Mandatory Dental Services - Rapid Commissioning of Additional Units of Dental Activity on behalf of NHS Kent and Medway ICB

This notice relates to the permitted modification of existing contracts under the Provider Selection Regime (2023), to enable additional access to Mandatory Dental Services (MDS) within NHS Kent and Medway ICB on a recurrent basis, in response to recent contract terminations and in accordance with the NHS 2023/24 priorities and operational planning guidance requirement to "Recover dental activity, improving units of dental activity (UDAs) towards pre-pandemic levels".

The Commissioner considers that the modifications are permitted by Regulation 13(1)(c) of the Provider Selection Regime (2023), where the modification has been made in response to external factors beyond the control of the authority and the provider, and that the modifications do not render the contracts materially different in character. The scope of the contract has not been extended as the services provided remain materially the same.

This notice has been published in line with Regulation 13(4)(c) and Schedule 12 of the Provider Selection Regime (2023). Kent and Medway ICB entered into a rapid commissioning process to secure additional Mandatory Dental Services activity.

This process sought NHS dental providers to deliver increased activity in the form of additional, recurrent Units of Dental Activity (UDAs) as a variation to their existing contract for Mandatory Dental services, in one or more geographic priority areas. Priority areas were identified based on additional activity requirements. The priority area identified in Kent and Medway ICB was Swale.

A transparent, fair and proportionate process was carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.