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Essex Music Tours

Essex County Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

06 Aug 2026 at 14:17

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Essex County Council is seeking a service provider for Essex Music Tours, supporting orchestral touring for Essex Music Service. The requirement covers event services and hotel accommodation for touring young musicians. Tours provide performance opportunities in prestigious concert halls and music festivals, alongside cultural and educational visits that support confidence, artistic development, global awareness and cultural understanding. The Essex Youth Orchestra is the flagship symphony orchestra within the GEMH partnership, with 65–75 advanced players at Grade 7 or above. It will tour with either the Essex Youth Symphonic Wind Orchestra or the Essex Youth Jazz Orchestra, which participate in tours every two years. The service is delivered in Essex.

The procurement has reached tender: the council invited offers through an open procedure. It is a single-lot services contract with an estimated value of £1,050,000 excluding VAT, or £1,260,000 including VAT. Enquiries were due by 21 August 2026 at 23:59, and offers were due by 4 September 2026 at 14:00:59. The council expected to decide the award by 30 September 2026 at 23:59. The initial contract period runs from 5 October 2026 to 4 October 2029, with four possible one-year extensions, each valued at £150,000 excluding VAT; the maximum end date is 4 October 2033. Evaluation is weighted 60% quality, covering technical ability and social value, and 40% price, covering all service delivery costs.

This opportunity suits established tour operators and event-service providers able to organise complex overseas or domestic music tours for large youth ensembles. Relevant capability includes arranging suitable hotel accommodation, coordinating event and performance logistics, and supporting cultural, educational and festival-based itineraries. Suppliers should be able to accommodate an Essex Youth Orchestra of 65–75 advanced players, alongside either a symphonic wind orchestra or a jazz orchestra, and manage the practical needs of young musicians and accompanying groups. Experience delivering orchestral or other specialist group tours would be particularly relevant, especially where programmes involve prestigious concert venues and significant educational visits. Providers should also be prepared to manage cancellation and supply-continuity risks during delivery and to demonstrate strong technical ability and social-value outcomes.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Essex Music Tours

Notice Description

Orchestral touring has been an established part of Essex Music Service's programme for over 60 years, with previous destinations including Poland, Budapest, and Prague. These tours provide young musicians with the opportunity to perform in prestigious concert halls and participate in renowned music festivals, thereby raising artistic standards, building confidence, and fostering cultural exchange. In addition to performance opportunities, EMS places strong emphasis on the cultural and educational value of touring. Programmes have historically included visits of significant historical and educational importance, such as Auschwitz in 2015, supporting the development of global awareness and cultural understanding. The Essex Youth Orchestra is the flagship symphony orchestra within the whole GEMH partnership and comprises of 65-75 advanced players (Grade 7+), performing a broad orchestral repertoire, including works by composers such as Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev. The orchestra will be accompanied on tour by either the Essex Youth Symphonic Wind Orchestra or the Essex Youth Jazz Orchestra, which participate in tours on a bi-annual basis.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: There are 4 contract extensions, detailed below: Extension 1 Maximum duration: 1 year and 0 month Value ex VAT: PS 150,000 Extension 2 Maximum duration: 1 year and 0 month Value ex VAT: PS 150,000 Extension 3 Maximum duration: 1 year and 0 month Value ex VAT: PS 150,000 Extension 4 Maximum duration: 1 year and 0 month Value ex VAT: PS 150,000

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ddea
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074792-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

55110000 - Hotel accommodation services

79952000 - Event services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,050,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,050,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Aug 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
4 Sep 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
5 Oct 2026 - 4 Oct 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
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
Postcode Area
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)

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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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