This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

23 Jan 2026 at 12:15

TenderUpdate

25 Nov 2025 at 13:54

Award

24 Nov 2025 at 17:40

Summary of the contracting process

NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB), acting on behalf of NHS England, is in the process of awarding contracts for Special Care & Paediatric Dentistry (SCPD) services. This contract is aimed at providing specialised dental services for both children and adults with additional needs, in the Sussex area, covering regions including West Sussex, Brighton & Hove, and East Sussex. The procurement, classified under dental-practice services (CPV code 85131000), involves a direct award process without a prior call for competition under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. The contracts are set to commence on 1st April 2026, with a standstill period commenced following the intention to award notice. The term of these contracts will last up to two years, expiring on 31st March 2028, with a total maximum contract value of £15,188,196.

This tender offers significant opportunities for growth, particularly for large healthcare providers specialising in dental services. It facilitates market entry and expansion in the Sussex region for service providers who excel in integrating care and addressing health inequalities. With the contracts structured to prioritise quality, innovation, and service sustainability, businesses that can demonstrate a strong track record in these areas are well-suited to compete. Furthermore, there is potential for further procurement in 2028, allowing businesses to establish a lasting presence in the region’s healthcare landscape, supporting both community benefits and economic development within the localities served by Sussex Community Foundation Trust and East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Special Care & Paediatric Dentistry (SCPD) to NHS Sussex ICB

Notice Description

This is an intention to award notice. Special Care & Paediatric Dentistry (SCPD) services are available for children and adults with additional needs who are unable to have treatment at a general dental practice. It is a referral-only service, providing a range of dental treatments for children and adults with additional needs, including physical or learning disabilities, or where they have a need for additional support to receive treatment. Home visits are also provided for patients who are housebound. People are usually referred in via their dentist or doctor. NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB) intends to award contracts to 2 existing providers following Direct Award Process C of the UK Health Care Services (PSR) Regulations 2023 for SCPD services in the Sussex area. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. The existing SCPD contracts have previously been contracted under the Standard Clauses For A Personal Dental Services (PDS) Agreement and include the provision of general anaesthetic (GA) services. As the provision of services under GA is excluded under clause 73 of the PDS contract, SCPD GA services will instead be contracted for separately under NHS standard contracts. The terms of the existing SCPD contracts are due to expire on 31st March 2026 and NHS Sussex ICB have proposed that new SCPD and SCPD GA contracts should replace the existing contracts at the end of their term. All requirements outlined in Regulation 6(5) of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 have been met, including that the considerable change threshold has not been met, and therefore Direct Award Process C has been determined as the appropriate provider selection process. After conducting assessments of the existing providers, taking into account the key criteria and applying the basic selection criteria, NHS Sussex ICB is content that the existing providers are satisfying the original contracts and will likely satisfy the proposed contracts to a sufficient standard. The awarded contracts will each be for a term of up to 2 years and are due to commence from 1st April 2026. The total maximum contract value of these contracts is PS15,188,196. There are 4 contracts being awarded to 2 providers as follows:- 1. SCPD for West Sussex & Brighton & Hove - Sussex Community Foundation Trust 2. SCPD GA for West Sussex & Brighton & Hove - Sussex Community Foundation Trust 3. SCPD for East Sussex - East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust 4. SCPD GA for East Sussex - East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

Lot Information

SCPD for West Sussex & Brighton & Hove

This transparency notice serves as an intention to award the contract to the existing provider, using Direct Award Process C under PSR. SCPD services are available for children and adults with additional needs who are unable to have treatment at a general dental practice. It is a referral-only service, providing a range of dental treatments for children and adults with additional needs, including physical or learning disabilities, or where they have a need for additional support to receive treatment. Home visits are also provided for patients who are housebound. People are usually referred in via their dentist or doctor. The awarded contract for this Lot will be for a term of up to 2 years and is due to commence from 1st April 2026, terminating 31st March 2028. The total maximum value of the contract is PS9,295,206. The ICB intends to procure a new service commencing from 1st April 2028, as part of which other providers will have an opportunity to express interest. The existing SCPD service will not change, and the new contract will be based on current clinical standards.

SCPD GA for West Sussex & Brighton & Hove

This transparency notice serves as an intention to award the contract to the existing provider, using Direct Award Process C under PSR. SCPD services are available for children and adults with additional needs who are unable to have treatment at a general dental practice. It is a referral-only service, providing a range of dental treatments for children and adults with additional needs, including physical or learning disabilities, or where they have a need for additional support to receive treatment. Home visits are also provided for patients who are housebound. People are usually referred in via their dentist or doctor. The awarded contract for this Lot will be for a term of up to 2 years and is due to commence from 1st April 2026, terminating 31st March 2028. The total maximum value of the contract is PS1,463,134. The ICB intends to procure a new service commencing from 1st April 2028, as part of which other providers will have an opportunity to express interest. The existing SCPD service will not change, and the new contract will be based on current clinical standards.

SCPD for East Sussex

This transparency notice serves as an intention to award the contract to the existing provider, using Direct Award Process C under PSR. SCPD services are available for children and adults with additional needs who are unable to have treatment at a general dental practice. It is a referral-only service, providing a range of dental treatments for children and adults with additional needs, including physical or learning disabilities, or where they have a need for additional support to receive treatment. Home visits are also provided for patients who are housebound. People are usually referred in via their dentist or doctor. The awarded contract for this Lot will be for a term of up to 2 years and is due to commence from 1st April 2026, terminating 31st March 2028. The total maximum value of the contract is PS3,195,298. The ICB intends to procure a new service commencing from 1st April 2028, as part of which other providers will have an opportunity to express interest. The existing SCPD service will not change, and the new contract will be based on current clinical standards.

SCPD GA for East Sussex

This transparency notice serves as an intention to award the contract to the existing provider, using Direct Award Process C under PSR. SCPD services are available for children and adults with additional needs who are unable to have treatment at a general dental practice. It is a referral-only service, providing a range of dental treatments for children and adults with additional needs, including physical or learning disabilities, or where they have a need for additional support to receive treatment. Home visits are also provided for patients who are housebound. People are usually referred in via their dentist or doctor. The awarded contract for this Lot will be for a term of up to 2 years and is due to commence from 1st April 2026, terminating 31st March 2028. The total maximum value of the contract is PS1,234,558. The ICB intends to procure a new service commencing from 1st April 2028, as part of which other providers will have an opportunity to express interest. The existing SCPD service will not change, and the new contract will be based on current clinical standards.

Procurement Information

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 4th December 2025. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05e7d8
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006153-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

85131000 - Dental-practice services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£15,188,196 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Jan 20267 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
7 Oct 202510 months ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB) on behalf of NHS England
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LEWES, EAST SUSSEX
Postcode
BN7 2FZ
Postcode Area
Brighton
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ22 East Sussex CC
Delivery Location
TLJ21 Brighton and Hove, TLJ22 East Sussex CC, TLJ27 West Sussex (South West), TLJ28 West Sussex (North East)

Local Authority
Lewes
Electoral Ward
Lewes Bridge
Westminster Constituency
Lewes

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
2
Supplier Names

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

Sussex Community Foundation Trust

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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