Planning

Direct Payment Support Services Soft Market Test

ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

14 Jan 2022 at 16:28

Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process currently undertaken by Essex County Council involves a soft market test titled "Direct Payment Support Services." This initiative falls within the health and social work services industry, targeted for delivery in the East of England. The soft market test aims to engage prospective providers and gather market feedback about the support services intended to help individuals manage their direct payments. Key dates include the engagement end date on 4th February 2022 by 17:00, and the tender has an anticipated total value of £5,400,000. The procurement is still in the planning stage, with the potential for multiple providers to be engaged based on the feedback received.

This tender presents a strong opportunity for businesses specialising in health and social care support services, particularly those with experience in payroll management, personal assistant services, and digital solutions for direct payments. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) would be well-suited to participate. The flexibility in the structure of the forthcoming procurement suggests that various service providers could collaborate or bid individually to create a comprehensive support framework, enabling businesses to explore significant growth opportunities in this sector.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Direct Payment Support Services Soft Market Test

Notice Description

In preparation for a proposed forthcoming procurement opportunity to provide support to people to manage a direct payment, Essex County Council is inviting prospective providers to engage in a soft market test to secure market feedback on the current commissioning intentions for the proposed new Direct Payment Support Services offer. The precise structure of the forthcoming procurement remains subject to confirmation pending a review of the feedback from the market engagement. However, the Council is currently considering incorporating the following support for a direct payment support service (DPSS): 1. Payroll and Account Management 2. A single, dedicated Personal Assistant (PA) hub, incorporating support to develop a PA register alongside assistance with the recruitment, training, management and incentives to retain Personal Assistants. 3. A dedicated Direct Payment Information and Advice service & an Employment, Advice and Guidance Service 4. A pre-paid card option to manage direct payments 5. A digital solution to manage direct payments The Council may seek to engage more than one provider to provide all or parts of these services in order to create choice for people who will access the services. The Council may structure the corresponding procurement opportunity so that a number of providers will deliver all the core aspects of the service. However, the Council reserves the right to refine the scope of this procurement following the market engagement events for this project. The final scope of the procurement including the use of lots, contractual value and duration and confirmed procurement timetable will be published in the corresponding Contract Notice prior to the formal launch of this procurement opportunity. Further details of these components and a suite of soft market test questions can be located via the Council's e-sourcing portal, ProContract: https://procontract.due-north.com/Login Please note that you will need to undertake the registration process to secure a user account to access the soft market test questionnaire on ProContract. However, please be advised that the registration process is free of charge and provides access to all the current and forthcoming procurement opportunities for Essex County Council alongside several other public sector organisations. Please note that the deadline for the soft market test responses will be Friday 4th February 2022 at 17:00 and all responses must be submitted via the messaging facility in ProContract.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-31f1557a-1aa6-4367-b98d-0abeff7adb2c
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/5d182f53-90c6-4a39-8864-cf121ac0f014
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Not specified
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85000000 - Health and social work services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£5,400,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Jan 20224 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
4 Feb 2022Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CHELMSFORD
Postcode
CM1 1QH
Post Town
Chelmsford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH3 Essex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH36 Heart of Essex
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Chelmsford
Electoral Ward
Moulsham and Central
Westminster Constituency
Chelmsford

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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