Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Essex County Council
County Hall, Market Road
Chelmsford
CM1 1QH
Contact
Mr Craig Johnson
Telephone
+44 333
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH3 - Essex
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
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
Soft-market testing: Communications and engagement for community, public and private sector audiences
Reference number
DN714335
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Essex 2055 programme helps to achieve transformational change for residents and businesses. It does this by building support for infrastructure, land and property projects - and attracting the investment required to deliver them.
Essex County Council (“ECC”) intends to procure specialist advice to support deliberative resident and business engagement, consensus building amongst politicians and partners, and promotional material and campaigns for both private sector and central government audiences.
ECC is considering how to structure this service. A survey has been created to capture insight from prospective suppliers. This survey can be accessed here: https://forms.office.com/e/EunctGCyV2 .
At this stage, this opportunity is soft market testing only and not a call for competition. This market test exercise is to allow the Council to ascertain interest from the market, investigate potential options, and consider the best route for a potential future contract opportunity. The total budget for these requirements is estimated to be £80,000 but the number of tender opportunities will be informed by this soft market testing exercise.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £80,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79300000 - Market and economic research; polling and statistics
- 98200000 - Equal opportunities consultancy services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Respondents are advised that the purpose of this PIN is to engage with the market and ascertain interest / feasibility and to inform the sourcing route and structure of the potential opportunity. The scope of service, date of publication or potential contract value may be amended following the conclusion of soft market testing and should not be taken as a final "version" of requirement.
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
1 April 2024
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: Yes