Market Engagement for Mandatory Dental Sedation Services South East

This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice in relation to a pre-procurement market engagement event and a market questionnaire. <br/>NHS England and NHS Improvement South East (the Commissioner) invites expressions of interest (EOI) from suitably qualified and experienced Providers, to provide Mandatory Dental Sedation Services within the South East area. <br/>The indicative date for the contract to commence is 1st April 2024. The annual contract value is expected to be in the region of £3.5million, although this is to be confirmed.<br/>The aims for Mandatory Dental Sedation provision are to: <br/><br/>• establish a positive working relationship between the Commissioner and Provider to facilitate and maximise high quality sedation service delivery; <br/>• contribute to improving oral and general health; <br/>• develop sedation services in line with the evolving strategic approach to primary care dental provision and align with the priorities of the NHS Long Term Plan – www.longtermplan.nhs.uk; <br/>• deliver appropriate, efficient and cost-effective sedation services within the service provision framework of the NHS (General Dental Services/Personal Dental Services) Regulations 2005 and any subsequent revisions; <br/>• provide high quality dental sedation services; <br/>• refer patients to other NHS services as appropriate in line with the relevant local protocols and guidance; <br/>• promote overall health in line with Making Every Contact Count. <br/>• provide access to NHS dental services to ensure equity and consistency of provision; <br/>• reduce inequalities in health and access to dental care by providing extra support to groups of vulnerable adults and children;<br/>• offer patients requiring and eligible for sedation services the most straightforward technique, which is likely to be effective, based on a robust patient assessment and on clinical need;<br/>• ensure that clinicians, dental care professionals and other staff working for the service are adequately trained, skilled and experienced to deliver a high quality and safe sedation services.<br/><br/>This process is being managed by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.<br/>Those interested in delivering the service should complete the online market engagement questionnaire.<br/>Following market questionnaire submissions providers will be invited to attend a virtual market engagement event, expected to take place in September 2022 (a specific date and time will follow in due course). <br/>Further details of the event, including joining instructions, will be provided once the PIN has closed, to those providers who express an interest and complete the market engagement questionnaire.<br/>Providers who wish to express their interest and complete the questionnaire will need to register on the e-procurement system, Atamis, available on the following link: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome <br/>Please complete the market questionnaire within Atamis by midday on Friday 29th July 2022.<br/>NHSE/I South East will not be liable for costs incurred by any interested party in participating in this exercise. <br/>This notice is an information gathering exercise rather than a call for competition in its own right, and therefore publication or response does not commit NHSE/I South East or respondents to a future procurement, nor provide any process exemptions or preferential treatment to any parties expressing an interest. <br/>The services are healthcare services falling within Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ("the Regulations") which are not subject to the full regime of the Regulations, but is instead governed by the "Light Touch Regime" contained within Chapter 3, Section 7 of the Regulations (Regulations 74 to 77).