Planning

Essex Children's Homes Collaboration Event

ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 9 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

07 Apr 2026 at 12:51

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

13 Mar 2026 at 11:37

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

03 Dec 2025 at 09:46

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

17 Sep 2025 at 07:49

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

08 Sep 2025 at 12:47

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

02 Sep 2025 at 13:15

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

02 Sep 2025 at 13:14

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Planning

23 Jun 2025 at 14:59

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

08 Apr 2025 at 11:28

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Essex County Council is orchestrating a strategic collaboration event titled "Essex Children's Homes Collaboration Event" scheduled for 16th April 2026, from 09:30 to 13:00. The event, which forms part of an ongoing procurement process, will be conducted online via MS Teams. The industry category is health and social work services, and it is geared towards understanding and improving relational contracts with service providers. The council invites directors, development leads, and strategic leads to this critical collaboration session, following a series of events hosted from May to December 2025. This event is a part of the "planningUpdate" stage in the procurement process and is vital in shaping future tender specifications and service delivery models in Essex.

This initiative by Essex County Council presents a significant opportunity for businesses in the children’s residential care sector. It is particularly suited for SMEs and VCSEs capable of delivering high-quality children's home placements. The procurement process aims to establish a network of providers that share ECC’s values and can respond to complex needs. Engaging in this collaboration can offer businesses strategic insights, partnership opportunities, and an alignment with ECC’s vision for innovative service delivery. Providers who can meet the demands of emergency placements and long-term planning will particularly benefit from the collaborative framework being established. This represents a pivotal opportunity for providers who are agile and capable of adapting to collaborative public procurement processes to grow and solidify their presence in the Essex region.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Essex Children's Homes Collaboration Event

Notice Description

Following the previous Essex Children's Homes collaboration events which took place during May to December 2025 inclusive, Essex County Council ("ECC") would like to invite providers to the next collaboration event which will take place on the 16th April 2026 from 09:30 to 13:00. Please note that this event will take place online via MS Teams instead of in-person as previously advertised. In addition, please be advised that the Council will circulate the requisite meeting invitation via e-mail to all providers who have registered their attendance via the MS Forms survey as detailed below. In summary, during previous market collaboration events, we have worked together to: * Understand how we can respond to the highest levels and complexity of need that Essex children present with * Co-design prerequisites for collaborative working * Co-design and tested a new collaborative placement finding protocol * Co-design a clear understanding for the need for emergency placements and move-on placements to support good transitions for children in care. * Co-design a procurement pathway that is compliant and enables ECC to identify providers that share our values and can deliver high quality children's home placements for Essex children. Please be advised that the focus of this event is designed to secure an understanding of the key features to secure a successful relational contract between ECC and providers. In order to inform the discussions during this event, ECC officers have created a short survey that will enable us to better understand your experiences of local authority contracts and capture any approaches which are considered best practice to inform the drafting requirements for this service. Please take the time to complete the survey which can be accessed via: https://forms.office.com/e/BQxSs1xJHB If you would like to share any supporting information to accompany your survey response , for example evidence of good practice or lessons learned from similar projects, please feel free to email us via: rachel.horne@essex.gov.uk We look forward to meeting new providers during this event and reconnecting with providers that have been a part of the journey so far. Please be advised that the scope of this agenda means that this event is best suited to directors, development or strategic leads rather than frontline, operational staff. In addition, please note that in order to provide equitable access to all organisations, spaces at this event are limited to two (2) representatives per provider. New providers to Essex are welcome to attend this event. However, please be aware that you may benefit from a prior discussion with the project team ahead of time to ensure you understand the journey of co-design so far. You can find out more how to access a spot at our Friday drop-in sessions here: https://www.essexproviderhub.org/children-s-services/contacts/new-to-essex-children-s-homes-consultations/ Explanatory notes: Please be advised that any information regarding the contract value and contract duration within this notice are provided for indicative purposes to fulfil the requirements of the online form. The Council reserves the right to review and amend this information and will publish the actual position within the tender notice. In addition, please note that in relation to the stated position regarding the contracting authority within this notice, the contracting authority is Essex County Council and any Successor Body meaning one or more entities which assumes any of the Council's functions (as applicable) as a result of Local Government Reform (LGR). Such successor body or bodies may be, without limitation, a local authority, a combined authority, a combined county authority, a strategic authority or any other status determined pursuant to the Devolution and LGR Legislation.

Planning Information

Following the previous Essex Children's Homes collaboration events which took place during May to December 2025 inclusive, Essex County Council ("ECC") would like to invite providers to the next collaboration event which will take place on the 16th April 2026 from 09:30 to 13:00 via MS Teams instead of in-person as previously advertised. In addition, please be advised that the Council will circulate the requisite meeting invitation via e-mail to all providers who have registered their attendance via the MS Forms survey as detailed below. Please be advised that the focus of this event is designed to secure an understanding of the key features to secure a successful relational contract between ECC and providers. In order to inform the discussions during this event, ECC officers have created a short survey that will enable us to better understand your experiences of local authority contracts and capture any approaches which are considered best practice to inform the drafting requirements for this service. Please take the time to complete the survey which can be accessed via: https://forms.office.com/e/BQxSs1xJHB If you would like to share any supporting information to accompany your survey response , for example evidence of good practice or lessons learned from similar projects, please feel free to email us via: rachel.horne@essex.gov.uk We look forward to meeting new providers during this event and reconnecting with providers that have been a part of the journey so far. Please be advised that the scope of this agenda means that this event is best suited to directors, development or strategic leads rather than frontline, operational staff. In addition, please note that in order to provide equitable access to all organisations, spaces at this event are limited to two (2) representatives per provider.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04fead
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031483-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 Apr 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
15 Jan 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 May 2026 - 30 May 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
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
TLH3 Essex
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

Download

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. 

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-04fead-2026-04-07T13:51:42+01:00",
    "date": "2026-04-07T13:51:42+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-04fead",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PWVM-4844-NRQH",
            "name": "Essex County Council",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PWVM-4844-NRQH"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "County Hall, Market Road",
                "locality": "Chelmsford",
                "postalCode": "CM1 1QH",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKH36"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Rachel Horne",
                "email": "rachel.horne@essex.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.essex.gov.uk/",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PWVM-4844-NRQH",
        "name": "Essex County Council"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "Following the previous Essex Children's Homes collaboration events which took place during May to December 2025 inclusive, Essex County Council (\"ECC\") would like to invite providers to the next collaboration event which will take place on the 16th April 2026 from 09:30 to 13:00 via MS Teams instead of in-person as previously advertised. In addition, please be advised that the Council will circulate the requisite meeting invitation via e-mail to all providers who have registered their attendance via the MS Forms survey as detailed below. Please be advised that the focus of this event is designed to secure an understanding of the key features to secure a successful relational contract between ECC and providers. In order to inform the discussions during this event, ECC officers have created a short survey that will enable us to better understand your experiences of local authority contracts and capture any approaches which are considered best practice to inform the drafting requirements for this service. Please take the time to complete the survey which can be accessed via: https://forms.office.com/e/BQxSs1xJHB If you would like to share any supporting information to accompany your survey response , for example evidence of good practice or lessons learned from similar projects, please feel free to email us via: rachel.horne@essex.gov.uk We look forward to meeting new providers during this event and reconnecting with providers that have been a part of the journey so far. Please be advised that the scope of this agenda means that this event is best suited to directors, development or strategic leads rather than frontline, operational staff. In addition, please note that in order to provide equitable access to all organisations, spaces at this event are limited to two (2) representatives per provider.",
                "dueDate": "2026-04-10T23:59:59+01:00",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "013627-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013627-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-04-08T12:28:14+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "034481-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/034481-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-06-23T15:59:25+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "053184-2025",
                "documentType": "plannedProcurementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK1",
                "description": "Pipeline notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053184-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-09-02T14:14:39+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "053185-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053185-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-09-02T14:15:21+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "054653-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/054653-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-09-08T13:47:30+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "057157-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057157-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-09-17T08:49:04+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "079183-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079183-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-12-03T09:46:43Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "022867-2026",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/022867-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-03-13T11:37:38Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "031483-2026",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031483-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-04-07T13:51:42+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "F013PA",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Essex Children's Homes Collaboration Event",
        "description": "Following the previous Essex Children's Homes collaboration events which took place during May to December 2025 inclusive, Essex County Council (\"ECC\") would like to invite providers to the next collaboration event which will take place on the 16th April 2026 from 09:30 to 13:00. Please note that this event will take place online via MS Teams instead of in-person as previously advertised. In addition, please be advised that the Council will circulate the requisite meeting invitation via e-mail to all providers who have registered their attendance via the MS Forms survey as detailed below. In summary, during previous market collaboration events, we have worked together to: * Understand how we can respond to the highest levels and complexity of need that Essex children present with * Co-design prerequisites for collaborative working * Co-design and tested a new collaborative placement finding protocol * Co-design a clear understanding for the need for emergency placements and move-on placements to support good transitions for children in care. * Co-design a procurement pathway that is compliant and enables ECC to identify providers that share our values and can deliver high quality children's home placements for Essex children. Please be advised that the focus of this event is designed to secure an understanding of the key features to secure a successful relational contract between ECC and providers. In order to inform the discussions during this event, ECC officers have created a short survey that will enable us to better understand your experiences of local authority contracts and capture any approaches which are considered best practice to inform the drafting requirements for this service. Please take the time to complete the survey which can be accessed via: https://forms.office.com/e/BQxSs1xJHB If you would like to share any supporting information to accompany your survey response , for example evidence of good practice or lessons learned from similar projects, please feel free to email us via: rachel.horne@essex.gov.uk We look forward to meeting new providers during this event and reconnecting with providers that have been a part of the journey so far. Please be advised that the scope of this agenda means that this event is best suited to directors, development or strategic leads rather than frontline, operational staff. In addition, please note that in order to provide equitable access to all organisations, spaces at this event are limited to two (2) representatives per provider. New providers to Essex are welcome to attend this event. However, please be aware that you may benefit from a prior discussion with the project team ahead of time to ensure you understand the journey of co-design so far. You can find out more how to access a spot at our Friday drop-in sessions here: https://www.essexproviderhub.org/children-s-services/contacts/new-to-essex-children-s-homes-consultations/ Explanatory notes: Please be advised that any information regarding the contract value and contract duration within this notice are provided for indicative purposes to fulfil the requirements of the online form. The Council reserves the right to review and amend this information and will publish the actual position within the tender notice. In addition, please note that in relation to the stated position regarding the contracting authority within this notice, the contracting authority is Essex County Council and any Successor Body meaning one or more entities which assumes any of the Council's functions (as applicable) as a result of Local Government Reform (LGR). Such successor body or bodies may be, without limitation, a local authority, a combined authority, a combined county authority, a strategic authority or any other status determined pursuant to the Devolution and LGR Legislation.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "85000000",
                        "description": "Health and social work services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKH3",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKH3",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKH3",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKH3",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKH3",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKH3",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKH3",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKH3",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKH3",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "specialRegime": [
            "lightTouch"
        ],
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true,
                    "vcse": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-06-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2029-05-30T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "status": "planned"
            }
        ],
        "status": "planned",
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2026-01-15T23:59:59Z"
        },
        "amendments": [
            {
                "id": "054653-2025",
                "description": "Please note that due to unmitigated circumstances following the publication of the original preliminary market engagement notice for this event, the Council has revised the date. For the avoidance of any further doubt, please be advised that this market engagement event will take place on 25th September 2025 between 09:00 and 12:00 noon as per the revised information in the main description section of this notice."
            },
            {
                "id": "057157-2025",
                "description": "Further amendment to the engagement section of the notice to align with the description section and mitigate any undue conflict with the date of this market engagement event. For the avoidance of any further doubt, please be advised that this event will take place on 25th September 2025."
            },
            {
                "id": "031483-2026",
                "description": "Please note that this preliminary market engagement has been updated to reflect a change in the location of the event which will be conducted online via MS Teams instead of in-person as previously advertised."
            }
        ]
    },
    "language": "en"
}