--- title: "Scheduling Tool" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06e76f" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06e76f" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e76f.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e76f.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "Essex County Council" published: "2026-08-19" --- # Scheduling Tool Buyer: Essex County Council Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06e76f [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06e76f) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e76f.json) ## Summary 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. ## Notice 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. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078922-2026 | | 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 | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 19 Aug 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 2 Sep 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Dec 2026 - 1 Dec 2029 | | 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 | Planning | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | Essex County Council | | Locality | CHELMSFORD | | Postcode area | 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 | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support ### Codes - 72222300 - Information technology services ## Release History - 19 Aug 2026 at 12:06 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078922-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078922-2026 19th August 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=TzK0qFwVFUKg8X7YzJqZL3jURid1DWlMu4oX1WAL4a5UQzQySTVLT1NJRDQ2TzhFVUEzVDNHQ1U2Uy4u - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## 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-06e76f. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e76f.json.