Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB) on behalf of NHS England
Sackville House, Brooks Close
Lewes, East Sussex
BN7 2FZ
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKJ2 - Surrey, East and West Sussex
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.sussex.ics.nhs.uk/nhs-sussex/
Buyer's address
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Special Care & Paediatric Dentistry (SCPD) to NHS Sussex ICB
Reference number
WA18630
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85131000 - Dental-practice services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
This is an intention to award notice.
Special Care & Paediatric Dentistry (SCPD) services are available for children and adults with additional needs who are unable to have treatment at a general dental practice. It is a referral-only service, providing a range of dental treatments for children and adults with additional needs, including physical or learning disabilities, or where they have a need for additional support to receive treatment. Home visits are also provided for patients who are housebound. People are usually referred in via their dentist or doctor.
NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB) intends to award contracts to 2 existing providers following Direct Award Process C of the UK Health Care Services (PSR) Regulations 2023 for SCPD services in the Sussex area. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period.
The existing SCPD contracts have previously been contracted under the Standard Clauses For A Personal Dental Services (PDS) Agreement and include the provision of general anaesthetic (GA) services. As the provision of services under GA is excluded under clause 73 of the PDS contract, SCPD GA services will instead be contracted for separately under NHS standard contracts.
The terms of the existing SCPD contracts are due to expire on 31st March 2026 and NHS Sussex ICB have proposed that new SCPD and SCPD GA contracts should replace the existing contracts at the end of their term. All requirements outlined in Regulation 6(5) of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 have been met, including that the considerable change threshold has not been met, and therefore Direct Award Process C has been determined as the appropriate provider selection process.
After conducting assessments of the existing providers, taking into account the key criteria and applying the basic selection criteria, NHS Sussex ICB is content that the existing providers are satisfying the original contracts and will likely satisfy the proposed contracts to a sufficient standard.
The awarded contracts will each be for a term of up to 2 years and are due to commence from 1st April 2026. The total maximum contract value of these contracts is £15,188,196.
There are 4 contracts being awarded to 2 providers as follows:-
1. SCPD for West Sussex & Brighton & Hove - Sussex Community Foundation Trust
2. SCPD GA for West Sussex & Brighton & Hove - Sussex Community Foundation Trust
3. SCPD for East Sussex - East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
4. SCPD GA for East Sussex - East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
Section six. Complementary information
six.6) Original notice reference
Notice number: 2025/S 000-076661
Section seven. Changes
seven.1) Information to be changed or added
seven.2) Other additional information
The date of contract award was 8th December 2025, following conclusion of the standstill period after publishing the intention to award notice.
There are 4 contracts being awarded to 2 providers as follows:-
1. SCPD for West Sussex & Brighton & Hove - Sussex Community Foundation Trust. Total maximum value of the contract is £9,295,206.
2. SCPD GA for West Sussex & Brighton & Hove - Sussex Community Foundation Trust. Total maximum value of the contract is £1,463,134.
3. SCPD for East Sussex - East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust. Total maximum value of the contract is £3,195,298.
4. SCPD GA for East Sussex - East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust. Total maximum value of the contract is £1,234,558.
The awarded contracts will each be for a term of up to 2 years and are due to commence from 1st April 2026, terminating 31st March 2028. The total maximum contract value of these contracts is £15,188,196.
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) confirmation of contract award notice. This contract has been awarded under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and The Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award. This contract has now been formally awarded using direct award process C.