Provision of Orthodontics Services for Birmingham and Walsall (2 Lots)

NHS Arden & Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit (AGEM CSU) wish to inform the market of an opportunity to provide Orthodontics Services on behalf of the Commissioners;

For Lot 1: Birmingham NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board, Alpha Tower, 8th Floor, Suffolk Street Queensway, Birmingham, B1 1TT

For Lot 2: Walsall NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, Civic Centre St. Peter's Square, Wolverhampton, WV1 1SH

Orthodontics is the dental specialty concerned with facial growth, development of the dentition and occlusion, and the assessment, diagnosis, interception and treatment of malocclusions and facial irregularities.

Orthodontic treatment must only be undertaken in situations where it is believed to be in the patient’s best interests in terms of their oral health and/ or psychosocial wellbeing. In all situations, the clinical advantages and long-term benefits of Orthodontic treatment must justify such treatment and outweigh any detrimental effects. The overall aim is to provide equitable, accessible, high quality and cost effective specialist Orthodontic Service in line with the National Guide for Commissioning Orthodontics, 2015 and NHS Personal Dental Service Agreement 2023 (see Document 4 published with this tender) and any subsequent revisions.

The service will deliver orthodontic treatment to those patients that have been referred for assessment and subsequently accepted for Orthodontic treatment prior to them reaching the age of 18 years old with an Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) as defined Part 9, (144) of the NHS Personal Dental Service Agreement (currently Dental Health Component 3 Aesthetic Component 6 or above). The service is aimed at those patients who require orthodontic procedures, defined in Section 1.5, that are not expected to be within the remit of general dental practitioners or hospital services. Care for adults (aged 18 years and over) will not normally be carried out except in exceptional circumstances (e.g. orthognathic and/or complex shared cases), and only with the prior agreement of the Commissioner in writing. The exceptional circumstances must be documented in the patient record.

The Preferred Provider must treat all eligible patients and not discriminate in any manner contrary to the relevant regulations. There are no geographical boundaries. The patient must be under regular continuing care of a General Dental Practitioner.

The contract duration for each individual lot is for 10 years with the option to extend for 2 further 5-year periods (maximum contract duration of 20 years). A separate Personal Dental Services (PDS) Agreement will be established with the preferred provider for each Lot.

Following a mobilisation period, the 2 sperate PDS Agreements are expected to start no later than 1st February 2026 and run until 31st January 2036 with an option for the commissioner to extend for a further 2 x 5 year periods until 31st January 2046.