Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Essex County Council
County Hall, Market Road
Chelmsford
CM1 1QH
Contact
Ms Laraine Tolson
Telephone
+44 333
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH3 - Essex
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
CO0371 - Social Care Platform Programme (SCPP)
Reference number
CO0371
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Essex County Council is submitting to tender the requirements for the provision of a fully integrated Social Care Case management Solution, to include Adults, Children and Families Social Care as well as an integrated financial solution. We are seeking an innovative, solution focussed Supplier, willing and capable of delivering a practice-led solution to meet the challenges of the changing UK social care landscape, the demands of citizen and provider self serve and the technology industry integration agenda to support the delivery of social care throughout Essex. The Authority propose to establish a contract for an initial term of seven years and thereafter this will be terminated on notice.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Lowest offer: £5,000,000 / Highest offer: £12,000,000 taken into consideration
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 48000000 - Software package and information systems
- 48100000 - Industry specific software package
- 48442000 - Financial systems software package
- 48443000 - Accounting software package
- 72211000 - Programming services of systems and user software
- 72212100 - Industry specific software development services
- 72212180 - Medical software development services
- 72212217 - Transaction-processing software development services
- 72212440 - Financial analysis and accounting software development services
- 72212441 - Financial analysis software development services
- 72212442 - Financial systems software development services
- 72212443 - Accounting software development services
- 72212517 - IT software development services
- 72212900 - Miscellaneous software development services and computer systems
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Authority are procuring a single supplier of a fully integrated case management system covering adults, children and families social care and associated financial solutions. This system will be the foundation of our social care platform solution and will be central to the management of a social care offering.
A phased implementation approach is required with two go-live dates. The period between the go-live dates must not be more than 12 weeks, with the second go-live date being no more than 18 months following contract commencement.
The supplier must provide a practice-led solution with the ability to evolve at pace, in function and scope to meet changing technology, social care legislation and practice throughout the duration of the contract.
The solution must be capable of meeting all current and emerging legislation, and guidance including monitoring, managing and delivering the new duties and responsibilities arising from the Health and Care Act 2022, including care charging reforms, CQC inspection regimes and partnership working with the NHS and other partners.
In addition to fully supporting a people and young people-centric approach, the solution must aid Authority social work practitioners in critical day-to-day responsibilities like safeguarding and reablement and at a people and young people level must enable self-management, individual budgets and direct payments.
Ambition for this solution is high. It must be resilient, stable and reliable. The Authority is seeking a supplier to work in collaboration to ensure value for money, best practice and continuous improvement is achieved throughout the contract duration. The Supplier will be required to proactively undertake horizon scanning and bring innovation or market changes to Authority attention.
Data will be required to be migrated from multiple live and legacy systems. The Supplier must be willing and able to open the proposed solution to all/any integration required by the Authority. It will have the capability for improved information sharing between Social Care, Health and other Partners. The solution must have effective business processes in terms of efficiency and automation and will have the ability to provide effective business and financial reporting to support operational services.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality including Social Value / Weighting: 80
Price - Weighting: 20
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
Competitive procedure with negotiation
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 000-032876
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
CO0371
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
29 July 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 3
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Access UK Ltd
Loughborough
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH3 - Essex
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Lowest offer: £5,000,000 / Highest offer: £12,000,000 taken into consideration
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
This procurement was conducted as a Competitive Procedure with Negotiation, in accordance with Regulation 26 of the Public Contracts Regulation 2015.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court
Royal Courts of Justice The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom