Unscheduled Dental Care (UDC) to NHS Kent and Medway ICB

NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) on behalf of NHS England

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

20 Jan 2026 at 10:12

Summary of the contracting process

NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) is in the process of awarding a contract for Unscheduled Dental Care (UDC) services in the Kent and Medway area. This includes out-of-hours emergency dental services operating during evenings, weekends, and bank holidays. The procurement falls under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, adhering to Direct Award Process C. The intention-to-award notice, published on 20th January 2026, marks the beginning of a standstill period set to conclude on 2nd February 2026. The total contract, worth £3,821,338.52, is projected to commence on 1st April 2026 and extend until 31st March 2029, with Medway Community Health (MCH) identified as the potential service provider.

This tender presents substantial prospects for business growth in the healthcare services industry, particularly for entities specialising in dental-practice services. Businesses with capabilities in delivering high-quality emergency dental services and fulfilling NHS standards on care accessibility and social value will find this opportunity highly suitable. The contract not only ensures service continuity but also provides a stable three-year period for businesses to leverage innovations in dental care. By focusing on the integration and sustainability of services, companies can build upon their existing frameworks to gain a competitive advantage in future tenders within this sector.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Unscheduled Dental Care (UDC) to NHS Kent and Medway ICB

Notice Description

This is an intention to award notice. Kent and Medway Unscheduled Dental Care (UDC) is an NHS out-of-hours emergency dental service providing urgent care during evenings, weekends, and bank holidays. It offers temporary pain relief and treatment for severe dental issues such as acute pain, trauma, bleeding, or swelling when regular dental practices are closed. Patients must follow up with their own dentist for ongoing care. Access is via telephone triage for advice and appointment booking. NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) intends to award a contract to an existing provider, Medway Community Health (MCH), following Direct Award Process C of the UK Health Care Services (PSR) Regulations 2023 for UDC services in the Kent and Medway 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 term of the existing UDC contract is due to expire on 31st March 2026 and NHS Kent and Medway ICB have proposed that new a UDC 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 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 provider, taking into account the key criteria and applying the basic selection criteria, NHS Kent and Medway ICB is content that the existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed contract to a sufficient standard. The awarded contract will be for a term of 36 months and is due to commence from 1st April 2026, terminating 31st March 2029. The total maximum contract value of the contract is PS3,821,338.52.

Lot Information

Lot 1

This transparency notice serves as an intention to award the contract to the existing provider, using Direct Award Process C under PSR. Kent and Medway Unscheduled Dental Care (UDC) is an NHS out-of-hours emergency dental service providing urgent care during evenings, weekends, and bank holidays. It offers temporary pain relief and treatment for severe dental issues such as acute pain, trauma, bleeding, or swelling when regular dental practices are closed. Patients must follow up with their own dentist for ongoing care. Access is via telephone triage for advice and appointment booking. The awarded contract will be for a term of 36 months and is due to commence from 1st April 2026, terminating 31st March 2029. The total maximum contract value of the contract is PS3,821,338.52. A 36-month award is proposed - this will allow other providers the opportunity to express an interest to deliver services in the medium term. The existing 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 2nd February 2026. 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-06098c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004647-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award 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

85130000 - Dental practice and related services

85131000 - Dental-practice services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£3,821,338 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Jan 20267 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
7 Dec 20258 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 Kent and Medway 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
MAIDSTONE
Postcode
ME15 6NB
Postcode Area
Rochester
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ45 Mid Kent
Delivery Location
TLJ4 Kent

Local Authority
Maidstone
Electoral Ward
High Street
Westminster Constituency
Maidstone and Malling

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Medway Community Health (MCH)

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...