Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
General Dental Council
37 Wimpole Street
London
W1G 8DQ
Contact
Erica Williams
Telephone
+44 2071676000
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Health Regulator
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Provision of Part 2 of the GDC Statutory Examination - Overseas Registration
Reference number
GDC-2017-001
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 80000000 - Education and training services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The GDC intends to extend its existing contract for the Provision of Part 2 of the GDC Statutory Examination - Overseas Registration Examinations (ORE), from 1 April to 30 June 2025 to continue to fulfil the intentions of the original contract by supporting the delivery of examination services. This service under the ORE contract relates to “social and other specific services” listed in Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (as amended) (PCR) and is therefore subject to the ‘light touch regime’ in accordance with Regulations 74 to 77 of the PCR. A procurement for a new contract to deliver examination services for the ORE Part 1 and Part 2 is already underway: Notice reference: 2024/S 000-014888. It is anticipated that the new contract will commence in 2025 for delivery of diets beyond April 2025.
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: £12,650,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKI - London
Main site or place of performance
LONDON
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The scope of services required include but is not limited to: Deliver the 4 components of the clinical examinations. Examinations venue within the UK -Provision of services, material, equipment, and personnel - qualified and experienced examiners -Project Management and administration -Candidate Management -Working with the GDC to ensure the examinations a delivered effectively and in accordance with the examination blueprint and Preparing for Practice and the ORE Advisory Group to ensure the relevant standard is maintained and the continuous improvement of the examination.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2.14) Additional information
A VEAT notice was issued in July 2023 (Notice reference: 2023/S 000-020320: that provided for up to 7 diets. The GDC contracted for 5 of the 7 diets (i.e. Nov 2023 to Nov 2024). As part of a change contract note, the GDC intends to commission the other 2 diets (i.e. Jan 2025 and Feb 2025) The GDC also intends to commission 1 additional diet which is the subject of this VEAT notice (April 2025).
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
The Order 2023 (the Order) came into force on 8th March 2023. The reform that flows from the Order removed the need for the ORE to be provided by a dental authority. The changes could significantly amend the scope of the services and open up the market to new suppliers who were previously prohibited from bidding. Before the GDC can take advantage of the new flexibility, the GDC needed to develop and consult on a new set of rules. The final rules were published in Spring 2024. The extension includes an additional sum payable to the consortium to account for the management and delivery of up to 7 diets across 20 months and 3 days. The additional services had become necessary to continue to allow overseas registrations to continue until the implementation of the rules pursuant to the new Order to allow for a procurement for the services under the updated rules. A change of contractor cannot be made for economic or technical reasons. There is significant preparatory work required to set up the services. This is one of only two types of this exam currently offered in the UK for Overseas dentists. It requires specific technical expertise to run the exam that has to date not presented itself in the market. A change of contractor would cause significant impact and substantial duplication of costs to the GDC. The GDC has a statutory obligation to run the ORE and was required to pause the exam due to Covid 19 restrictions, this has caused a significant backlog of candidates. Candidates only have one five-year period to complete the ORE, they cannot re-apply. Therefore, they would not be able to practice in the UK and overtime may reduce to number of dental professional available to practice in the UK.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2023/S 000-022724
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Contract No
GDC-2017-001
Title
Provision of Part 2 of the GDC Statutory Examination - Overseas Registration
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
22 July 2024
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
UCL Eastman Dental Hospital
256 Gray’s Inn Road
London
WC1X 8LD
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI - London
National registration number
N/A
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
The Royal College of Surgeons of England
35 - 43 Lincoln Inn Field
London
WC2A 3PE
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI - London
National registration number
N/A
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
University College London
123 Gray’s Inn Road
London
WC1X 8WD
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI - London
National registration number
N/A
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Queen Mary University of London Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry
Institute of Dentistry of Turner Street
UK-London: Education and training services.
E1 2AD
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI - London
National registration number
N/A
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £12,000,000
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £12,650,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
The figure detailed at II.1.7) is an additional cost of circa £25K for each of the 2 diets under the previous VEAT and £600K for the 1 diet cover by this VEAT. Therefore, the GDC is extending the contract to provide for an additional 3 diets in total (January 2025, February 2025 and April 2025) to be delivered before the contract expires on 30 June 2025.
To view this notice, please click here:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=876189351
GO Reference: GO-2024723-PRO-26965643
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
General Dental Council
37 Wimpole Street
London
W1G 8DQ
Telephone
+44 2071676282
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
General Dental Council
37 Wimpole Street
London
W1G 8DQ
Telephone
+44 2071676282
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
General Dental Council
37 Wimpole Street
London
W1G 8DQ
Telephone
+44 2071676282
Country
United Kingdom