Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Essex County Council
County Hall, Market Road
Chelmsford
CM1 1QH
Contact
Ms Rachel Horne
Telephone
+44 3330322307
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKH3 - Essex
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://procontract.due-north.com/
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://procontract.due-north.com/
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Direct Payment Support Services Market Engagement
Reference number
DN581675
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
In preparation for a proposed forthcoming procurement opportunity to provide support to people to manage a direct payment, Essex County Council ("the Council") would like to invite prospective providers to engage in a soft market test as part of the market engagement for this project.
The soft market test has been designed to establish the potential level of interest from organisations to deliver a Direct Payment Support Service (DPSS) and to invite feedback on the proposed structure of the DPSS service to inform the Council's commissioning intentions.
Pending a review of the market feedback from this soft market test, the Council proposes to commission a DPSS service which incorporates the following support:
1. Payroll and Account Management
2. A single Personal Assistant (PA) support hub which incorporates a PA register alongside support for direct payment clients who are seeking to employ a PA, including support with recruitment, training, management and incentives to retain a PA
3. A dedicated Direct Payment Information and Advice Service & an Employment Advice and Guidance Service
4. A pre-paid card option to manage direct payments
5. A digital solution to manage direct payments
The Council may seek to engage with multiple providers to deliver all or parts of these services in order to create choice for people who will access the services.
In addition, the Council may structure the procurement opportunity so that multiple providers deliver all the core aspects of the service. However, the Council reserves the right to refine the scope of this procurement following the market engagement for this project. The final scope of the procurement including the use of lots and the applicable tender submission deadline will be published in the corresponding Contract Notice prior to the formal launch of the procurement opportunity.
Further details of the Council's current commissioning intentions for this service and a copy of the online soft market test questionnaire can be accessed via the Council's e-tendering portal: https://procontract.due-north.com/
Please note that you will need to undertake the registration process to secure a user account to access the soft market test questionnaire on ProContract. However, please be advised that the registration process is free of charge and provides access to all the current and forthcoming procurement opportunities for Essex County Council alongside several other public sector organisations.
Please note that the deadline for the soft market test responses will be Friday 4th February 2022 at 17:00 and all responses must be submitted via the messaging facility in ProContract.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Payroll and Account Management
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85321000 - Administrative social services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Prospective bidders are advised that the Council will finalise the scope of the forthcoming procurement opportunity following the conclusion of the market engagement stage and reserves the right to amend the scope of this service accordingly. For the avoidance of any further doubt, please be advised that the inclusion of lots within this PIN are provided for indicative purposes only due to the requirements of the online form and remain subject to confirmation by the Council.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Personal Assistant Support Hub
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85321000 - Administrative social services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Prospective bidders are advised that the Council will finalise the scope of the forthcoming procurement opportunity following the conclusion of the market engagement stage and reserves the right to amend the scope of this service accordingly. For the avoidance of any further doubt, please be advised that the inclusion of lots within this PIN are provided for indicative purposes only due to the requirements of the online form and remain subject to confirmation by the Council.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Direct Payment Information and Advice Service & Employment Advice and Guidance
Lot No
3
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85321000 - Administrative social services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Prospective bidders are advised that the Council will finalise the scope of the forthcoming procurement opportunity following the conclusion of the market engagement stage and reserves the right to amend the scope of this service accordingly. For the avoidance of any further doubt, please be advised that the inclusion of lots within this PIN are provided for indicative purposes only due to the requirements of the online form and remain subject to confirmation by the Council.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Pre-paid card service to manage direct payments
Lot No
4
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85321000 - Administrative social services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Prospective bidders are advised that the Council will finalise the scope of the forthcoming procurement opportunity following the conclusion of the market engagement stage and reserves the right to amend the scope of this service accordingly. For the avoidance of any further doubt, please be advised that the inclusion of lots within this PIN are provided for indicative purposes only due to the requirements of the online form and remain subject to confirmation by the Council.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Digital solution to manage direct payments
Lot No
5
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85321000 - Administrative social services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Prospective bidders are advised that the Council will finalise the scope of the forthcoming procurement opportunity following the conclusion of the market engagement stage and reserves the right to amend the scope of this service accordingly. For the avoidance of any further doubt, please be advised that the inclusion of lots within this PIN are provided for indicative purposes only due to the requirements of the online form and remain subject to confirmation by the Council.
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
31 May 2022
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
Prospective bidders are advised that the Council will finalise the scope of the forthcoming procurement opportunity following the conclusion of the market engagement stage and reserves the right to amend the scope of this service accordingly. For the avoidance of any further doubt, please be advised that the inclusion of any lots within this PIN are provided for indicative purposes only due to the requirements of the online form and remain subject to confirmation by the Council. Likewise, the inclusion of any dates for the proposed procurement opportunity are provided for indicative purposes only and the Council reserves the right to amend this information following confirmation of the procurement timetable for this project. Full details of the structure of this procurement and associated timetable will be detailed within the corresponding Contract Notice in due course.
Further details regarding the current commissioning proposals for this service alongside a copy of the soft market test questionnaire can be accessed via the Council's e-tendering portal: