Provision of Part 2 of the GDC Statutory Examination - Overseas Registration

Concepts

• education and training
• examination services
• examinations venue
• overseas registration examinations
• gdc
• overseas registration
• the examination blueprint
• the clinical examinations
• the examination
• the examinations

Location

LONDON

Description

The GDC intends to extend its existing contract for the Provision of Part 2 of the GDC Statutory Examination - Overseas Registration Examinations (ORE), from 1 April to 30 June 2025 to continue to fulfil the intentions of the original contract by supporting the delivery of examination services. This service under the ORE contract relates to “social and other specific services” listed in Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (as amended) (PCR) and is therefore subject to the ‘light touch regime’ in accordance with Regulations 74 to 77 of the PCR. A procurement for a new contract to deliver examination services for the ORE Part 1 and Part 2 is already underway: Notice reference: 2024/S 000-014888. It is anticipated that the new contract will commence in 2025 for delivery of diets beyond April 2025.

Total Quantity or Scope

The scope of services required include but is not limited to: Deliver the 4 components of the clinical examinations. Examinations venue within the UK -Provision of services, material, equipment, and personnel - qualified and experienced examiners -Project Management and administration -Candidate Management -Working with the GDC to ensure the examinations a delivered effectively and in accordance with the examination blueprint and Preparing for Practice and the ORE Advisory Group to ensure the relevant standard is maintained and the continuous improvement of the examination.

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• 80000000 - Education and training services

Indicators

Legal Justification

The Order 2023 (the Order) came into force on 8th March 2023. The reform that flows from the Order removed the need for the ORE to be provided by a dental authority. The changes could significantly amend the scope of the services and open up the market to new suppliers who were previously prohibited from bidding. Before the GDC can take advantage of the new flexibility, the GDC needed to develop and consult on a new set of rules. The final rules were published in Spring 2024. The extension includes an additional sum payable to the consortium to account for the management and delivery of up to 7 diets across 20 months and 3 days. The additional services had become necessary to continue to allow overseas registrations to continue until the implementation of the rules pursuant to the new Order to allow for a procurement for the services under the updated rules. A change of contractor cannot be made for economic or technical reasons. There is significant preparatory work required to set up the services. This is one of only two types of this exam currently offered in the UK for Overseas dentists. It requires specific technical expertise to run the exam that has to date not presented itself in the market. A change of contractor would cause significant impact and substantial duplication of costs to the GDC. The GDC has a statutory obligation to run the ORE and was required to pause the exam due to Covid 19 restrictions, this has caused a significant backlog of candidates. Candidates only have one five-year period to complete the ORE, they cannot re-apply. Therefore, they would not be able to practice in the UK and overtime may reduce to number of dental professional available to practice in the UK.

Other Information

A VEAT notice was issued in July 2023 (Notice reference: 2023/S 000-020320: that provided for up to 7 diets. The GDC contracted for 5 of the 7 diets (i.e. Nov 2023 to Nov 2024). As part of a change contract note, the GDC intends to commission the other 2 diets (i.e. Jan 2025 and Feb 2025) The GDC also intends to commission 1 additional diet which is the subject of this VEAT notice (April 2025). The figure detailed at II.1.7) is an additional cost of circa £25K for each of the 2 diets under the previous VEAT and £600K for the 1 diet cover by this VEAT. Therefore, the GDC is extending the contract to provide for an additional 3 diets in total (January 2025, February 2025 and April 2025) to be delivered before the contract expires on 30 June 2025. To view this notice, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=876189351 GO Reference: GO-2024723-PRO-26965643