Print Management and Associated Services

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)