This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

19 Aug 2026 at 09:26

Summary of the contracting process

Dorset Council, acting for itself and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council, procured dental epidemiology services: annual oral health surveys across Dorset and the BCP Council area. The work supports the councils’ statutory public health duty to assess and monitor oral health needs. It covers survey planning, sampling, engagement with schools and participants, consent administration, clinical dental examinations, data collection, quality assurance, analysis support and submission of results under the National Dental Epidemiology Programme and associated national guidance. The requirement is for a specialist dental survey provider able to work with educational settings, participants, trained clinical staff and regional dental co-ordinators, while meeting national survey and information governance requirements. Dorset Council is the host and lead commissioning authority.

The procurement has reached award and contract signature. Dorset Council used the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 and Direct Award Process C, without a prior call for competition, to select the existing provider. Somerset NHS Foundation Trust was selected and the contract was signed on 4 August 2026. Its value is £100,000, covering annual surveys for school years 2025/26, 2026/27 and 2027/28, with a one-year extension option for 2028/29 running until 31 August 2029. The assessment considered Quality and Innovation (35%), Value (35%), Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability (10%), Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities and Facilitating Choice (10%), and Social Value (10%). One bid was recorded.

This award shows established demand from Dorset and BCP councils for delivered oral health epidemiology, rather than general dental treatment. A credible future competitor would need capability in national dental survey methodology, survey planning and sampling, school and participant engagement, consent processes, clinical examinations and secure data collection. The assessment indicates that appropriately trained and registered dental clinicians, DBS certification, GDPR and information governance compliance, delivery to national fieldwork standards, quality assurance, analysis support and effective collaboration with regional dental co-ordinators are important. Providers should also be able to demonstrate reliable performance against nationally prescribed outcomes, value within a fixed funding envelope, service integration, improved access and reduced health inequalities, and meaningful social value.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Dental Epidemiology Survey (Oral Health Survey)

Notice Description

This procurement is being undertaken under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 using Direct Award Process C. The contract is for the provision of the Dental Epidemiology Survey (Oral Health Survey) across the Dorset Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council areas. Dorset Council is acting as the host authority on behalf of both local authorities. The service supports the statutory public health responsibility to assess and monitor oral health needs and includes survey planning, sampling, engagement with educational settings and participants, administration of consent processes, clinical examinations, data collection, quality assurance, analysis support and submission of survey data in accordance with the National Dental Epidemiology Programme and associated national guidance.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Dorset Council is acting as Lead Commissioner and Contracting Authority on behalf of itself and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council. This procurement is for the delivery of annual oral health surveys across the BCP Council and Dorset Council areas, in line with the national specification. The Councils intend to award this contract to an existing provider, using Direct Award Process C under the Provider Selection Regime 2023. The approximate lifetime value of the contract, including any included extension options, is PS100,000. The services are to be provided for the school years 25/26, 26/27 and 27/28, with the option to extend the contract for one year to cover the 28/29 school year until 31st August 2029.

Options: The contract can be extended by one year.

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 Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award. The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations made by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 1st September 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under PSR.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e713
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078774-2026
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

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£100,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
4 Aug 20263 weeks 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
Dorset 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
DORCHESTER
Postcode
DT1 1XJ
Postcode Area
Dorchester
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK6 North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK64 Dorset
Delivery Location
TLK25 Dorset

Local Authority
Dorset
Electoral Ward
Dorchester West
Westminster Constituency
West Dorset

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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