Scope
Reference
CO0525
Description
• This procurement is grant funded through Arts Council England.
• ECC on behalf of the Greater Essex Music Hub are looking to procure the provision of an online curriculum support tool and an online digital platform with an experienced and innovative digital learning partner to replace its existing contract. ECC is keen to continue with this methodology of delivering this Service to our schools.
• Greater Essex Music Hub has developed a strong portfolio of both local and national partnership organisations to support the work of the Music Hub across the county, and ECC are looking to continue to work with an experienced and innovative digital learning partner.
• As a geographically large music Hub area, a strong online music resource offer is essential in helping maintain the engage and support of schools, enabling good quality music provision to be delivered consistently and to support musical transition between key stages.
• This digital offering will help compliment the other services and opportunities offered to schools, such as instrumental learning, access to high quality singing, instrumental hire and is a tangible way of offering virtual support to teachers and pupils when face-to-face contact is not always possible.
• There is a proven demand for digital learning resources across the whole Music Hub region with strong historical engagement within the curriculum resources offered to schools in each local authority area.
• Greater Essex Music Hub will not require the successful bidder to interact with any other interfaces or contracted providers, however, there may be introduction to other partners who are developing or providing work as a Hub partner, that may benefit the on-going provision of this contract holder.
• With the publication of the Model Music Curriculum in 2021 and a New National Plan for Music Education in 2022, it is expected that the provider of this service will support schools both to deliver the Model Music Curriculum as a minimum standard, and to support the wider delivery of the National Plan for Music Education.
• The digital learning platform should be able to provide resources for at least 667 locations, allowing specialist and non-specialist teachers to deliver a high-quality music curriculum and to focus their time on quality delivery and musical progression for their pupils.
• The project will be in two lots: curriculum support tool and an online digital platform.
• Each lot has a maximum level of funding per annum as follows:
- Lot 1: max value £125k
- Lot 2: max value £50k
Bids must not exceed these values. Please refer to the bidders guidance provided with the tender documents on ProContract.
Total value (estimated)
- £875,000 excluding VAT
- £875,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 June 2025 to 31 August 2029
- Possible extension to 31 August 2030
- 5 years, 3 months
Description of possible extension:
Six months prior to the expiry of the contract, a decision will be made based on funding as to whether or not take up the extension option.
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
Bidders have the option to provide pricing for additional licences in the event that additional schools over the identified number at the beginning of the contract wish to use the services.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 80000000 - Education and training services
Contract locations
- UKH3 - Essex
Lot 1. Curriculum
Description
ECC on behalf of Greater Essex Music Hub are looking to procure the provision of an online curriculum support tool with an experienced and innovative digital learning partner to replace its existing contract.
The successful bidder will be required to provide a digital-based learning environment which contains a breadth and depth of resources to support the delivery of music to all key-stages, with detailed content to support EYFS, Key-stage 1 and Key-stage 2 teachers where there are a greater number of non-specialist teachers delivering music curriculum lessons. A library of resources is expected for key-stage 3 delivery to support both the specialist and non-specialist. These should be flexible in their use and include access to resources for instrumental teaching. We also expect there to be resource to support the various SEND and alternative settings across the county and support transition of young people between primary and secondary settings.
All users (both teachers/tutors and pupils) will need individual logins which can easily be reset and to which content can be saved. Managers throughout the Greater Essex Music Hub also require administrative access.
The bidder should supply information for licences for all 667 locations across the Greater Essex Music Hub and give details of the rate per location. Essex County Council will be looking to purchase licences for 75% of locations. Should further demand this prove necessary in the future ECC would expect to be able to purchase additional licences at a pro rata rate.
There will be a need and expectation for the successful bidder to provide an on-going CPD programme for schools to benefit from, to enable generalist teachers to fully understand how to best use the resources that are on offer.
This digital learning requirement will require two separate elements of work to be provided for a resource for the whole delivery of the Music Curriculum and support materials for instrumental teachers.
As well as supporting teachers to deliver high quality music lessons within school, there is also an expectation that the resource offered will engage with all young people and provide an interactive music-focused digital learning resource that is accessible for the student user beyond the classroom.
The digital resources produced need to be accessible on all platforms (Windows/Apple/Linux) and should not require any installation or additional equipment to be purchased by the end users. It is expected that all resources will work through a standard browser, with the expectation that the browser is kept up to date by the end user.
The digital resource should have on-going refresh adapting to any identified needs, or changes in requirements. Should there be an increase in engagement and the need for more licenses that is covered in this contract, these will be paid in addition per year on a pro-rata basis.
The preferred bidder must be able to provide the entire requirement, variations and/or options are not allowed. Bids maybe submitted by a consortium (legal entity) or through sub-contracting.
Sub-Contracting - Bidders may sub-contract elements of the services, however they must ensure that they provide such detail in the relevant section(s) of the tender. If a bidder wishes to use a sub-contractor following award of contract, then they will need approval from the Authority before proceeding.
Lot value (estimated)
- £625,000 excluding VAT
- £625,000 including VAT
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations, contract dates and options are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 2. Digital
Description
Essex County Council as the Lead Organisation of the Greater Essex Music Hub are looking to procure the provision of an online platform with an experienced and innovative digital learning partner to replace its existing contract.
The successful bidder will be required to provide a digital-based learning environment which contains a breadth and depth of resources to support the delivery of music at key-stages 2-4. We also expect there to be resource to support the various SEND settings across the county and support transition of young people between primary and secondary settings.
All users (both teachers/tutors and pupils) will need individual logins which can easily be reset and to which content can be saved. Identified managers within the Greater Essex Music Hub also require administrative access.
The bidder should supply information for licences for all 667 locations across Essex and give details of the rate per location. Essex County Council will be looking to purchase licences for 50% of locations. Should further demand this prove necessary in the future ECC would expect to be able to purchase additional licences at a pro rata rate.
There will be a need and expectation for the successful bidder to provide an on-going CPD programme for schools to benefit from, to enable generalist teachers to fully understand how to best use the resources that are on offer.
This digital learning requirement will require a resource for students to use to explore multi-track and sequencing techniques and creativity using music technology.
As well as supporting teachers to deliver high quality music lessons within school, there is also an expectation that the resource offered will engage with all young people and provide an interactive music-focused digital learning resource that is accessible for the student user, beyond the classroom.
The digital resources produced need to be accessible on all platforms (Windows/Apple/Linux) and should not require any installation or additional equipment to be purchased by the end users. It is expected that all resources will work through a standard browser, with the expectation that the browser is kept up to date by the end user.
The digital resource should have on-going refresh adapting to any identified needs, or changes in requirements. Should there be an increase in engagement and the need for more licenses that is covered in this contract, these will be paid in addition per year on a pro-rata basis.
Provision will be made for the successful bidder to be able to import user profiles from the incumbent solution. The method for this will be discussed during the implementation phase.
It is expected that this will be a 48-month contract with an option to extend for up to 12 months.
The preferred bidder must be able to provide the entire requirement, variations and/or options are not allowed. Bids maybe submitted by a consortium (legal entity) or through sub-contracting.
Sub-Contracting - Bidders may sub-contract elements of the services, however they must ensure that they provide such detail in the relevant section(s) of the tender. If a bidder wishes to use a sub-contractor following award of contract, then they will need approval from the Authority before proceeding.
Lot value (estimated)
- £250,000 excluding VAT
- £250,000 including VAT
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations, contract dates and options are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Participation
Particular suitability
Lot 1. Curriculum
Lot 2. Digital
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
28 April 2025, 5:00pm
Tender submission deadline
8 May 2025, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
19 May 2025
Award criteria
| Name | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | Quality | 70% |
| Price | Price | 30% |
Other information
Applicable trade agreements
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Reduced tendering period
Yes
Light touch contract - no minimum
Documents
Associated tender documents
https://www.procontract.due-north.com/opportunities/index
Select Essex County Council in the organisation dropdown and select CO0525 Essex Music Services E-Learning Resource DN768166.
Registration on ProContract is free, once registered bidders will be able to access all tender documents.
CO0525 EMS Specification - Curriculum V1.0.docx
CO0525 EMS Specification - Digital V1.0.docx
Contracting authority
Essex County Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PWVM-4844-NRQH
County Hall, Market Road
Chelmsford
CM1 1QH
United Kingdom
Contact name: Stephen Ibrighademor
Region: UKH36 - Heart of Essex
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government