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
UKH - East of England
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's 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
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.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £200,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH - East of England
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.2.11) 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.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2022/S 000-028438
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
CO0113 Staff Rewards and Benefits
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
13 December 2022
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 3
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 2
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 3
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 3
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Reward Gateway (UK) Ltd
265 Tottenham Court Road
London
W1T 7RQ
Telephone
+44 02072290349
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI - London
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £200,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court, Royal Courts of Justice
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom