Award

Highways & Infrastructure Planning Solution

ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

08 Oct 2025 at 15:39

Award

23 Sep 2025 at 17:01

Award

23 Sep 2025 at 16:42

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process led by Essex County Council culminated in the award of a contract for the "Highways & Infrastructure Planning Solution" (HIPS) to DEF Software Limited. This initiative focuses on providing a cross-departmental planning solution for Essex, covering areas from planning responses to the management of developer contributions and highway assets. The procurement utilized a direct award method due to the absence of competing bids, and the contract is now at the award stage. The contract, signed on 6th October 2025, commences on 9th October 2025 and extends for an initial five-year period with a possible continuation on a rolling basis. The main procurement category is services, specifically related to planning systems and software-related services, with an award value of approximately £387,833.97 excluding VAT.

This tender presents opportunities for businesses that specialise in software solutions, particularly those focusing on infrastructure planning and management systems. Companies that can deliver comprehensive planning and management tools are well-suited to compete in similar future contracts, benefiting from the chance to establish relationships with local government entities like Essex County Council. SMEs could find particular growth potential given the Council's preference for innovative, versatile solutions that can streamline and support statutory duties across multiple departments. Businesses aiming to expand within the public sector technology or services domain would find such contracts appealing for growth and establishment in the market.

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Notice Title

Highways & Infrastructure Planning Solution

Notice Description

Procurement of a single cross departmental solution for managing planning responses, management of onsite activities through to adoption of new highway assets, including the management of developer contributions (S106), ensuring Essex County Council is supported by the best technology in its day-to-day operations and can deliver its statutory duties.

Procurement Information

At the Prior Information Notice (PIN) stage, there were 12 expressions of interest from suppliers. The tender process for the service commenced on 21 February 2025 and two suppliers - both of whom had responded to the PIN initially expressed an interest However, when the tender closed on 24 March 2025, no bids were received.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05a082
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/063442-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

30 - Office and computing machinery, equipment and supplies except furniture and software packages

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


CPV Codes

30196000 - Planning systems

72260000 - Software-related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£387,833 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£387,833 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
22 Sep 20255 months ago
Contract Period
8 Oct 2025 - 8 Oct 2030 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
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
Not specified

Local Authority
Chelmsford
Electoral Ward
Moulsham and Central
Westminster Constituency
Chelmsford

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

DEF SOFTWARE

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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