Scope
Reference
GDC-2024-027
Description
The General Dental Council (GDC) will be going out to tender, to appoint a supplier for the provision of Print Management and Associated Services.
The GDC is responsible for regulating dental professionals in the UK, ensuring that only qualified individuals can legally practise dentistry. As part of our statutory function, we maintain registers of over 44,500 dentists and 76,000 Dental Care Professionals (DCPs) and maintain a list of specialists also on the register, known as Specialist Lists, ensuring they remain complaint with regulatory requirements, including the annual renewal of their registration through the Annual Retention Fee (ARF) process.
Registrants receive multiple notifications before, during and after renewals. This includes formal notices, reminders, and compliance related correspondence. While the GDC uses a range of digital communication channels such as email, SMS, and eGDC (our web-based system where registrants can maintain their registration details and pay their ARF by credit or debit card), it is a legal obligation for the GDC to send certain communications via physical mail. This ensures that registrants are properly notified of their obligations, especially in cases where digital communication may be unread, or insufficient for legal purposes.
To support this statutory function, we require a reliable print management and mail fulfilment partner who is capable of handling high volumes of legally significant and time sensitive correspondence.
The Supplier will undertake the management, proofing and production of personalised mailings using the data provided by the GDC. This includes proofing correspondences, validating the data and sending out the following:
- Annual retention fee notices
- Removal letters
- Indemnity Notice of Erasure letters
- Annual Practising Certificates
- Registrant reminder letters
The Supplier will provide additional services, including:
- A secure method for sharing registrant/mailing data
- A forward on service
- A business reply service
- A process for providing weekly management reports to the GDC (as described in the Service Level Agreement)
- Ad-hoc registrant mailing
- GDC stationery
- Printing and sending of 'welcome packs' (including Standards of the Dental team book, registration certificate and register leaflet items)
Total value (estimated)
- £2,000,000 excluding VAT
- £2,400,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 September 2025 to 31 December 2027
- Possible extension to 31 December 2029
- 4 years, 4 months
Description of possible extension:
The initial contract period will be two years and three months. There is provision for the contract to be extended for two additional periods of 12 months each, subject to the contract remaining fit for purpose and the supplier maintaining a good standard of contract performance.
Main procurement category
Services
Additional procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 22000000 - Printed matter and related products
- 79571000 - Mailing services
- 79800000 - Printing and related services
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
12 May 2025
Enquiry deadline
22 May 2025, 11:00am
Submission type
Requests to participate
Deadline for requests to participate
6 June 2025, 11:00am
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Suppliers to be invited to tender
Minimum 3 suppliers
Selection criteria:
The award criteria will be detailed in the procurement documents. The criteria will be a combination of quality criteria and pricing criteria which may include but will not be limited to:- Economic and Financial Standing- Approach to delivering the services- Approach to data processing and information security- Implementation plan- Contract management- Terms and Conditions- Pricing
Award decision date (estimated)
18 August 2025
Recurring procurement
Publication date of next tender notice (estimated): 1 May 2029
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Competitive flexible procedure description
The competitive flexible procedure for this procurement will follow a two-stage process:
Stage One: Prequalification
Suppliers will be required to complete and submit a Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) as part of the Prequalification Stage. This stage is designed to assess each supplier's suitability to deliver the contract. Suppliers must successfully pass this stage to proceed further in the procurement process. No tender submissions are required at this stage; however, all procurement documents, including the Statement of Requirement and evaluation criteria, will be made available to suppliers at the outset. Suppliers who do not meet the participation requirements will be notified in writing of the outcome and will not progress to the next stage.
Stage Two: Invitation to Tender
Suppliers shortlisted from the Conditions of Participation Stage will be invited to submit a full tender in response to our Print Management and Associated Services requirements. Tender submissions will be evaluated in accordance with the evaluation methodology detailed in the tender documents.
Contracting authority
General Dental Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PNVG-6917-QHLP
37 Wimpole Street
London
W1G 8DQ
United Kingdom
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government