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ACL Management Information System

ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

18 Jun 2026 at 15:22

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

21 May 2026 at 12:34

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Essex County Council is currently in the planning stage for procuring a Management Information System (MIS) to support its Essex Adult Community Learning (ACL) programme. This initiative is part of the council's ongoing ACL Transformation and Refresh programme. The procurement is currently at the planning update stage with a deadline for responses set on 30th June 2026. Located in Chelmsford, Essex, the process falls under the services category for information technology services. The project aims to replace a decade-old system with a modern solution to enhance learner tracking, integrate reporting, and offer real-time updates. The council seeks to engage with potential suppliers through a preliminary market engagement (PME) process to refine procurement strategies and understand available market solutions. The expected contract start date is 30th March 2027, with an overlap period to ensure a smooth transition, and the contract is planned for a duration of 3+1 years.

The procurement offers substantial opportunities for IT service providers, particularly those specialising in educational technology systems. Businesses capable of providing advanced management information systems with integrated reporting, real-time update functionalities, and user-friendly interfaces would find this tender particularly relevant. The engagement process allows suppliers to inform the development of the council's requirements, potentially influencing the final tender documents. Moreover, it aligns with Department for Education compliance mandates, making it an ideal opportunity for companies with experience in education sector compliance. Participation in this planning stage allows suppliers to position themselves strategically for future contracts, enabling business growth within the public sector IT marketplace.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

ACL Management Information System

Notice Description

Essex Adult Community Learning (ACL) are seeking a comprehensive Management Information System tool to support the Council's ongoing ACL Transformation and Refresh programme. Essex ACL is undertaking this Preliminary market engagement notice (PME) to engage with potential suppliers to understand market capability and available solutions to help develop to Essex ACL's identified requirements and inform the procurement strategy. ACL is looking to understand more about the MIS tools that can provide the following outcomes: * Enhance learner tracking and performance * Adhere to DfE mandatory compliance checks and be auditable * Real time updates to allow rapid inclusion of new learners * Integrated reporting function built in to solution * Options for current and future integration with other ACL tools i.e. Scheduling * Up to date and user friendly interface for staff * Option for self registration by learners * Updated technology (current solution is 10 plus years old) Contract Dates (Estimated): The current contract expires 30th Sep 2027. We would require a period of parallel running to ensure quality so would look to ensuring at least 6 months overlap i.e. contract start of 30th March 2027. NB This would depend on Implementation length. Ideally we would like a 3+1 contract length.

Planning Information

Engagement Process Description: Essex Adult Community Learning (ACL) is looking to procure a Management Information System and is undertaking this preliminary market engagement notice (PME) to inform and refine its procurement strategy. This exercise is designed to engage with potential suppliers to understand market capability and available solutions, to help develop ECC's requirements and shape the procurement strategy as well as identifying potential suppliers. ACL are inviting interested suppliers that are capable of providing an MIS to complete a questionnaire via the following Microsoft forms link: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=TzK0qFwVFUKg8X7YzJqZL3jURid1DWlMu4oX1WAL4a5UREVUMERZMkhQUVZTUklVVElDSTFWQkFCMS4u Responses are to be submitted by 30/06/2026. If you are having any issues with the link, please reach out via email. Following review of responses, ACL may reach out to interested suppliers to organise demos or for further discussion. If demos are to be arranged, they will be held via teams or on site at County Hall, Market Road, Chelmsford, CM1 1QH. Please note this PME notice/request for information is not intended as a call for competition and as such you will need to express your interest in any potential future tender opportunity. Responding to this PME does not constitute a tender submission, a quotation, or any binding commitment to procure these services. Please note there is no commitment or guarantee that procurement activity will go ahead. Participation is voluntary and will neither benefit nor disadvantage any supplier in any potential future procurement opportunity. Responses to the questionnaire will be treated confidentially.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-069f2e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057744-2026
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

72222300 - Information technology services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Jun 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Jun 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
29 Mar 2027 - 29 Mar 2030 3-4 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
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

JSON Markdown

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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