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- This notice is a confirmation of award of a contract under the most suitable provider process in accordance with the Provider Selection Regime 2023 (PSR).
The Authority only considered organisations that could meet the following basic selection criteria:
The Authority seeks to increase Level 1 dental sedation capacity in North Mid and South Essex, specifically from Chelmsford northwards, with services located along the A12/A120 corridor to ensure good patient access. Providers must operate an existing dental practice within this defined catchment.
Providers must hold an existing GDS or PDS contract for NHS mandatory services within Mid and South Essex. They must meet all IACSD 2020 Standards for Level 1 sedation, including compliant clinical facilities and appropriate environment. A fully trained sedation team (IACSD and CQC aligned) must be in place at contract start.
Providers should hold relevant SAAD accreditation (SSC and/or SSPS, or equivalent). Providers must evidence robust sedation governance, including a sedation policy, protocols aligned to IACSD 2020 and the UK Sedation SOP, appropriate screening and assessment processes, and clear escalation pathways for Level 2/3 or GA referral.
Providers must demonstrate compliance with CQC Regulations 11, 12, 15 and 18, with no outstanding CQC enforcement relating to sedation. There must be no unresolved NHSBSA Sedation Assurance issues, and Providers must be able to self declare evidence of safe historical sedation activity. Providers must not be subject to remedial notices or clinical safety investigations.
Providers must be able to deliver sedation for adults and children, and demonstrate integration with local care pathways, including established referral routes with local dental services or hospitals for escalation and cross provider collaboration.
The planned service model is designed to meet a specific, limited level of patient need, with an annual total of 500 Courses of Treatment (CoT) each reimbursed at a tariff of £240 per CoT. As this activity is distributed across all appointed providers, individual provider volumes will be modest. Providers should consider how these limited activity levels align with their operational planning and service delivery model when assessing suitability for this opportunity. The total funding available across all appointed providers equates to £120,000. The Authority intends to award three contracts, so each Provider can expect an annual contract value of approximately £40,000.
Providers must be able to mobilise by 1 July 2026, and the contract will be awarded for a duration of 9 months, up to 31st March 2027, with the option of a further 12 month extension, subject to the Authority's requirements, which may be enacted at the Authority's discretion where extension is considered necessary to ensure uninterrupted service provision, ongoing compliance and performance, operational stability, or where financial or strategic considerations justify continuation of the existing arrangements.
The aggregate contract value per each contract based on the contract duration (21 months) is approximately £70,000, based on a third of the CoT funded. Therefore the total budget for this Service across all three contracts is approximately £210,000 over the contract duration including extension period, if enacted.
Key Criteria Assessment:
The key criteria are being assessed on a pass / fail basis and are weighted by the Authority as follows:
1. Quality and Innovation (20%)
2. Value (20%)
3. Integration, Collaboration, Sustainability (15%)
4. Access and Health Inequalities (35%)
5. Social Value (10%)