II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85130000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKD6
UKD7
Main site or place of performance:
To undertake the fieldwork, the supplier will be expected to operate in a range of venues specified in the national protocol within the Cheshire West and Chester, Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, Warrington and Wirral local authority boundaries to collect data and will be expected to provide a transport solution to enable this.
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The national programme of dental surveys are co-ordinated by OHID. The surveys are conducted according to a national standard protocol and examiners are trained and calibrated to a national standard. The sampling procedure conforms to the national standard and is agreed with the DPHET survey co-ordinator before fieldwork is carried out. DPHIP epidemiology co-ordinators are employed by OHID . They work on a regional basis and are responsible for quality assurance of the fieldwork carried out in their area. This quality assurance and standardisation allows local, regional and national comparisons of the data.
The OHID DPHIP incorporates all aspects of the former NHS Dental Epidemiology Programme. This programme supports the collection, analysis and dissemination of reliable and robust information on the oral health needs of local populations.
Every LA in England is responsible for monitoring the health needs of their population. Through a Statutory Instrument, local authorities are specifically required to provide, or make arrangements to secure the provision of, oral health surveys (as part of their dental public health functions) to facilitate the:
• Assessment and monitoring of oral health needs,
• Planning and evaluation of oral health improvement programmes,
• Planning and evaluation of NHS dental services and
• Monitoring and reporting of the effect of water fluoridation programmes (when appropriate).
OHID is responsible for organising, coordinating, facilitating and providing overall quality assurance of the production of standardised, comparable information relating to the oral health of whole population and population sub-groups, based on the fieldwork data collection at local authority level. OHID will analyse data and produce published reports and information on each survey conducted.
The service is an opt-in service where acceptance of the Dental epidemiology (3-year old children screening) offer is obtained from the parents/carers/guardians. The Provider will minimise the risk of a child being screened when their parents have opted-out).
Suitable clinical examiner(s) will be identified by the supplier, along with sufficient support staff for administration, sampling, recording and data entry, cleaning, and submission. The supplier must facilitate and support the fieldwork team's attendance at training and calibration described in the national protocol and guidance.
The supplier will:
• Provide the required number of staff with the appropriate skills, qualifications (dental examiners will be registered dentists, therapists, or hygienists on the General Dental Council Register) and competencies to carry out the fieldwork operating within their scope of practice as determined by the General Dental Council .
• Ensure staff carrying out clinical examinations participate in training and standardisation and/or calibration events as required and have calibrated against the standard of the regional trainer (where required by the protocol). Examiners who do not conform to the accepted diagnostic standards will need to be retrained and recalibrated or replaced.
• Provide the administrative support required to enable the fieldwork to take place in accordance with national protocols
The fieldwork team must undergo local regional training and be familiar with, and comply with, the standards and procedures laid down in the relevant national protocol, including the use of specified equipment. This will include but not be limited to:
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DRB) check and must have valid certificate available, usually dated with in the last three years
• Compliance with the sampling process (to be agreed with the DEC)
• Approach to specified target populations
• Gaining of agreement to participate
• Examination method
• Application of measures for clinical recording
• Questionnaire administration
• Data entry and storage
• Back-up and handling of data including appropriate disposal
• Submission of data before deadline noted nationally - the fieldwork team will make the anonymised, cleaned survey data available to the dental epidemiology co-ordinator in a secure way. The process will be planned, executed and completed in the nationally agreed time frames.
Staff should be up to date with training in data protection, child and adult safeguarding and other relevant information governance issues; and conform to their employing organisation and local authority's protocols.
The supplier will be service user focussed, ensuring good communication, clear service user information and working to national standards on agreement to participate and confidentiality. Communications should be designed to be accessible and to reduce barriers for participants.
The supplier will deliver the survey in a manner that gains greatest co-operation with institutions and increased agreement to participate to take part by potential volunteers; and to work with the commissioner and authority to improve participation and agreement to participate.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
II.2.14) Additional information
These services will be procured under The Health Care Services (Provider Selection
Regime) Regulations 2023 under The Most Suitable Provider Process