Planning

Inclusive Travel SaaS product

ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

18 Sep 2025 at 13:49

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Essex County Council is currently in the planning stage of a procurement process for an "Inclusive Travel SaaS product." Located in Chelmsford, United Kingdom, the council aims to enhance its TravelEssex app by sourcing a Mobility-as-a-Service digital solution. This initiative, set within the IT services industry, requires a supplier to provide a software solution to support inclusive travel options around Greater Essex. The procurement process is presently at the preliminary market engagement stage, with a deadline for feedback submissions via Microsoft Form on the 30th of September, 2025. The expected contract period begins on 1st April 2026 and runs until 31st March 2030, highlighting the council's ongoing commitment to upgrading its transport infrastructure over this timeframe.

This tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in software development, consulting, Internet support, and IT services. With an estimated £100,000 value, companies with competencies in API integration, real-time data processing, and multi-lingual support are particularly suited to compete. The supplier must be capable of offering innovative solutions that align with the council's high-level requirements, such as smartphone-compatible wayfinding and scalable code deployment across infrastructure. Firms with strengths in accessibility enhancements and independent travel planning software will find this project aligns well with their service offerings, providing a platform for further business growth in the digitalisation of public transportation systems.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Inclusive Travel SaaS product

Notice Description

Essex County Council has contracted a supplier to provide a Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) digital solution to upgrade its current TravelEssex app (CO0391 Modernising Passenger Transport), which is due to go live Spring 2026. To integrate with this, the Council is seeking a software solution to further support its ambitions to make travel as inclusive and easy as possible around Greater Essex. This is a preliminary market engagement exercise to help ECC understand the market capability and capacity, to identify potential software solutions that enables all users to access travel more inclusively and easily. ECC's high-level requirements for the software solution must include the ability to: * Deeply integrate with our TravelEssex digital platform, via an existing public API (Application Programming Interface), solution provided by the supplier offering live arrivals, disruptions, amenity status (e.g. lifts, escalators etc) across multiple modes of travel * Provide visual and audible wayfinding and real-time information to users, via their smartphone, initiated by scanning a high-density code that is applied to infrastructure (e.g. bus shelters, bus stop, train stations and similar). The real-time feed would be provided by ECC for the supplier to ingest, in Siri SM/VM/SX formats. * Feature parity is required between the standard and audio formats. Continuity between codes on a route must be seamless to the user and include options such as step-free access. * Guidance to users must be in precise distances (feet/inches, metres/centimetres) * The code must be capable of being read via a smartphone's in-built camera and optimised for instantaneous, long-distance scanning. * The code must not require framing or focussing to scan it, ensuring readability from varied distances and wide viewing angles. * If multiple codes are detected, the solution must ensure communication of all detected codes, allowing the user to make an informed selection. * Be able to offer unlimited numbers of unique codes, including full deployment across current bus infrastructure estate (circa 8,000 locations) and options to add further locations over time. * Application of the code needs to be durable, printable and easily integrated with current infrastructure. * Offer automatic translation into the top 20 languages present in the UK * Support cognitive accessibility by offering bold, large font readable text and visually augmented reality arrows and other design elements. * Be able to create specific and tailored journey plans for Independent Travel Training users, that can be stored and re-used, per user. * Real-time data reporting on usage and other relevant statistics. Reports to be configurable and self-serve. * The system architecture should ideally exclude reliance on GPS, Bluetooth, or electronic beacon mechanisms to ensure standalone operability.

Planning Information

Please complete the Microsoft Form by clicking on the following link: https://forms.office.com/e/tkHtV6rQLh

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-059d48
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057762-2025
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

CPV Codes

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£100,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Sep 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Sep 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Kate Fabricant
Contact Email
kate.fabricant@essex.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

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
TLH East (England)
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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