---
title: "Dental Electronic Referral Service for NHS England South West"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-c6fcc4a4-9ef8-41fa-875b-5e8b8a7ba2f7"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-c6fcc4a4-9ef8-41fa-875b-5e8b8a7ba2f7"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-c6fcc4a4-9ef8-41fa-875b-5e8b8a7ba2f7.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-c6fcc4a4-9ef8-41fa-875b-5e8b8a7ba2f7.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NHS SOUTH, CENTRAL AND WEST COMMISSIONING SUPPORT UNIT"
published: "2025-11-28"
---

# Dental Electronic Referral Service for NHS England South West

Buyer: NHS SOUTH, CENTRAL AND WEST COMMISSIONING SUPPORT UNIT  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-c6fcc4a4-9ef8-41fa-875b-5e8b8a7ba2f7

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## Summary

NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit has awarded a contract to NEC Software Solutions UK Limited for the Dental Electronic Referral Service (DERS) across the South West of England. The procurement process was executed using the Crown Commercial Services Framework RM6259, specifically Lot 2, under a selective procurement method of calling off from a framework agreement. Covering areas such as Bath, Swindon & Wiltshire, Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, and Somerset, the service aims to replace paper processes with a comprehensive digital referral solution. The award stage was completed on 6th November 2025, with the three-year contract starting on 17th November 2025, and offering an option to extend for up to two additional years. The contract is valued at £1,407,131 initially, with a potential total value of £2,177,767 inclusive of extensions.

The introduction of DERS provides business growth opportunities, particularly for companies specialising in clinical information systems and digital referral solutions. Small and medium enterprises, as well as voluntary, community, and social enterprises, are well-suited to pursue similar contracts, given NHS's openness to diverse suppliers. The programme promises greater efficiency in triaging dental referrals, ensuring compliance with national standards and facilitating patient access to specialist NHS dental services. Organisations offering innovative digital solutions that enhance service evaluation and development while ensuring value for money will find this initiative ripe for engagement. With its extensive regional coverage, this tender exemplifies a chance for suppliers to expand their presence in the robust NHS service framework, leveraging technology to refine healthcare delivery.

## Notice

The Commissioners wished to seek a single provider to deliver DERS across the South West. The Crown Commercial Services (CCS) Framework RM6259 Vertical Application Solutions - Lot 2 'Education, Community Health and Social Care Solutions' was used to run a "further competition". A total of thirty-one providers are approved on the CCS framework agreement for Lot 2 and were contacted prior to the further competition ITT being published. DERS SW will result in the current paper processes ending and being replaced by an end-to-end digital referral solution, providing a uniform service across the region. The digital system will negate the need for much of the administrative triage currently done within the region and will cover all specialisms. DERS SW will: * Provide assurance that referrals are made in accordance with national standards and criteria in a timely appropriate manner. * Provide clinicians with a single mechanism to refer patients that require specialist and specialised NHS dental services. * Improve the quality of referrals in order to support effective triage. * Enable patients to access care that is most suited to their needs. * Improve the efficiency of the referral process. * Provide accurate referral information to support clinical service evaluation and development. * Achieve value for money. Geography covered: Bath, Swindon & Wiltshire Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire Cornwall (including the Isles of Scilly) Devon Dorset Gloucestershire Somerset Contract start date: 17/11/2025 Contract award date: 06/11/2025 Contract term: 3 years with an extension option for any period up to a further 2 years Contract value (initial 3 year term): PS1,407,131 Contract value (inclusive of 2 x extension years): PS2,177,767 Following notification of the outcome of the procurement, the contracting authority observed a voluntary 10 day standstill period prior to awarding the contract. This procurement has been carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners. Additional information: The services are deemed to be subject to the full regime of procurement legislation and as such this tender was conducted in accordance with, and governed by, the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e2749fe4-ebdf-4359-a095-3be45a6a6f6a |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Call-off from a framework agreement |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 28 Nov 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 20 Jun 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 6 Nov 2025 |
| Contract period | 17 Nov 2025 - 16 Nov 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £2,177,767 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £1,407,131 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NHS SOUTH, CENTRAL AND WEST COMMISSIONING SUPPORT UNIT |
| Locality | BRISTOL |
| Post town | Bristol |
| Postcode | BS1 6BH |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK5 West of England |
| ITL 3 | TLK51 Bristol, City of |
| Local authority | Bristol, City of |
| Electoral ward | Central |
| Westminster constituency | Bristol Central |
| Delivery location | TLK South West (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | NEC SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 48 - Software package and information systems

### Codes

- 48814400 - Clinical information system

## Release History

- 28 Nov 2025 at 12:14 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e2749fe4-ebdf-4359-a095-3be45a6a6f6a

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e2749fe4-ebdf-4359-a095-3be45a6a6f6a
  28th November 2025 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder

## Notice URLs

- https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome

## Provenance

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