--- title: "Soft Market Testing - Social intranet software solution" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-e9501277-14fa-4755-8479-d4139d32cfcd" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-e9501277-14fa-4755-8479-d4139d32cfcd" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-e9501277-14fa-4755-8479-d4139d32cfcd.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-e9501277-14fa-4755-8479-d4139d32cfcd.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "CHESHIRE WEST AND CHESTER BOROUGH COUNCIL" published: "2020-10-22" --- # Soft Market Testing - Social intranet software solution Buyer: CHESHIRE WEST AND CHESTER BOROUGH COUNCIL Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-e9501277-14fa-4755-8479-d4139d32cfcd [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-e9501277-14fa-4755-8479-d4139d32cfcd) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-e9501277-14fa-4755-8479-d4139d32cfcd.json) ## Summary Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council is seeking solutions through a soft market testing process for a social intranet software solution aimed at enhancing collaboration among its workforce, which includes 3,043 council staff, 70 councillors, and about 2,800 personnel from council-owned companies. The procurement falls under the IT services category, specifically consulting, software development, and support, with the tender published on 22nd October 2020. Interested vendors are required to submit their applications along with product overviews, mandatory criteria compliance, and cost details by the closing date of 11th November 2020, at 10am. The contract period is set to begin on 25th January 2021 and will extend until 24th January 2026. This tender presents a prime opportunity for businesses specialising in off-the-shelf software solutions, particularly those with expertise in intranet and collaboration technologies. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) are encouraged to participate, given the Council's focus on ensuring the solution meets specific mandatory requirements. Successful bidders will offer a product that can enhance communication and knowledge sharing within the organisation, making this an ideal venture for firms that can provide innovative, scalable solutions to meet the needs of a modern, dispersed workforce. ## Notice We are looking to test the market for a social intranet software solution that provides a collaborative and social space that allows colleagues to engage. The solution should connect a modern workforce working from home and other multiple locations with information and a range of engaging and effective tools that encourage collaboration. The product should also provide a knowledge management solution that supports and encourages knowledge sharing. The solution needs to offer a secure mobile version as around 20% of the workforce do not have regular access to computers. The solution needs to be viable for Council staff, councillors and Council Companies staff. Staff figures: Council staff - 3,043 70 Councillors Council Companies staff - circa 2,800 people across the six council-owned companies The solution needs to offer multiple ways of connecting our modern workforce to each other and making two-way communication and engagement easy and rewarding. Staff will use the solution for accessing news and features, finding information, getting the advice and guidance they need to deliver their roles, engaging with each other and sharing knowledge. It must be able to host multiple types of media, such as video, audio etc, and offer high levels of interaction. It must also offer solutions that can serve different types of information to different segregations of the audience service-specific messaging can be delivered. This solution should be primarily an off-the-shelf product with a proven provenance. We are not looking to purchase a bespoke build. A list of our mandatory requirements is also attached. Interested organisations should apply on The Chest (www.the-chest.org.uk) and provide the following : * An overview of their product - marketing literature is permitted * How it meets the mandatory criteria provided * Costing details - a benchmark costing of the 1st year fee plus ongoing maintenance and support fees for subsequent years * List of customers already using the product effectively. Please note that we are not looking for the level of detail we would in a tender. The purpose of the soft market testing is to shortlist companies who we would then contact to arrange an on-line demonstration. To confirm, the solution must be an off the shelf product meeting all of the mandatory requirements set out in the Excel document. Please apply by uploading the required information as follows: * Upload to the Chest * Closing date is 10am Wednesday 11th November 2020 ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/20e9adc0-d5ce-4f1c-a700-c508ae97bc27 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Other - | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 22 Oct 2020 | | Submission deadline | 11 Nov 2020 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 25 Jan 2021 - 24 Jan 2026 | | 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 | Active | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | CHESHIRE WEST AND CHESTER BOROUGH COUNCIL | | Locality | ELLESMERE PORT | | Post town | Chester | | Postcode | CH65 0BE | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLD6 Cheshire | | ITL 3 | TLD63 Cheshire West and Chester | | Local authority | Cheshire West and Chester | | Electoral ward | Central & Grange | | Westminster constituency | Ellesmere Port and Bromborough | | 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 - 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support ### Codes - 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support ## Release History - 22 Oct 2020 at 10:17 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/20e9adc0-d5ce-4f1c-a700-c508ae97bc27 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/20e9adc0-d5ce-4f1c-a700-c508ae97bc27 22nd October 2020 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder ## Notice URLs - http://www.cheshirewestandchester.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-e9501277-14fa-4755-8479-d4139d32cfcd. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-e9501277-14fa-4755-8479-d4139d32cfcd.json.