Award

Dental Electronic Referral Service for NHS England South West

NHS SOUTH, CENTRAL AND WEST COMMISSIONING SUPPORT UNIT

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

28 Nov 2025 at 12:14

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit has awarded a contract to NEC Software Solutions UK Limited for the Dental Electronic Referral Service (DERS) across the South West of England. The procurement process was executed using the Crown Commercial Services Framework RM6259, specifically Lot 2, under a selective procurement method of calling off from a framework agreement. Covering areas such as Bath, Swindon & Wiltshire, Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, and Somerset, the service aims to replace paper processes with a comprehensive digital referral solution. The award stage was completed on 6th November 2025, with the three-year contract starting on 17th November 2025, and offering an option to extend for up to two additional years. The contract is valued at £1,407,131 initially, with a potential total value of £2,177,767 inclusive of extensions.

The introduction of DERS provides business growth opportunities, particularly for companies specialising in clinical information systems and digital referral solutions. Small and medium enterprises, as well as voluntary, community, and social enterprises, are well-suited to pursue similar contracts, given NHS's openness to diverse suppliers. The programme promises greater efficiency in triaging dental referrals, ensuring compliance with national standards and facilitating patient access to specialist NHS dental services. Organisations offering innovative digital solutions that enhance service evaluation and development while ensuring value for money will find this initiative ripe for engagement. With its extensive regional coverage, this tender exemplifies a chance for suppliers to expand their presence in the robust NHS service framework, leveraging technology to refine healthcare delivery.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Dental Electronic Referral Service for NHS England South West

Notice Description

The Commissioners wished to seek a single provider to deliver DERS across the South West. The Crown Commercial Services (CCS) Framework RM6259 Vertical Application Solutions - Lot 2 'Education, Community Health and Social Care Solutions' was used to run a "further competition". A total of thirty-one providers are approved on the CCS framework agreement for Lot 2 and were contacted prior to the further competition ITT being published. DERS SW will result in the current paper processes ending and being replaced by an end-to-end digital referral solution, providing a uniform service across the region. The digital system will negate the need for much of the administrative triage currently done within the region and will cover all specialisms. DERS SW will: * Provide assurance that referrals are made in accordance with national standards and criteria in a timely appropriate manner. * Provide clinicians with a single mechanism to refer patients that require specialist and specialised NHS dental services. * Improve the quality of referrals in order to support effective triage. * Enable patients to access care that is most suited to their needs. * Improve the efficiency of the referral process. * Provide accurate referral information to support clinical service evaluation and development. * Achieve value for money. Geography covered: Bath, Swindon & Wiltshire Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire Cornwall (including the Isles of Scilly) Devon Dorset Gloucestershire Somerset Contract start date: 17/11/2025 Contract award date: 06/11/2025 Contract term: 3 years with an extension option for any period up to a further 2 years Contract value (initial 3 year term): PS1,407,131 Contract value (inclusive of 2 x extension years): PS2,177,767 Following notification of the outcome of the procurement, the contracting authority observed a voluntary 10 day standstill period prior to awarding the contract. This procurement has been carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners. Additional information: The services are deemed to be subject to the full regime of procurement legislation and as such this tender was conducted in accordance with, and governed by, the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-c6fcc4a4-9ef8-41fa-875b-5e8b8a7ba2f7
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e2749fe4-ebdf-4359-a095-3be45a6a6f6a
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Call-off from a framework agreement
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

CPV Codes

48814400 - Clinical information system

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,177,767 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£1,407,131 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Nov 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
20 Jun 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
6 Nov 20253 months ago
Contract Period
17 Nov 2025 - 16 Nov 2028 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NHS SOUTH, CENTRAL AND WEST COMMISSIONING SUPPORT UNIT
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
scwcsu.procurement@nhs.net
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS1 6BH
Post Town
Bristol
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK51 Bristol, City of
Delivery Location
TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
Bristol, City of
Electoral Ward
Central
Westminster Constituency
Bristol Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

NEC SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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