The Provision of a Hearing Aid User Support Service (HAUSS) to empower adult Service Users in the use of Hearing Aids following issue in Northern Ireland

The procurement process for the Provision of a Hearing Aid User Support Service (HAUSS) has been led by the Procurement and Logistics Service on behalf of the Department of Health's Strategic Planning and Performance Group. This initiative aims to empower adult service users in Northern Ireland with hearing aids. Falling under the health and social work services category, this contract is valued at £1,894,028.50 GBP and encompasses a location-specific focus on the UK, particularly Northern Ireland.

This tender process, now in the award stage post-completion, underwent an open procurement procedure with the contract being actively awarded to the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) as of 26th June 2025. It included an initial contract period of three years with options for extensions, offering a significant opportunity for service expansion within its scope. This tender opens substantial opportunities for businesses specialised in healthcare services, particularly those capable of providing substantial support and user empowerment for hearing aid users.

The open procedure and significant contract value indicate a competition-ready environment for qualified large organisations, as evident by the award to the RNID. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with innovative approaches in health service delivery and experience in empowering end-users might have also been well-placed to engage in this process. The focus on empowering individuals posits an excellent growth opportunity for businesses looking to expand their operations in the health and social work services sector within the UK.