Procurement for the provision of Mandatory Dental Services to Kent and Medway ICB, Sussex ICB and Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB

Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB), Sussex ICB, and Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB are seeking to commission Mandatory Dental Services (MDS) in the Kent, Sussex and Hampshire and Isle of Wight area. The Commissioner will be contracting for the services using the Standard clauses for a Personal Dental Services agreement. The contract term will be for a term of up to 119 months, and is due to commence from 25 April 2023. The Commissioner has a maximum budget of £6,147,822 per annum for all Lots. The procurement is split into a number of lots so as to provide maximum flexibility to both the Commissioner and Bidders, and interested parties may bid for one or two lots per County. The Commissioners seek tender responses from providers who have the capability and capacity to undertake such a contract. This procurement is being carried out by NHS South, Central & West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners. The aims for MDS provision are to: • contribute to improving oral and general health; • reduce inequalities in health and access to dental care by providing extra support to groups of vulnerable adults and children. This includes, but is not limited to, children under 5 years old, residents of care homes, patients weighing up to 300kg (47 stones) and other vulnerable groups; • provide access to NHS dental services to ensure equity and consistency of provision; • provide bookable appointments outside of core hours; • deliver appropriate, efficient and cost-effective services within the service provision framework of the NHS (General Dental Services/Personal Dental Services) Regulations 2005 and any subsequent revisions; • provide high quality dental services; • provide access within contracted hours to unassociated patients identified as having an urgent dental need via NHS 111, NHS Dental Helpline, out of hours services and self-referral; • refer patients to other NHS services as appropriate in line with the relevant local protocols and guidance; • establish a positive working relationship between the Commissioner and Provider to facilitate and maximise high quality service delivery; • develop 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; • promote overall health in line with Making Every Contact Count. Interested parties who wish to take part in the procurement are invited to take part in an Invitation To Tender (ITT) process, based on the open procedure and designed to identify the most economically advantageous tender and therefore determine the incoming provider. All ITT responses must be returned by 12 noon on 15th December 2022, at the latest. Atamis: Interested providers will be able to view this notice via the 'Live Opportunities' list on the e-procurement system, Atamis, available on the following link: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome In order to submit a bid, you will need to be registered on Atamis and 'express an interest', and then complete a Bid response as specified within the procurement documents. On registration, please include at least two contacts to allow for access to the system in times of absence. An early engagement market notice was published in relation to this procurement in September 2022, in order to facilitate early engagement with potential providers. Please note that this previous notice was an information gathering exercise rather than a call for competition in its own right. Although those who responded to that notice will be advised that this contract notice has been published, there will be no process exemptions or preferential treatment afforded to any parties who expressed an interest at that stage.