Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Essex County Council
County Hall, Market Road
Chelmsford
CM1 1QH
Contact
Mr Andrew Beaver
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH3 - Essex
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://procontract.due-north.com/Login
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://procontract.due-north.com/Login
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
CO0113 Staff Rewards & Benefits
Reference number
DN635193
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 98000000 - Other community, social and personal services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
ECC currently operates a range of employee benefits including discounted shopping, salary sacrifice opportunities, buying of annual leave etc. We are seeking a provider or providers to potentially extend and harmonise our various benefits into an accessible web portal for employees to access wherever and whenever they need to. Active encouragement will also be given during the course of the contract to partner organisations (such as the Vine HR Partnership of neighbouring local authorities) to participate in the scheme at their own cost. The contract and pricing will need to be flexible to accommodate this intent. ECC has already developed such a portal in- house and providers can view this at My ECC Total Reward Hub | Welcome (rewardgateway.co.uk) to determine the minimum standard required.
While the main provision is expected to be through a web based approach, full access to all services (such as via an app or by telephone to a Help Desk) must be possible for those employees who do not have access, or regular access, to a computer or other media device.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £200,000
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
ECC currently operates a range of employee benefits including discounted shopping, salary sacrifice opportunities, buying of annual leave etc. We are seeking a provider or providers to potentially extend and harmonise our various benefits into an accessible web portal for employees to access wherever and whenever they need to. Active encouragement will also be given during the course of the contract to partner organisations (such as the Vine HR Partnership of neighbouring local authorities) to participate in the scheme at their own cost. The contract and pricing will need to be flexible to accommodate this intent. ECC has already developed such a portal in- house and providers can view this at My ECC Total Reward Hub | Welcome (rewardgateway.co.uk) to determine the minimum standard required.
While the main provision is expected to be through a web based approach, full access to all services (such as via an app or by telephone to a Help Desk) must be possible for those employees who do not have access, or regular access, to a computer or other media device.
Provision will principally be to core ECC employees (circa 7,800 employees currently but reducing over future years as the council transforms and restructures), but the contract and pricing will need to be flexible to allow this number to increase or decrease as ECC reviews structure and operating models.
The existing agreement for the delivery of these services is expiring and ECC is looking to procure a replacement service which embraces new ways of working that have manifested due to the impact of the Pandemic. Staff are no longer tied to a single location/office from which they work, as such there is a greater diversity in location. The new service will be required to be flexible in how it delivers local benefits across Essex.
Essex Council has made a commitment to develop an employee benefits scheme for its employees and also has a long-term vision to move towards a ‘Total Reward’ system to potentially include total reward statements. Essex County Council wishes to continue to offer its staff salary sacrifice arrangements and a voluntary benefits discount programme that offers ‘real’ benefits that reflect typical consumer spending and provides significant savings for scheme members.
The voluntary benefits element of the scheme will need to be innovative and flexible in its provision of a wide range of top name and local discounts to staff. Essex County Council currently offer:
- Childcare Voucher Scheme,
- Cycle to Work Scheme,
- Additional Annual leave purchase
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 70
Quality criterion - Name: Social Value / Weighting: 5
Price - Weighting: 25
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £200,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
9 November 2022
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 9 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
7 November 2022
Local time
12:30pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court, Royal Courts of Justice
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom