This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

05 Jan 2026 at 12:05

Award

16 Dec 2025 at 11:10

Summary of the contracting process

NHS Devon Integrated Care Board (ICB) is set to award a contract for Community Dental Services in Plymouth, under the healthcare services industry category. The direct award process is aligned with Regulation 6(5) of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, employing Direct Award Process C. The existing contract with Plymouth Community Dental Services Ltd will expire on 31st March 2026, and the new contract is anticipated to commence on 1st April 2026 for a duration of two years, concluding on 31st March 2028. The contract has been valued at approximately £7,594,212.12, adjusted to 2024/25 prices. Following a careful assessment, the current provider has demonstrated satisfactory performance, justifying the contract continuation beginning April 2026.

The tender presents significant opportunities for businesses in the dental services sector, particularly those with expertise in community and special care dentistry. The contract involves delivering services such as primary care dental services, paediatric dentistry, urgent care, minor oral surgery, and more. This opportunity is ideal for businesses capable of handling complex cases and providing advanced dental care. Although the contract is currently set to continue with the existing provider, the Plymouth market might provide an opening for potential future collaborations, especially as the reform and redesign of dental services are planned by Devon ICB. Businesses should monitor developments through the NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit for potential involvement in shaping future delivery models.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Community Dental Services in Plymouth

Notice Description

NHS Devon Integrated Care Board (Devon ICB) are looking to award a new contract for the provision of Community Dental Services in Plymouth to the existing provider. The existing contract for the provision of Community Dental Services in Plymouth is due to expire on the 31st March 2026 and Devon ICB have proposed that a new contract should replace the existing contract at the end of its term. All requirements outlined in Regulation 6(5) of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 have been met, including not breaching the considerable change threshold, and therefore direct award process C has been deemed the appropriate provider selection process. After conducting an assessment, taking into account the key criteria and applying the basic selection criteria, Devon ICB is content that the existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed contract to a sufficient standard. The service is anticipated to commence on the 1st April 2026 for a contract duration of 2 years until the 31st March 2028. The estimated lifetime value of the contract is PS7,594,212.12 based on 24/25 prices. This notice serves as an intention to award the contract to the existing provider under Direct Award Process C of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR).

Lot Information

Lot 1

NHS Devon Integrated Care Board (Devon ICB) are looking to award a new contract for the provision of Community Dental Services in Plymouth to the existing provider, Plymouth Community Dental Services Ltd. The Plymouth Community Dental Service (CDS) is concerned with improving oral health care and reducing health care inequalities through the provision of primary care dental services within community settings. The service includes the provision of Special Care and Paediatric Dentistry (SCPD) which is the treatment of: * Adult patients who cannot be treated in a high street dental practice due to the nature of their physical or mental disabilities, or because they have a need for enhanced support to receive treatment and * Paediatric patients who may have needs as described above, or who have more complex or significant treatment needs. Patients who meet the eligibility criteria for SCPD are eligible to receive Mandatory Dental Services (MDS) from the Community Dental Service provider. This includes urgent treatment, and referral to other dental services where this is appropriate. The service also includes the provision of: * Urgent Care - both 'In-hours' and 'Out of Hours' * Application of Fluoride Varnish * Routine Paediatric Services * Special Care Dental Phobics / Treatment under Sedation * Minor Oral Surgery * Special Care Prostodontics * Treatment under General Anaesthesia (GA) * Epidemiology The service is for patients who: * require urgent dental care and do not have access to a NHS dentist * are judged to meet referral criteria and are therefore referred to the service as they require advanced mandatory services, general anaesthetic, sedation services, oral surgery or other relevant services * have special care dental needs or are medically complex and require dental care The service is available to all residents and temporary residents in the Plymouth City area and the immediate parts of Devon and Cornwall which are Plymouth facing and for which, taking account of service need, referral appropriateness and eligibility, travel and/or recovery time it is considered in the best interest of the patient for them to receive treatment from the Plymouth Service. The existing contract for the provision of Community Dental Services in Plymouth is due to expire on the 31st March 2026 and Devon ICB have proposed that a new contract should replace the existing contract at the end of its term. All requirements outlined in Regulation 6(5) of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 have been met, including not breaching the considerable change threshold, and therefore direct award process C has been deemed the appropriate provider selection process. After conducting an assessment, taking into account the key criteria and applying the basic selection criteria, Devon ICB is content that the existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed contract to a sufficient standard. The service is anticipated to commence on the 1st April 2026 for a contract duration of 2 years until the 31st March 2028. The estimated lifetime value of the contract is PS7,594,212.12 based on 24/25 prices. The contract value will be subject to the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body (DDRB) annual percentage uplift from 2025/26 onwards, when applied. The Commissioner will be contracting for the services using the Standard clauses for a Personal Dental Services agreement, with an NHS Standard Contract included as an appendix for the provision of treatment under General Anaesthesia. This notice serves as an intention to award the contract to the existing provider under Direct Award Process C of the PSR. During the life of the proposed new contract, Devon ICB intend to conduct a review of the CDS and where appropriate, redesign and commission services for the future, under new longer term contractual arrangements. This procurement has been carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.

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 and The Procurement Act 2023 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 23:59 on Wednesday 31st 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-05f67c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000253-2026
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
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

85130000 - Dental practice and related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£7,594,212 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Jan 20267 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
26 Nov 20259 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 Devon ICB
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EXETER
Postcode
EX2 5AZ
Postcode Area
Exeter
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK4 Devon
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK43 Devon CC
Delivery Location
TLK41 Plymouth

Local Authority
Exeter
Electoral Ward
Priory
Westminster Constituency
Exeter

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Plymouth Community Dental Services Ltd

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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