Dental-practice services

Tender description

NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit (AGCSU) on behalf of NHS England & NHS Improvement – East of England (referred to as the Commissioner) is inviting suitably qualified and experienced providers to deliver the services for Special Care Dentistry for Adults and Children, which will include referral services and Dental Public Health services, across Suffolk. The historic contracts were known as Community Dental Services. The current contract is due to end on 31.5.2020. The new contract is expected to commence on 1.6.2020 for a period of 7 years with an option to extend to a further 1, plus 1, plus 1 year (total contract duration 10 years). Bidders are to note, the deadline for tender submissions is 10:00am on Monday 7.10.2019. Special Care Dentistry is defined as being “concerned with the improvement of the oral health of individuals and groups in society who have a physical, sensory, intellectual, mental, medical, emotional or social impairment or disability or, more often, a combination of these factors. The speciality focuses on adolescents and adults only and includes the important period of transition as the adolescent moves into adulthood". The speciality was formally recognised by the General Dental Council (GDC) in 2008” (Guides for Commissioning Dental Specialities – Special Care Dentistry, NHSE, September 2015). NB The service being commissioned includes both Special Care Dentistry and Paediatric patients.