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Scheduling Tool

Essex County Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

19 Aug 2026 at 12:06

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Essex County Council, through Essex Adult Community Learning (ACL), is exploring the purchase of a scheduling tool. The required service is an information technology platform for comprehensive scheduling, timetabling and resource management across multiple delivery locations. It is intended to support the planning of adult learning courses, tutors, rooms and other resources. The solution must integrate with ACL’s management information system and Microsoft 365 environment, while supporting funding compliance, learner communications and management reporting. Delivery will support ACL activity across Essex, with potential demonstrations held at County Hall in Chelmsford or remotely. This is a software and related technology services requirement, rather than a construction, equipment supply or standalone consultancy project.

This procurement is at the planning stage and is currently a preliminary market engagement exercise, not an invitation to tender. Essex County Council is using supplier responses to understand market capability, refine its requirements and shape the eventual procurement strategy. Interested suppliers are asked to complete a questionnaire by 2 September 2026. The council may subsequently arrange demonstrations or further discussions, either through Microsoft Teams or at County Hall, Chelmsford. The planned procurement is expected to use an open tender procedure under the Procurement Act 2023. It is below the applicable threshold and is structured as one lot. The anticipated contract period is from 1 December 2026 to 1 December 2029. No contract value or budget is stated.

This engagement will suit suppliers of education, workforce or enterprise scheduling software with a mature platform covering course timetabling, room and resource allocation, tutor planning and multi-site operations. Strong candidates are likely to have proven integration capability with management information systems and Microsoft 365, including reliable data exchange, user access and reporting. Experience supporting adult education or other funded learning environments would be relevant, particularly where the system can help maintain funding compliance and provide accurate management information. Suppliers should be prepared to demonstrate how their product supports learner communications as well as operational planning. The council is seeking market input before finalising its requirements, so providers with configurable solutions and the ability to explain implementation, integration and reporting approaches should prepare for future engagement.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Scheduling Tool

Notice Description

Essex Adult Community Learning (ACL) are seeking to procure a Scheduling Tool. The solution must provide a comprehensive scheduling, timetabling and resource management platform for ACL, enabling efficient planning of courses, tutors, rooms and resources across multiple delivery locations. The solution will need to integrate with the organisation's MIS and Microsoft 365 environment, supporting funding compliance, learner communication and management reporting. Essex ACL is undertaking this Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) to understand market capability & available solutions which meet ACL's identified requirements & inform the procurement strategy.

Planning Information

Essex Adult Community Learning (ACL) are looking to procure a Scheduling Tool & is undertaking this Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) to inform and refine its procurement strategy. This exercise is designed to understand market capability and available solutions in order to help develop ECC's requirements and shape the procurement strategy. ACL are inviting interested suppliers that can provide a Scheduling Tool to complete a questionnaire via the following Microsoft forms link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=TzK0qFwVFUKg8X7YzJqZL3jURid1DWlMu4oX1WAL4a5UQzQySTVLT1NJRDQ2TzhFVUEzVDNHQ1U2Uy4u Responses are to be submitted by 02/09/2026. If you are having any issues with the link, please reach out via email. Following a review of the responses, ACL may reach out to 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-06e76f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078922-2026
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
19 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
2 Sep 20266 days to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Dec 2026 - 1 Dec 2029 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
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)

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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