Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Essex County Council
County Hall, Market Road
Chelmsford
CM1 1QH
Contact
Ms Natasha I-Goldsmith
Natasha.I-Goldsmith2@essex.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKH3 - Essex
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
one.3) Communication
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
Essex County Council - Future Highways Provision
Reference number
DN673754
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 45233000 - Construction, foundation and surface works for highways, roads
two.1.3) Type of contract
Works
two.1.4) Short description
Essex County Council (ECC) has begun scoping out the challenges and opportunities for the highways service in Essex beyond the current contract, which runs to the end of March 2027. The council is looking carefully at what service will be required from April 2027 to deliver ECC’s priorities in maintaining and improving the network of highways across the county, as well as contributing to the council’s aspirations around the environment, climate change and net zero, and levelling up the economy.
As part of this work, a series of hybrid (online and in-person) market engagement events are being planned to allow businesses delivering highways maintenance solutions to find out more about where ECC is in this discovery process, and will be an opportunity for council officers working on the programme to listen and learn about what the industry has to offer, in terms of new technology and innovation, sustainability, decarbonisation, social value, and potential income generation opportunities… to name a few.
The first of these engagement events will be held in early July 2023, where the highways industry is invited to learn more about working with ECC, the council's ambitions and commitments. Please register your interest to obtain further information about the launch event.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
What happening in Highways?
Essex County Council’s (the Council) current Highways Strategic Transformation Contract (Highways Contract) ends on the 31st March 2027 with no further option to extend. Therefore, the Council has started on our journey of discovery, regarding how the Highways Service provision could evolve and innovate beyond this date and would like to engage with the Highways Industry as part of this approach.
Market engagement
This notice marks the launch of a series of market engagement events to let you know where we are in this process, listen and learn what the industry has to offer, in terms of new technologies and innovation, sustainability, decarbonisation, social value, and potential income generation opportunities…to name a few. The Council is also keen to understand marketplace opportunities and limitations better and engage in discussion regarding available options.
Market engagement event
The launch event will be held in person in Essex on the 5th July 2023. In person attendance will be on a first come, first served basis (limited to two attendees per company) due to limited availability at the venue. This will be an opportunity for you to network and we may also use Slido, an interactive Q&A system, to ask questions during the event. If you cannot attend in-person, the event will be live streamed on Microsoft Teams. Numbers for the virtual event are unlimited, and attendees will be directed to the virtual session if in person demand exceeds venue capacity.
How do I register for the event?
To register for the launch event (either in person or virtual), please complete and submit an attendance request form by 12pm Thursday 22nd June 2023.
Registration, the attendance confirmation form, and further logistical information is available via the Council's e-sourcing portal, ProContract (https://procontract.due-north.com/Login). Search for the opportunity: “DN673754 Essex County Council – Future Highways Provision”. Attendance will be confirmed by Friday 23rd June 2023, via the portal, and virtual login details will be provided on the 3rd July 2023.
Follow up market engagement questionnaire
Following the launch event on the 5th July 2023, the Council will email a follow up questionnaire to all registered attendees (whether in person or virtual) to continue keeping in touch on this journey to a new way for Essex to deliver Highway Services. Further conversations and engagement sessions may be arranged, dependent on topic and intended audience. Subject matter and dates, currently, are pending. Further open market events will be advertised on Find a Tender Service and Contracts Finder, as required.
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
Respondents are advised that the purpose of this PIN is to engage in dialogue with the industry and ascertain interest / options available.
The scope of service, estimated date of publication of contract notice, renewal information or potential contract value should not be taken as a final "version" and are subject to change.
two.2.14) Additional information
This PIN does not constitute a call for competition to procure any works or services and is not published to reduce time limited for the receipt of tenders.
Interested parties will not be prejudiced by any response or (lack) to this PIN. Nor shall a response to this PIN guarantee an invitation to participate in this market consultation exercise or any future procurement process that Essex County Council may conduct.
Essex County Council is not liable for any costs, fees or expenses incurred by any party responding to this PIN or any party who may participate in the market consultation exercise.
Please direct all queries via the ProContract messaging functionality linked with the advertised opportunity. Anyone contacting the Council via email will be directed to the portal for communications.
A registered supplier account is needed to access information, but registration is free of charge. The Proactis supplier helpdesk (https://www.proactis.com/uk/support-login/support/) can help with any registration queries. Please direct any technical queries to the helpdesk in the first instance.
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
1 April 2025
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