Provision of Dental Services (Towcester, Northamptonshire)
Estimated Value
Up to £522,900
Deadline
Not specified
Published
13 May 2026
Type
services
Overview
This is a Prior Information Notice (PIN) to help ascertain market interest and capability to help shape the procurement strategy going forward. Service details are provided below.
The Northamptonshire ICB is seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified dental providers to deliver dental services in the Towcester locality. The contract will provide comprehensive NHS primary care dentistry to a registered patient population of both adults and children, including routine care, urgent treatment, and preventative services, in line with the NHS dental contract framework.
Location: Towcester, within a 3-mile radius of NN12 6AF Contract size: 15,000 UDAs Estimated Total Contract Value: £522,900 per annum UDA Rate: £34.86 The Contracting Authority will be using an eTendering system for this market engagement exercise.
Additional details
To express an interest and access the questionnaire go to the ‘Live Opportunities’ list on the e-tendering portal at the following link: https://health-family-contract-search.secure.force.com/?s... You can search for the opportunity by entering the following contract reference: C445948 Provision of Dental Services (Towcester, Northamptonshire). Once registered please complete the questions which asks providers to give details about your organisation.
Please note the deadline for responses and to register your interest is by 1700hrs on Friday 22 May 2026. Additional information: Please note, the Contract Notice Publish date is only indicative at this time and is subject to change.
AI Analysis
Powered by AI — always verify against official documents
Northamptonshire ICB (the NHS body that commissions health services locally) is testing the market to find out what dental providers are available and capable of running an NHS dental practice in Towcester. This is an early-stage notice to gauge interest before they formally tender the contract. The successful provider will run a primary care dental practice serving 15,000 patients (measured in UDAs — Units of Dental Activity) for approximately £523,000 per year.
Requirements
- Must be a suitably qualified dental provider (specific qualifications not detailed in this notice — check full tender documents)
- Must be able to deliver NHS primary care dentistry services
- Must be registered and able to operate within the Towcester locality (3-mile radius of postcode NN12 6AF)
- Must be able to serve both adult and child patients
- Must be able to deliver routine care, urgent treatment, and preventative services in line with NHS dental contract framework
- Must register and respond to the market engagement questionnaire by 1700hrs on Friday 22 May 2026
Key Tasks & Deliverables
- Provide comprehensive NHS primary care dentistry to a registered patient population of approximately 15,000 UDAs (Units of Dental Activity)
- Deliver routine dental care (check-ups, cleanings, fillings, etc.)
- Provide urgent dental treatment to patients
- Deliver preventative dental services and patient education
- Operate within the Towcester area (3-mile radius of NN12 6AF)
- Serve both adult and child patients under NHS contract terms
- Complete and submit market engagement questionnaire detailing organisational capability
How to Read This Tender
- 1This is a PIN (Prior Information Notice), not a formal tender yet — it's the buyer testing the market. Responding now does not commit you, but helps shape how they'll run the actual tender later. Take it seriously because your response influences their procurement strategy.
- 2UDAs (Units of Dental Activity) are how NHS dentistry is paid — each treatment is worth a certain number of UDAs. 15,000 UDAs at £34.86 per UDA = roughly £522,900 annually. Understand your local cost base (rent, staff, equipment) to know if this is financially viable for you.
- 3The eTendering portal link takes you to a registration and questionnaire system. You must register first, then complete their questionnaire — simply emailing an expression of interest won't work. Mark the deadline clearly (22 May 2026, 5pm) in your calendar.
- 4This notice says 'Contract Notice Publish date is only indicative and subject to change' — the formal tender may be delayed or brought forward. Register your interest now so you don't miss updates.
- 5Look for the full tender documents once you register on the portal. This PIN deliberately doesn't detail specific requirements (qualifications, premises standards, IT systems, staffing ratios) — those will be in the full specification. Don't assume you know what's required.
Tips for Small Businesses
- As a small dental practice, consider whether you can manage 15,000 UDAs (roughly 2,880 patient appointments per year based on typical NHS activity). If you're too small, explore partnering with another practice or dentist as a consortium bid — the notice doesn't prohibit joint bids.
- This is a long-term NHS contract (typically 3–5 years with options to extend). Build your response around financial sustainability and patient quality outcomes — the buyer will assess both in the formal tender. Use this PIN response to highlight your track record, staff experience, and local ties.
- Dental premises, equipment, and staffing compliance (GDC registration, DBS checks, CQC registration if applicable) are not mentioned in this notice but will definitely be required in the formal tender. Start auditing your readiness now: Does your premises meet NHS standards? Are all staff registered and checked? This will speed up your formal bid.
Before you bid, buyers check
two years of filed accountsyour financial standingturnover vs contract valueyour Companies House recordcash flow for 30-day termscredit scores and ratios
Actions
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How to Apply
Step-by-step submission guide
Submission Portal
Find a Tender
Open the original notice
Click the button below to view the full notice on Find a Tender Service (FTS)
Check the procedure type
The "Procedure" section tells you if it's Open (one stage) or Restricted (SQ then ITT). This changes how you apply
Access the eSourcing portal
FTS notices link to the buyer's eSourcing platform — register there to access documents
Complete the Selection Questionnaire
Higher-value contracts often require an SQ first — this pre-qualifies you before the full bid stage
Submit electronically
Upload your completed response through the eSourcing platform before the closing date and time
FTS contracts are above UK procurement thresholds. Late submissions are strictly rejected — submit at least 24 hours before the deadline to avoid portal issues.
Useful Resources
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Key Dates
Published
13 May 2026
Submission deadline
Not specified
Notice type
planning
Source
find a tender
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