Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Dorset Council
County Hall, Colliton Park
Dorchester
DT11XJ
UK
Contact person: Commercial & Procurement
E-mail: dp@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
NUTS: UKK25
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Dental Epidemiology Survey (Oral Health Survey)
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85130000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
This procurement is being undertaken under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 using Direct Award Process C.
The contract is for the provision of the Dental Epidemiology Survey (Oral Health Survey) across the Dorset Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council areas. Dorset Council is acting as the host authority on behalf of both local authorities.
The service supports the statutory public health responsibility to assess and monitor oral health needs and includes survey planning, sampling, engagement with educational settings and participants, administration of consent processes, clinical examinations, data collection, quality assurance, analysis support and submission of survey data in accordance with the National Dental Epidemiology Programme and associated national guidance.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
100 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKK25
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Dorset Council is acting as Lead Commissioner and Contracting Authority on behalf of itself and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council.
This procurement is for the delivery of annual oral health surveys across the BCP Council and Dorset Council areas, in line with the national specification.
The Councils intend to award this contract to an existing provider, using Direct Award Process C under the Provider Selection Regime 2023.
The approximate lifetime value of the contract, including any included extension options, is £100,000. The services are to be provided for the school years 25/26, 26/27 and 27/28, with the option to extend the contract for one year to cover the 28/29 school year until 31st August 2029.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Cost criterion: The existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed contract to a sufficient standard.
/ Weighting: 100%
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
The contract can be extended by one year.
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition
Justification for selected award procedure:
The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the Directive
Explanation
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award. The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations made by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 1st September 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under PSR.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
Section V: Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
04/08/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Yeovil Hospital, Higher Kingston
Yeovil
BA21 4AT
UK
NUTS: UKK23
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 100 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
Dorset Council is acting as Lead Commissioner and Contracting Authority on behalf of itself and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council.
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice.
Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by 1st September 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.
Any representations should be sent to: dp@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
The award decision-makers were commissioners of Public Health services within the Contracting Authority, in line with the Contracting Authority's Scheme of Delegation and Contract Procedure Rules.
Conflict of Interest declarations were completed for all members of the provider assessment panel. There was one identified perceived conflict of interest identified which led to a discussion and it was decided that with the mitigations agreed they were sufficient for the member to continue.
A Service and Provider Assessment was undertaken in accordance with the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Regulations to assess Somerset NHS Foundation Trust's (SFT) performance under the existing contract and its likely future performance under the proposed contract. The assessment confirmed that SFT met all relevant basic selection criteria, including compliance with GDPR and information governance requirements, delivery to national fieldwork standards, use of appropriately trained and registered dental clinicians, DBS certification, and effective collaboration with regional dental co-ordinators.
The Authority assessed the provider against the PSR key criteria using the following weightings: Quality and Innovation (35%), Value (35%), Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability (10%), Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities and Facilitating Choice (10%), and Social Value (10%).
Quality and Innovation, and Value were assigned the highest weightings because successful delivery of the service depends on compliance with the national survey protocol, achievement of required quality standards, and the provision of best value within a fixed funding envelope. The remaining criteria were each weighted at 10% to reflect their importance to effective service delivery while recognising that the nationally prescribed survey methodology limits the extent to which delivery models can vary.
SFT performed strongly across all key criteria, particularly in the highest-weighted areas of Quality and Innovation and Value. The evaluation panel concluded that SFT has demonstrated effective delivery of the existing contract, continued compliance with national standards, and the capability to deliver the required outcomes under the new contract.
Taking account of the provider's current performance and likely future performance against the key criteria, the Authority determined that Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is the most suitable provider and should be awarded the contract under Direct Award Process C.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Dorset Council
Dorchester
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
19/08/2026