---
title: "FS-Case-839428111 - WAIVER - Data and insight research tool into the economic landscape"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-078370"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078370"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078370.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078370.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Essex County Council"
published: "2026-10-08"
---

# FS-Case-839428111 - WAIVER - Data and insight research tool into the economic landscape

Buyer: Essex County Council  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-078370

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078370)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078370.json)

## Summary

Essex County Council procured an economic landscape data and insight research tool, classified as research and development consultancy services. The requirement supports the council’s data and intelligence functions, providing insight into the economic landscape. The procurement was for an extension to an existing contract, intended to maintain continuity while the council explored alternative licensing models and solutions and completed ongoing exploratory work. Delivery is in Essex, England. The buying organisation is Essex County Council, based in Chelmsford.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded to Economic Modeling LLC trading as Lightcast. The council used a below-threshold waiver to extend an existing contract. The contract was signed on 16 April 2026 and runs from 16 April 2026 to 15 April 2027. Its value is £15,550 including VAT. The award covers one lot, for the data and insight research tool; the recorded award is active. The procurement details identify no evaluation criteria or competitive assessment basis, consistent with the stated waiver route.

For suppliers competing for similar work from Essex County Council, this award shows demand for specialist economic data and insight tools that sustain the council’s intelligence functions. A credible competitor would need to provide research and development consultancy capability alongside dependable economic landscape data, and demonstrate that its service can maintain continuity for existing analytical work. The council’s stated interest in exploring alternative licensing models and solutions indicates that commercial flexibility and the ability to support a transition between arrangements are relevant capabilities. Suppliers should be able to serve a public-sector customer in Essex and support ongoing exploratory analysis as well as day-to-day access to data and intelligence.

## Notice

Continuity of critical data and intelligence functions while alternative licensing models and solutions are fully explored, including completion of ongoing exploratory work. This is a waiver for an extension to an existing contract.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095062-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - unknown |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 8 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 16 Apr 2026 - 15 Apr 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £15,550 |

## Status

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

## 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 | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | Lightcast |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services

## Release History

- 8 Oct 2026 at 10:41 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095062-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095062-2026
  8th October 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://lightcast.io
- 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-078370. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078370.json.