompt payment is implied by standard EU/Irish procurement regulations.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Performance will be continually monitored, with regular reviews. Failure to perform or unsatisfactory performance can lead to contract cancellation.
• Liquidated damages or penalty regimes: Not specified.
• Termination clauses: CORU reserves the right to terminate the contract for failure to perform or unsatisfactory performance.
• IP ownership: Not specified.
• Sub-contracting rules: Tenderers may rely on the capacity of other entities (subcontractors) for selection criteria. Separate eESPDs are required for subcontractors whose capacity is relied upon. Subcontractors not relied upon for selection criteria must also submit a separate eESPD.
• Parent-company guarantee or bond requirements: Not specified.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Tight initial deadlines: A high-level test outline is required with the tender submission by 30th September 2026, and test design completion by end Q1 2027, with initial tests in Q2 2027. This requires a rapid design and mobilisation phase.
• Estimated value vs. turnover: The estimated contract value of €140,000 over two years (plus potential extensions) is significantly lower than the minimum average annual turnover requirement of €280,000. This suggests a focus on established, financially stable providers rather than very small businesses, or an expectation that bidders will demonstrate capacity through other means if turnover is borderline.
• Uncertain uptake: The document notes that estimating uptake for this new in-person test format is difficult, implying potential variability in actual service usage compared to the 100-150 annual candidate estimate.
• Pass/Fail components: The clinical assessment and OSCE are Pass/Fail, with no cross-compensation. This means a candidate must succeed in each distinct element.
• Repeat attempts: Candidates can repeat each component once, which may affect the volume of testing services required over time.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely best suited for established testing service providers with experience in regulated professional environments. A small business could potentially bid if they possess specialised expertise in optometry assessment design and delivery, and can partner with other entities to meet the financial and insurance requirements.

• Credible bidders: Organisations with a proven track record in designing and delivering professional competency tests, particularly in healthcare or regulated professions, are well-positioned. They must demonstrate robust quality assurance processes and the capacity for in-person proctored examinations.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: Collaboration is explicitly encouraged. SMEs are encouraged to explore forming relationships with other SMEs or larger enterprises to meet the scope and financial requirements. Sub-contracting is permitted, and bidders can rely on the capacity of other entities for selection criteria.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Bid preparation will require significant effort, likely several weeks, focusing on detailed design approaches for the multi-stage test, operational delivery plans, and robust evidence for financial and experience criteria.
• Pwin signal: The tender does not explicitly indicate an incumbent. However, the requirement for specific expertise in optometry standards and the multi-stage, in-person testing format suggests that providers with existing infrastructure and experience in similar assessments will have an advantage. The encouragement for SMEs to collaborate suggests the contracting authority is open to new entrants, provided they can demonstrate capability.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: [260731 CORU RFT - ToPC Optometrists.pdf]
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in the provided text.
• Contact email or clarification portal: Not specified in the provided text.
• Most important attachments:
• CORU Services Contract (referenced in Section 3.8)
• Appendix 5: Confidentiality Agreement
• Tender Response Document (TRD) (referenced in Section 6.2.1)