Planning

ACL Management Information System

ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

21 May 2026 at 12:34

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Essex County Council is in the planning stage for the procurement of a Management Information System (MIS) for its Adult Community Learning (ACL) programme. This initiative is part of the ACL Transformation and Refresh programme intended to enhance learner tracking and ensure compliance with Department for Education standards. The procurement process is currently at the market engagement stage, with a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) notice released to gather insights from potential suppliers. The engagement aims to evaluate the market capability and refine the procurement strategy, with responses due by 22nd June 2026. The contract is expected to begin on 30th March 2027, allowing for a transitional overlap with the existing contract, which ends on 30th September 2027. The project is located in Chelmsford, UK, and falls under the services category, specifically information technology services.

This procurement presents substantial opportunities for businesses specialising in information technology services, particularly those with expertise in developing sophisticated MIS tools. The ideal candidates are companies that can offer advanced MIS solutions featuring real-time updates, compliance with educational regulations, and future integration capabilities. Businesses that provide innovative, user-friendly interfaces and self-registration options for learners will find this an excellent opportunity to expand their reach and establish a partnership with a major public authority. While this engagement notice is not a formal call for tender, participating businesses can gain valuable insights and influence the future tender's framework, positioning themselves favourably for upcoming procurement opportunities.

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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 22/06/2026. 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/047092-2026
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
21 May 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
22 Jun 20261 months to go
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

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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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