Official UK procurement notice
Essex Music Tours · UK public procurement notice
Authority: Essex County Council (Local council)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionOrchestral touring has been an established part of Essex Music Service’s programme for over 60 years, with previous destinations including Poland, Budapest, and Prague. These tours provide young musicians with the opportunity to perform in prestigious concert halls and participate in renowned music festivals, thereby raising artistic standards, building confidence, and fostering cultural exchange. In addition to performance opportunities, EMS places strong emphasis on the cultural and educational value of touring. Programmes have historically included visits of significant historical and educational importance, such as Auschwitz in 2015, supporting the development of global awareness and cultural understanding.
The Essex Youth Orchestra is the flagship symphony orchestra within the whole GEMH partnership and comprises of 65–75 advanced players (Grade 7+), performing a broad orchestral repertoire, including works by composers such as Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev. The orchestra will be accompanied on tour by either the Essex Youth Symphonic Wind Orchestra or the Essex Youth Jazz Orchestra, which participate in tours on a bi-annual basis.
- No preliminary market engagement: Desk top market evaluation has been undertaken, no frameworks identified to be able to use.
CPV: Event services · Hotel accommodation services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedRenewalPublished value£1,050,000
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published sub-criteria (2)
- Quality criterion 1 (Lot 0): 60%
- Price criterion 1 (Lot 0): 40%
Published award criteria (2)
- Quality criterion 1 (Lot 0): Assessment of technical ability and Social Value
- Price criterion 1 (Lot 0): All costs associated with the delivery of the service, as described in the Pricing Matrix
- Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Light touch regime
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 6 Aug 2026, 14:17 BST
- Last source update
- 19 Oct 2026, 15:05 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 30 Sept 2026
- Authority reference
E021PA- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-074792- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ddeaFind a Tender- Contract terms summary
As per Contract
- Risks
LGR and Devolution
It is anticipated, that during the life of this contract/framework, the LGR process will commence and/or progress potentially impacting this contract/framework. Impacts may include, but are not limited to, modifications such as a transfer of the legal entity you currently contract with, significant increases and/or decreases in the value/volume of goods/services/works required due to the change in size/scope of the Contracting Authority, and/or changes to the scope of the nature of goods/services/works required. Although any contract scope changes should broadly relate to the nature of the existing scope, new goods/services/works of a related nature may be required that were not previously included.
Risk of Supply
There is a risk that supplier may cease operation for a number of reasons leading to early termination of contract and supply of services
Cancellation of tour
There is a risk that an unforeseen circumstances would mean the trip has to be cancelled leading to short notice cancellation of booked tour with no opportunity to rebook and compensation to parents
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 4 Sept 2026, 14:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 21 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
6 Aug 2026 → 19 Oct 2026 · 7 dates- Tender notice published75 days ago6 Aug 2026, 14:17 BST
- Clarification questions by59 days ago21 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
- Submission deadline46 days ago4 Sept 2026, 14:00 BST
- Award decision expected by19 days ago30 Sept 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts15 days ago5 Oct 2026, 00:00 BST
- Assessment summaries sent1 day ago19 Oct 2026, 00:00 BST
- Latest notice published1 day ago19 Oct 2026, 15:05 BST
Notice history
4 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 6 Aug 2026- Tender notice published6 Aug 2026, 14:17 BSTUK4
- Contract award notice published19 Oct 2026, 15:05 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete19 Oct 2026, 15:05 BST
- Contract signature expected6 Nov 2026, 23:59 GMTscheduled
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onestage LimitedSME9 Nov 2026 – 7 Nov 2029 · up to 7 Nov 2033Extensions: There are 4 contract extensions, detailed below: Extension 1 Maximum duration: 1 year and 0 month Value ex VAT: £ 150,000 Extension 2 Maximum duration: 1 year and 0 month Value ex VAT: £ 150,000 Extension 3 Maximum duration: 1 year and 0 month Value ex VAT: £ 150,000 Extension 4 Maximum duration: 1 year and 0 month Value ex VAT: £ 150,000 | £1,050,000 | 19 Oct 2026 | Awarded |
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2final-stage tenders | 2 | 0 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Onestage LimitedAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender