Special Care Dentistry for Lot 1 - Norfolk Lot 2 - Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Lot 3 - Suffolk

NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit (AGCSU) on behalf of NHS England - Midlands and East (East) (referred to as the Commissioner) is inviting suitably qualified and experienced providers to deliver the Services for Special Care Dentistry for Adults and Children, which will include referral services and Dental Public Health services, across Lot 1 - Norfolk, Lot 2 - Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, and Lot 3 - Suffolk. The historic contracts were known as Community Dental Services.

The procurement is being undertaken as current contracts are due to end on 30th September 2019. All new contracts are expected to commence on 1st October 2019 for a period of 7 years with an option to extend to a further 3 years (total contract duration 10 years).

Special Care Dentistry is defined as being "concerned with the improvement of the oral health of individuals and groups in society who have a physical, sensory, intellectual, mental, medical, emotional or social impairment or disability or, more often, a combination of these factors. The speciality focuses on adolescents and adults only and includes the important period of transition as the adolescent moves into adulthood. The speciality was formally recognised by the General Dental Council (GDC) in 2008" (Guides for Commissioning Dental Specialities - Special Care Dentistry, NHSE, September 2015).