---
title: "1055 - Unpaid Carers Virtual/Digital Service Offer"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0446ce"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0446ce"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0446ce.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0446ce.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL"
published: "2024-08-20"
---

# 1055 - Unpaid Carers Virtual/Digital Service Offer

Buyer: ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0446ce

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## Summary

Essex County Council has awarded a contract for the "1055 - Unpaid Carers Virtual/Digital Service Offer". This procurement process was targeted at enhancing support for unpaid carers through a digital service model. The initiative falls under the IT services category and covers the UKH3 region. The awarded contract, valued at £230,000, was signed on 8th August 2024 and will run from 1st October 2024 to 31st March 2027, with the possibility of an extension for up to two additional years. The procurement was conducted through an open procedure with an emphasis on quality technical aspects (60%) and commercial/financial aspects (40%). The tender period concluded on 18th July 2024 following an amendment to correct the estimated contract value and submission deadline.

This tender presents significant growth opportunities for businesses specialising in IT services, particularly those with expertise in developing and supporting digital platforms for social services. Companies proficient in creating engaging digital content and tools accessible to a diverse audience of carers would be particularly well-suited. The contract requires the provision of high-quality online services that facilitate carer-to-carer support and the strategic use of technology to identify and support carers at scale. Businesses that can leverage technology to enhance carers' quality of life and aid Essex County Council in fulfilling its Care Act 2014 obligations stand to benefit from this contract.

## Notice

Essex County Council currently commission a range of services to support unpaid carers, such as specialist information advice and support. Alongside this, Essex County Council are proposing to procure services of a virtual / Digital offer, which compliments by targeting and promoting the local and national support for carers, through technology and online methods of communication. The virtual offer provides this through engaging digital content and tools which are easily accessible to carers regardless of location, person circumstances and time restraints, and to build resilience in carers through the following methods: - Harnessing the wisdom, knowledge, and experience of carers to support each other in their caring role; - Strategic use of technology to identify and support carers at scale; - Facilitating carer-to-carer self-support; Page 4 to 8 - Designing online services to ensure a high-quality experience. The aims and objectives of the services are as follows: - To support carers to sustain their caring role where they are happy and able to do so; - To support carers to maintain their own quality of life by focusing on their health and wellbeing outside of their caring responsibilities; - To support carers to plan; - To work with statutory and voluntary agencies to recognise and respect carers as expert partners; - To promote networks of support for carers; - To support carers to navigate the health and social care system, and select the best solutions for them; - To take an enabling and goal-focused approach building on what carers can do for themselves; - To support Essex County Council to deliver its requirements of the Care Act 2014 by preventing, reducing, and delaying needs.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Essex County Council currently commission a range of services to support unpaid carers, such as specialist information advice and support. Alongside this, Essex County Council are proposing to procure services of a virtual / Digital offer, which compliments by targeting and promoting the local and national support for carers, through technology and online methods of communication. The virtual offer provides this through engaging digital content and tools which are easily accessible to carers regardless of location, person circumstances and time restraints, and to build resilience in carers through the following methods: - Harnessing the wisdom, knowledge, and experience of carers to support each other in their caring role; - Strategic use of technology to identify and support carers at scale; - Facilitating carer-to-carer self-support; Page 4 to 8 - Designing online services to ensure a high-quality experience. The aims and objectives of the services are as follows: - To support carers to sustain their caring role where they are happy and able to do so; - To support carers to maintain their own quality of life by focusing on their health and wellbeing outside of their caring responsibilities; - To support carers to plan; - To work with statutory and voluntary agencies to recognise and respect carers as expert partners; - To promote networks of support for carers; - To support carers to navigate the health and social care system, and select the best solutions for them; - To take an enabling and goal-focused approach building on what carers can do for themselves; - To support Essex County Council to deliver its requirements of the Care Act 2014 by preventing, reducing, and delaying needs. Additional information: The contract to which this notice applies is for an initial 2.5 years period, from 1st October 2024 to 31st March 2027, and the published value is only for this 2.5 year period. The contract will make provision for the further extension of this contract for a maximum of additional 2 years, with a potential end date of 31st March 2029. The decision to action an extension to the contract will be subject to separate internal governance, with a minimum of 4 months prior to the expiry of the 2.5 year contract. Initial discussions on the extension will commence in September 2026, and separate budget for this time-period will need to established. The value of this notice is only for 2.5 years and it is anticipated that similar pro-rata values will apply to any awarded extensions.

Renewal: 2.5 year duration, with option to extend for up to 2 x 12 month periods

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026408-2024 |
| Notice type | Planning Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Planning, Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 20 Aug 2024 |
| Submission deadline | 10 Jul 2024 |
| Future notice date | 8 Mar 2024 |
| Award date | 7 Aug 2024 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £500,000 |
| Lots value | £500,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £230,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## 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 | TLH3 Essex |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | MOBILISE CARE |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 85100000 - Health services
- 85300000 - Social work and related services

## Release History

- 20 Aug 2024 at 08:40 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026408-2024
- 8 Jul 2024 at 16:27 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020835-2024
- 10 Jun 2024 at 16:40 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017929-2024
- 8 Mar 2024 at 12:46 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007508-2024

## Notice URLs

- https://procontract.duenorth.com
- 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-h6vhtk-0446ce. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0446ce.json.