Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board
Aspen House, Stephenson Road, Severalls Business Park
Colchester
CO4 9QR
Contact
Jane Garnett
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH34 - Essex Haven Gateway
NHS Organisation Data Service
QJG
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://suffolkandnortheastessex.icb.nhs.uk/
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
NHS Primary Care Dentistry supporting Dental Workforce Training and Education
Reference number
WSCCG - 00000083
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85100000 - Health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board are looking to commission NHS care primary dentistry to provide additional access for our population to NHS dental treatment whilst simultaneously increasing and upskilling the local dental workforce through education and training.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £15,400,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH14 - Suffolk
- UKH34 - Essex Haven Gateway
Main site or place of performance
Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care System locality
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Across the country, there has been long-standing and well-known challenges for the public associated with accessing NHS dental care. Suffolk and North East Essex is in fact one of the most challenged areas.
Dental commissioning responsibilities will move from NHS England to local integrated care boards across the country from 1st April 2023. We are working on plans to deliver significant change and improvement in the medium to long term, with the vision of enabling timely access to NHS dental services for all and growing and developing the whole dental workforce.
The service will be expected to provide mandatory services to the population of NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board with a minimum of eight, fully equipped dental surgery units in order to address oral health needs utilising a skilled multidisciplinary team, covering all proper and necessary dental care and treatment.
The service will guarantee placements for local newly qualified and in training dental nurses, therapists, hygienists and dental technicians and provide or have the ability to provide placements for newly qualified and in training dentists. The service will provide a teaching environment for student hygienists and therapists affiliated with a local education establishment.
The service will provide or have the potential to provide the opportunity for overseas dentists to practice under supervision alongside completing the Overseas Registration Examination (ORE). The GDC require the provider to have 'institution' status to employee overseas dentists.
The service will work within the social, economic, and environmental themes within the Cabinet Office Social Value Model to ensure they are always doing the right thing by both their people and the planet.
This notice is made by the Contracting Authority; NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (hereinafter referred to as "the Authority") in compliance with their local standing financial instructions (SFIs) to notify the market of the intention to award a contract to deliver NHS Primary Care Dentistry supporting Dental Workforce Training and Education to University of Suffolk Dental Community Interest Company.
The Authority is to award the services outlined in this notice to the University of Suffolk Dental Community Interest Company as no other suitable providers expressed an interest in the F01: Prior information notice (call for competition) - Notice reference: 2023/S 000-006981 - NHS Primary Care Dentistry supporting Dental Workforce Training and Education.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
5 years with a potential extension of 2 years
two.2.14) Additional information
The Service to which this procurement relates fall within Schedule 3 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 as amended by as amended by The Public Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, (the "Regulations"). As such, the Contracting Authority does not intend to hold itself bound by any of the Regulations, save those applicable to Schedule 3 Services.
Contract review provision:
Please note that the services and associated specification and prices commissioned within this contract may be subject to review and change, any changes will be through a variation to the contract in accordance with Regulation 72 (1) (a) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
Additionally, the contract may also be amended in terms of the original services supplied, where, following assessment it is identified that it is logical for additional services to be delivered in conjunction with this contract and by the provider, both in terms of actual service delivery and to avoid duplication of costs.
These services may include but are not limited to other services and specialties formally delivered in the primary and secondary care systems where it is foreseen that these services can be delivered more effectively as part of this contract.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated without a prior call for competition
- No tenders or no suitable tenders/requests to participate in response to restricted procedure
Explanation:
This notice is made by the Contracting Authority; NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (hereinafter referred to as "the Authority") in compliance with their local standing financial instructions (SFIs) to notify the market of the intention to award a contract to deliver NHS Primary Care Dentistry supporting Dental Workforce Training and Education to University of Suffolk Dental Community Interest Company.
The total contract value is forecasted to be £15,400,000. over a potential five year initial term with the option to extend by a further two years (£2,200,000. per annum) (excluding VAT).
The five year initial term will start on the 1st September 2023, ending on the 31st August 2028.
The Contracting Authority is yet to agree appropriate inflation and uplift for this contract for the period of 2024/25 through to 2027/28. These will be dealt with as Contract Variations in accordance with the NHS Standard Contract Terms and Conditions. The Authority deems any such variations are not substantial or material changes, as they occur due to external causes beyond the Authority's control, including changes in contract value driven by changes in patient volume. The Authority will publish appropriate Notices accordingly to communicate any such future changes to the market, once final.
The Authority will observe a 10-day standstill from the date of publication of this VEAT, during which the Authority will not enter into any contractual arrangement.
The Authority is to award the services outlined in this notice to the University of Suffolk Dental Community Interest Company for the following reason.
On the 9 March 2023, 7:08pm NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board published an Opportunity through Find a Tender F01: Prior information notice (call for competition) - Notice reference: 2023/S 000-006981 - NHS Primary Care Dentistry supporting Dental Workforce Training and Education. The notice and e-procurement portal remained open until 12:00 (noon) 31st March 2023 to receive expressions of interest.
After this date the Authority closed the opportunity and made contact with all Providers who had expressed an interest. The Authority invited Providers to respond to requirements of the specification, and upon conclusion of this information review and in agreement with the Providers who responded to the invitation, only one Provider was deemed suitable. That provider was the University of Suffolk Dental Community Interest Company. No other Providers who responded were able to deliver the specification required.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Title
NHS Primary Care Dentistry supporting Dental Workforce Training and Education
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
12 April 2023
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
University of Suffolk Dental Community Interest Company
Waterfront Building, Neptune Quay,
Ipswich
IP4 1QJ
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH14 - Suffolk
Companies House
14700240
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £15,400,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court of Justice of England and Wales
Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom