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Delivery of the Overseas Registration Examination

General Dental Council

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

30 Mar 2026 at 14:40

Award Notice
Tender

09 May 2024 at 19:05

Tender Notice
Planning

23 Feb 2024 at 16:05

Planning Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The General Dental Council (GDC) has initiated a procurement process for the delivery of the Overseas Registration Examination (ORE), divided into two lots: Part 1 - Knowledge Based Exam and Part 2 - Practical Clinical Skills Exam. The procurement, falling under education and training services, was conducted via a selective competitive dialogue method. The process is complete with active contract awards made to UCL Consultants Ltd for both parts, signed on 13th March 2026 for Part 1, valued at £9,153,984, and on 6th March 2026 for Part 2, valued at £80,293,796. The procurement aligns with the Public Contracts Regulation 2015, under the Light Touch Regime, with services to be delivered primarily within the UK.

This tender represents substantial business potential for entities specialising in education and training services, particularly those with expertise in examination delivery and management. Opportunities are ripe for businesses capable of providing comprehensive solutions that include exam planning, material provision, candidate management, and quality assurance. Companies well-versed in creating secure and effective examination processes, whether on-site or remotely, within or outside the UK, will find this contract beneficial. With contracts spanning initially five years and potentially extending up to ten, this procurement provides a stable, long-term partnership opportunity for large-scale providers who can meet demand-driven requirements.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Delivery of the Overseas Registration Examination

Notice Description

The General Dental Council (GDC) invited tenders for the delivery of Overseas Registration Examination (ORE). The requirement was procured under two Lots, Lot 1: Part 1- knowledge based exam which is designed to test application of knowledge to clinical practice, and Lot 2: Part 2 a clinical exam designed to test candidates' practical clinical skills. Note: Demand for services related to the Part 1 and Part 2 ORE exams are demand driven. The procurement was conducted under the Public Contracts Regulation 2015: Light Touch Regime- Regulations 74-77.

Lot Information

Overseas Registrants Exams Part 1: Computer based exam

The scope of services required may include but is not limited to: Delivery of the OREP1 exam up to 2000 sittings per year. For more information please visit: ORE Part 1 (gdc-uk.org). - Provision of services, material, equipment, and personnel - Management (project management) and administration of the OREP1 sittings and suitable venues to hold exams within the UK, where required. - Suitably qualified and experienced examiners - Candidate management and relationship management. - Working with the GDC to ensure the OREP1 is delivered effectively and in accordance with Preparing for Practice (learning outcomes for dentists) and the ORE Advisory Group to ensure the relevant standard is maintained and the continuous improvement of the OREP1. At this time, we are looking to use the pre-procurement activity to inform our thinking about the design, delivery, capability for the exam. Additional information: The estimated total value of OREP1 is circa PS1,000,000 over five years. We will also consider the optimal contract length and overall contract value. The information provided at II.2.7) Duration of the contract and II.1.5), Estimated total value and II.1.6) and Information about lots is subject to change.

Delivery of the Overseas Registration Exams - OREP2 Clinical Practical Exams

The high-level scope of services required may include but is not limited to: - Design of the 4 components for delivery of the learning outcomes - Delivery of a number of the exam sittings to meet demand. - Provision of suitable venues to hold examinations within the UK, suitable to accommodate between 600 - 1500 candidates per year. - Provision of services, material, equipment, and personnel - Management (project management) and administration of the exam sittings. - Suitably qualified and experienced examiners - Candidate and relationship management. - Working with: - the GDC to ensure the OREP2 is delivered effectively and in accordance with Learning Outcomes for dentists (currently Preparing for Practice) and - the ORE Advisory Group to ensure the relevant standard is maintained and the continuous improvement of the OREP2. Additional information: The estimated total value of OREP2 is up to PS6,500,000 over five years . We will also consider the optimal contract length and overall contract value. The information provided at II.2.7) Duration of the contract and II.1.5), Estimated total value and II.1.6) and Information about lots is subject to change.

ORE Part 1: Knowledge Based Exam

Bidders were required to propose a solution for the delivery of the ORE Part 1 exam. The supplier will provide an end-to-end service which will include but is not limited to: -Planning and preparation for the delivery of exams -Development and management of the exam blueprint -Development of appropriate policies and procedures -Management and maintenance of the Question Bank. -Provision of resources: administrative, project management and technical resources to deliver the end-to-end services. -Provision of premises to hold exams (where required) -Provision of all material and equipment required to deliver the services. -Quality management and assurance of the exam process -Delivery of two papers that test candidates' application of knowledge to clinical practice. The written paper must cover (1) clinically applied dental science and clinically applied human disease; and (2) aspects of clinical dentistry, law and ethics, and health and safety. -Delivery of services in accordance with the rules and guidelines. -Working with the GDC to ensure the ORE Part1 is delivered effectively and in accordance with learning outcomes for dentists and the ORE Advisory Group (OREAG) to ensure the relevant standard is maintained and the continuous improvement of the exam. -Candidate management. Additional information: The initial Contract period is 5 years, the Authority has the option to let the contract expire at the end of the initial 5-year period or take up optional extension period as provided for in the contract. The total procurement value as noted at II.1.6 is for 10 years

Options: To provide a candidate management portal . To delivery exams remotely and/or abroad .

Renewal: The initial Contract period is 5 years, the Authority has the option to let the contract expire at the end of the initial 5 year period or take up optional extension period as provided for in the contract.

Part 2: Practical Clinical Skills Exam

A solution for the delivery of the ORE Part 2 exam - providing an end-to-end service which will includes: -Planning and preparation for the delivery of exams -Development and management of the exam blueprint -Development of appropriate policies and procedures -Management and maintenance of the Question Bank. -Provision of resources: administrative, project management and technical resources to deliver the end-to-end services. -Provision of premises to hold exams -Provision of all material and equipment required to deliver the services. -Quality management and assurance of the exam process -Delivery of practical clinical exams demonstrating the relevant learning outcomes and covering; an operative test on a dental manikin (DM), an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), a diagnostic and treatment planning exercise (DTP) and a practical examination in medical emergencies (ME). -Delivery of services in accordance with the rules and guidelines. -Working with the GDC to ensure the ORE Part 2 is delivered effectively and in accordance with learning outcomes for dentists and the ORE Advisory Group (OREAG) to ensure the relevant standard is maintained and the continuous improvement of the exam. -Candidate management Additional information: The initial Contract period is 5 years, the Authority has the option to let the contract expire at the end of the initial 5-year period or take up optional extension period as provided for in the contract. The total procurement value as noted at II.1.6 is for 10 years

Options: To provide a candidate management portal.

Renewal: The initial Contract period is 5 years, the Authority has the option to let the contract expire at the end of the initial 5 year period or take up optional extension period as provided for in the contract.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-043ca0
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029159-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive dialogue
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£15,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£15,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£89,447,780 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Mar 20264 months ago
Submission Deadline
11 Jun 2024Expired
Future Notice Date
30 Apr 2024Expired
Award Date
6 Mar 20265 months ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled, Planned
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
General Dental Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
W1G 8DQ
Postcode Area
West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
Marylebone
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

UCL Consultants Ltd

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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