--- title: "**SOFT MARKET TESTING** Solar Farms on Essex County Council owned Landholdings" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-23fe655a-7f21-4b4b-a68a-b3d004ebde43" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-23fe655a-7f21-4b4b-a68a-b3d004ebde43" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-23fe655a-7f21-4b4b-a68a-b3d004ebde43.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-23fe655a-7f21-4b4b-a68a-b3d004ebde43.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL" published: "2022-12-12" --- # **SOFT MARKET TESTING** Solar Farms on Essex County Council owned Landholdings Buyer: ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-23fe655a-7f21-4b4b-a68a-b3d004ebde43 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-23fe655a-7f21-4b4b-a68a-b3d004ebde43) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-23fe655a-7f21-4b4b-a68a-b3d004ebde43.json) ## Summary Essex County Council is planning a procurement process titled "**SOFT MARKET TESTING** Solar Farms on Essex County Council owned Landholdings" within the solar photovoltaic modules industry category in England, United Kingdom. This opportunity is currently at the planning stage, with an engagement end date set for January 13, 2023. The Council is exploring opportunities to develop solar generation on its land assets, with a soft market test deadline for responses on January 13, 2023. Interested parties can access the tender details via the Council's e-sourcing portal. This soft market testing opportunity by Essex County Council presents a chance for businesses in the solar installation and construction industry to engage with the Council regarding potential solar farm development projects. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) would find this opportunity particularly suitable. By participating in this soft market test, businesses can provide feedback, assess feasibility, and potentially position themselves for future contract opportunities with Essex County Council in the renewable energy sector. ## Notice Essex County Council (the Council) has a commitment in Everyone's Essex 2021 to 2025 to accelerate the county's transition to renewable and sustainable energy. As part of this, the Council has set a target for its core estate to reach net zero by 2030. Electricity consumption is projected to decrease over the coming years through investment in energy efficiency and estate rationalisation, but the Council also has a commitment, through its renewable electricity strategy, to access 100% of its energy requirement from renewable sources and to maximise opportunities for both onsite and offsite renewable electricity generation. As part of this commitment, the Council is keen to explore opportunities to develop solar generation on land assets that it owns. This could include both private wire and grid connected opportunities, with the potential for the Council to act as an off-taker for any projects that come forward. The Council has reviewed its landholdings and identified FOUR sites for development consideration. These sites have all undergone various land assessments to determine risk. The Council wants to determine the feasibility of developing ground mounted solar farms on these four sites and invites interested parties to respond to the Q&A pack prepared as part of this soft market testing. Responses will be reviewed, and shortlisted parties invited for a virtual Q&A session on the 30th or 31st January 2023. At this stage this opportunity is soft market test only and NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION. This market test exercise is to allow the Council to ascertain interest from the market, investigate potential options, and consider the best route for a potential future contract opportunity. Further details and a questionnaire pack can be located via the Council's e-sourcing portal, ProContract: https://procontract.due-north.com/Login Please note that you will need to register a supplier account to access the soft market test questionnaire pack. However, the registration process is free of charge and provides access to all the current and forthcoming procurement opportunities for Essex County Council alongside several other public sector organisations. The deadline for the soft market test responses will be Friday 13th January 2023 at 12:00pm; all responses and clarifications must be submitted via ProContract. Additional information: Respondents are advised that the purpose of this PIN is to engage in dialogue with the market and ascertain interest / feasibility of the potential opportunity. The scope of service, date of publication or potential contract value may be amended following the conclusion of soft market testing and should not be taken as a final "version" of requirement. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8c365cc3-fb22-4eac-b781-e1aeb8641a09 | | Notice type | Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Not specified | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 12 Dec 2022 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 13 Jan 2023 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL | | Locality | CHELMSFORD | | Post town | Chelmsford | | Postcode | CM1 1QH | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLH East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLH3 Essex | | ITL 3 | TLH36 Heart of Essex | | Local authority | Chelmsford | | Electoral ward | Moulsham and Central | | Westminster constituency | Chelmsford | | Delivery location | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 09 - Petroleum products, fuel, electricity and other sources of energy - 45 - Construction work ### Codes - 09331200 - Solar photovoltaic modules - 09332000 - Solar installation - 45200000 - Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work ## Release History - 12 Dec 2022 at 11:34 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8c365cc3-fb22-4eac-b781-e1aeb8641a09 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8c365cc3-fb22-4eac-b781-e1aeb8641a09 12th December 2022 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder ## Notice URLs - https://procontract.due-north.com/Login - https://www.essex.gov.uk/ ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-23fe655a-7f21-4b4b-a68a-b3d004ebde43. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-23fe655a-7f21-4b4b-a68a-b3d004ebde43.json.