Market Engagement Event - Mandatory Dental Services (MDS) for NHS England and NHS Improvement, South East (Wessex)

This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice in order to facilitate early engagement with potential providers, and relates only to a market engagement event. NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE & NHSI), South East (Wessex) are seeking to commission Mandatory Dental Services in the Portsmouth, Alton and Tadley areas, and will be holding a procurement process to award new contracts for service commencement from September 2020.

The key aims for Mandatory Dental Service provision are to: • provide access to NHS dental services to ensure equity and consistency of provision • deliver appropriate, efficient and cost effective services within the service provision framework of the NHS (General Dental Services/Personal Dental Services) Regulations 2005 and any subsequent revisions • provide high quality dental services that meet the needs of people wishing to attend an NHS Dental practice in the Portsmouth, Alton and Tadley areas which may include flexible appointment times and accessible services • provide access to patients identified as having an urgent dental need via NHS 111 • refer patients to other NHS services as appropriate in line with the relevant local protocols and guidance • establish a positive working relationship between the Commissioner and Provider to facilitate and maximise high quality service delivery • develop services in line with the evolving strategic approach to primary care dental provision • address the needs of vulnerable groups by incorporating elements of the Starting Well Programme to reduce oral health inequalities and improve oral health of children under 5 years old, residents of care homes and other vulnerable groups The route to market for the various service elements and geographies is still being determined but, as a guide, the procurement is anticipated to commence from January 2020, inviting providers to deliver services for specific lotted areas, with contract commencement anticipated in September 2020. The Commissioner(s) would like to invite suitably qualified providers to attend a market briefing event which will inform the market of their intentions to procure Mandatory Dental Services.

The market engagement event will take place on Tuesday 3rd December 18.00-20.00 in Whitely, Fareham. Further details will be provided to those who express an interest and register for the event.

Additional information: The market engagement event is open to all providers who may want to deliver NHS mandatory dental services in the future. An expression of interest to attend this Market Briefing Event is not an indication of a commitment to participate in the future tender process nor does it infer any special status on those Providers who do attend.

An expression of interest in this event will not automatically entitle involvement in any future procurement exercise. Any procurement conducted as a result of this event will be advertised separately and all organisations wanting to participate will need to respond to the procurement advertisement as and when it is published.

Providers who do not attend this Market Engagement Event will still be able to apply for the Procurement in the future. Please note that this Market Engagement Event does not represent a formal stage in the procurement process and attendance will play no part in any subsequent evaluation process.

This notice is an information gathering exercise rather than a call for competition in its own right, and therefore publication or response does not commit the Commissioner or respondents to a future procurement, nor provide any process exemptions or preferential treatment to any parties expressing an interest. Commissioners are looking to establish what interest there might be in providing such a service from suitably qualified, capable and competent organisations.