AG21009 - Orthodontics across Warwickshire

NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit on behalf of NHS England and NHS Improvement - Midlands (the Authority) is inviting suitably qualified and experienced providers to deliver a closedown orthodontic service in Warwickshire, at a location provided by the Commissioner at a Community Dental Service clinic in Leamington Spa. A need has arisen to provide an orthodontic service to an existing caseload in Warwickshire. The deadline for RfQ submissions is 10:00am on Tuesday 28th September 2021.

The previous contract terminated on 31st July 2021 and delivered services from Warwick. A caretaker arrangement is in place for patients until the 30th October 2021. The new contract will commence on 1st November 2021 for an anticipated period of 30 Months until 30th April 2024. The service must be provided under the supervision of a Specialist Orthodontist.

This opportunity may be of interest to an existing Specialist Orthodontic practice or to a general dental practice able to secure the services of a Specialist Orthodontist. In total there will be no more than 107 cases in Active Treatment or needing new case starts and no cases in Supervised Retention.

Remuneration will be made in line with the provisions within the national Orthodontic Closedown Agreement but with an additional uplift of 25% applied for patients in active treatment with fixed appliances. This is an unplanned closedown and there is a higher than normal number of patients who have recently started treatment or who require remedial work due to interrupted treatment during the pandemic. There are also at least 7 patients (possibly up-to 14) who have been accepted for treatment but will require a case start following oral surgery. The uplift to the normal payment rate for patients in active treatment with fixed appliances is being applied in order to reflect this atypical caseload.

A higher payment rate may potentially subsequently be agreed by Commissioners in exceptional cases where an independent review indicates that substantial further work is necessary to satisfactorily complete treatment; for example, where a new appliance fit is needed. This will need to be confirmed with prior authorisation in advance of treatment being initiated.

The Commissioner has mandated the use of one fully equipped dental surgery locally. For the avoidance of doubt the Provider will be expected to provide their own consumables. De-contamination and reception facilities are provided in the premises, although reception cover is only available between 9am and 4pm. Staffing of reception outside of these times will need to be picked up by the Provider.

If you wish to express an interest please register on the EU Supply website https://uk.eu-supply.com/login.asp?B=UK. The project reference is Quote/tender 46046 - AG21009 - Provision of a Short-Term Service to complete existing Orthodontic work in the Warwick area.