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Early Years Parenting Platform

Thurrock Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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15 Sep 2026 at 09:48

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Thurrock Council procured an early years parenting platform delivered as an app. The service is intended to help parents and carers support children’s development from birth to age five through play-based activities and everyday interactions. This is a technology-enabled education and family support service, combining educational software with social-service support. The buying organisation is Thurrock Council, based in Grays, and the requirement serves families and carers in Thurrock. The contracted supplier is Character Counts Ltd, which operates the EasyPeasy app. Businesses relevant to this requirement include providers of early-years digital platforms, parenting and family-support services, child-development content, educational software and related implementation or support services for local authorities.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded to Character Counts Ltd. Thurrock Council used a direct award below the applicable threshold without competition. The contract was signed on 27 July 2026, starts on 3 August 2026 and runs to 2 August 2027, with two one-year extension options available and a maximum end date of 2 August 2029. Its value is £96,000 excluding VAT, or £115,200 including VAT. The award covers one lot and the service category includes educational software and social services. The contract is active. The published outcome therefore records a completed, non-competitive procurement rather than an opportunity for suppliers to submit bids.

This award shows that Thurrock Council buys a specialist digital service for early-years parenting and child development, at council-wide family-support scale, through a below-threshold direct route. A supplier seeking to compete for a similar requirement would need a reliable parent-facing app, age-appropriate play and development content covering birth to five years, and evidence that carers can use it in everyday interactions. Credibility would also depend on understanding early-years practice, safeguarding, accessibility, data protection and the needs of local-authority family services. Providers should be able to demonstrate platform operation, user support, content maintenance and measurable engagement or developmental outcomes. Experience delivering educational technology or social-support services to councils, nurseries, health or community partners would strengthen a future proposition.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Early Years Parenting Platform

Notice Description

EasyPeasy - Early years parenting platform (app) that helps parents and carers support the development of children from birth to age 5 through play based activities and everyday interactions.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f9ba
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087132-2026
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
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

48190000 - Educational software package

85320000 - Social services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£96,000 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Sep 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
3 Aug 2026 - 2 Aug 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Thurrock 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
GRAYS
Postcode
RM17 6SL
Postcode Area
Romford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH3 Essex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH32 Thurrock
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Thurrock
Electoral Ward
Grays Riverside
Westminster Constituency
Thurrock

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

CHARACTER COUNTS LTD

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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