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planningFind a Tender · planning

Inclusive Travel SaaS product

Buyer: Essex County Council →

BuyerEssex County Council
Statusplanning
DeadlineNot published
Value£100,000
Published18 Sept 2025

What is being bought

Essex County Council has contracted a supplier to provide a Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) digital solution to upgrade its current TravelEssex app (CO0391 Modernising Passenger Transport), which is due to go live Spring 2026. To integrate with this, the Council is seeking a software solution to further support its ambitions to make travel as inclusive and easy as possible around Greater Essex. This is a preliminary market engagement exercise to help ECC understand the market capability and capacity, to identify potential software solutions that enables all users to access travel more inclusively and easily. ECC's high-level requirements for the software solution must include the ability to: • Deeply integrate with our TravelEssex digital platform, via an existing public API (Application Programming Interface), solution provided by the supplier offering live arrivals, disruptions, amenity status (e.g. lifts, escalators etc) across multiple modes of travel • Provide visual and audible wayfinding and real-time information to users, via their smartphone, initiated by scanning a high-density code that is applied to infrastructure (e.g. bus shelters, bus stop, train stations and similar). The real-time feed would be provided by ECC for the supplier to ingest, in Siri SM/VM/SX formats. • Feature parity is required between the standard and audio formats. Continuity between codes on a route must be seamless to the user and include options such as step-free access. • Guidance to users must be in precise distances (feet/inches, metres/centimetres) • The code must be capable of being read via a smartphone's in-built camera and optimised for instantaneous, long-distance scanning. • The code must not require framing or focussing to scan it, ensuring readability from varied distances and wide viewing angles. • If multiple codes are detected, the solution must ensure communication of all detected codes, allowing the user to make an informed selection. • Be able to offer unlimited numbers of unique codes, including full deployment across current bus infrastructure estate (circa 8,000 locations) and options to add further locations over time. • Application of the code needs to be durable, printable and easily integrated with current infrastructure. • Offer automatic translation into the top 20 languages present in the UK • Support cognitive accessibility by offering bold, large font readable text and visually augmented reality arrows and other design elements. • Be able to create specific and tailored journey plans for Independent Travel Training users, that can be stored and re-used, per user. • Real-time data reporting on usage and other relevant statistics. Reports to be configurable and self-serve. • The system architecture should ideally exclude reliance on GPS, Bluetooth, or electronic beacon mechanisms to ensure standalone operability.

Delivery location

UKH, GB

Categories

IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support 72000000

Lot details

Lot 1

No lot description published.

Statusplanning
Contract periodFrom 1 Apr 2026 to 31 Mar 2030

What is included

ItemCategoryQuantity
1IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and supportNot published

Comparable-procurement analytics

Benchmarked against retained Find a Tender procedures with CPV division 72. The category anchor is IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support (72000000); this is a deliberately broad market comparator. The comparison is shown at several levels rather than pretending one company or region is always the best benchmark.

Comparison setProceduresReported bids per procedureNamed award suppliersPrice evidence
Market: CPV division 724,8801 median · 11 average (1,685 of 4,880 with a bid count)1.8 average (1,980 of 4,880 with named award suppliers)Not published
Same buyer9Not publishedNot publishedNot published
Delivery region: UKH2891 median · 8.2 average (126 of 289 with a bid count)1.4 average (132 of 289 with named award suppliers)Not published
Similar published value (0.5×–2×)3242 median · 3.3 average (7 of 324 with a bid count)1 average (7 of 324 with named award suppliers)Not published

“Reported bids” is an official aggregate, sometimes reported per lot; it is the closest available competition measure. “Named award suppliers” are winners, not all applicants.

Price-outcome signal

Not enough comparable procedures currently publish both a GBP tender value and a usable lowest-valid-bid value to calculate a responsible price-reduction benchmark. Tenderline deliberately does not infer a saving from named award suppliers or from missing award values.

Procurement strategy & market signals

Framework agreementNot published
Dynamic purchasing systemNot published
Competitive procurementNot published
Recurring requirementNot published
Procurement method rationaleNot published
Rationale classificationsNot published
Special regimeNot published
Covered byNot published
Submission policyNot published
Selection criteriaNot published
Risk detailsNot published

Planning & early market engagement

BudgetValue not published
No-engagement rationaleNot published
Planning documents1
Planning milestones1
MilestoneTypeDueStatus
Please complete the Microsoft Form by clicking on the following link: https://forms.office.com/e/tkHtV6rQLhengagement30 Sept 2025scheduled

Related procurements

No linked framework, prior procurement or reprocurement published.

Documents & submission route

Source data inventory

Diagnostic view. “Not published” means this current release does not provide a value.

OCIDocds-h6vhtk-059d48
Latest release ID057762-2025
Latest release timestampThu Sep 18 2025 13:49:42 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Sourcefind-a-tender
Official notice URLNot published
Tender statusplanning
Procurement methodNot published
Procurement method detailsNot published
Main procurement categoryservices
Above thresholdNo
Legal basis2023/54
Tender period: startNot published
Tender period: endNot published
Expression of interest deadlineNot published
Enquiry deadlineNot published
Award period: startNot published
Award period: endNot published
Submission method detailsNot published
Submission languagesNot published
Electronic catalogue policyNot published
Total tender value£100,000
Tender lots in source1
Tender items in source1
Tender documents in source0
Awards in latest release0
Contracts in latest release0
Parties in latest release1

Notice history

DateEventReference
18 Sept 2025planning057762-2025

All source data

Unmodified official OCDS data retained by Tenderline for this procurement process.

Complete current OCDS release JSON
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  "date": "2025-09-18T14:49:42+01:00",
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  "buyer": {
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    "name": "Essex County Council"
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    "title": "Inclusive Travel SaaS product",
    "value": {
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    "status": "planning",
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    "description": "Essex County Council has contracted a supplier to provide a Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) digital solution to upgrade its current TravelEssex app (CO0391 Modernising Passenger Transport), which is due to go live Spring 2026.  To integrate with this, the Council is seeking a software solution to further support its ambitions to make travel as inclusive and easy as possible around Greater Essex.\nThis is a preliminary market engagement exercise to help ECC understand the market capability and capacity, to identify potential software solutions that enables all users to access travel more inclusively and easily.  \nECC's high-level requirements for the software solution must include the ability to: \n•\tDeeply integrate with our TravelEssex digital platform, via an existing public API (Application Programming Interface),  solution provided by the supplier offering live arrivals, disruptions, amenity status (e.g. lifts, escalators etc) across multiple modes of travel\n•\tProvide visual and audible wayfinding and real-time information to users, via their smartphone, initiated by scanning a high-density code that is applied to infrastructure (e.g. bus shelters, bus stop, train stations and similar).  The real-time feed would be provided by ECC for the supplier to ingest, in Siri SM/VM/SX formats.\n•\tFeature parity is required between the standard and audio formats.  Continuity between codes on a route must be seamless to the user and include options such as step-free access.\n•\tGuidance to users must be in precise distances (feet/inches, metres/centimetres)\n•\tThe code must be capable of being read via a smartphone's in-built camera and optimised for instantaneous, long-distance scanning. \n•\tThe code must not require framing or focussing to scan it, ensuring readability from varied distances and wide viewing angles.\n•\tIf multiple codes are detected, the solution must ensure communication of all detected codes, allowing the user to make an informed selection.\n•\tBe able to offer unlimited numbers of unique codes, including full deployment across current bus infrastructure estate (circa 8,000 locations) and options to add further locations over time.\n•\tApplication of the code needs to be durable, printable and easily integrated with current infrastructure.\n•\tOffer automatic translation into the top 20 languages present in the UK\n•\tSupport cognitive accessibility by offering bold, large font readable text and visually augmented reality arrows and other design elements. \n•\tBe able to create specific and tailored journey plans for Independent Travel Training users, that can be stored and re-used, per user.\n•\tReal-time data reporting on usage and other relevant  statistics.  Reports to be configurable and self-serve.\n•\tThe system architecture should ideally exclude reliance on GPS, Bluetooth, or electronic beacon mechanisms to ensure standalone operability.",
    "aboveThreshold": false,
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  "parties": [
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        "streetAddress": "County Hall, Market Road"
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      "details": {
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        "classifications": [
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      "identifier": {
        "id": "PWVM-4844-NRQH",
        "scheme": "GB-PPON"
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      "contactPoint": {
        "name": "Kate Fabricant",
        "email": "kate.fabricant@essex.gov.uk"
      }
    }
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "planning": {
    "documents": [
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        "id": "057762-2025",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057762-2025",
        "format": "text/html",
        "noticeType": "UK2",
        "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
        "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
        "datePublished": "2025-09-18T14:49:42+01:00"
      }
    ],
    "milestones": [
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        "status": "scheduled",
        "dueDate": "2025-09-30T23:59:59+01:00",
        "description": "Please complete the Microsoft Form by clicking on the following link: https://forms.office.com/e/tkHtV6rQLh"
      }
    ]
  },
  "initiationType": "tender"
}
Complete JSON history (1 releases)
18 Sept 2025 · 057762-2025 · planning
{
  "id": "057762-2025",
  "tag": [
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  "date": "2025-09-18T14:49:42+01:00",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-059d48",
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-PPON-PWVM-4844-NRQH",
    "name": "Essex County Council"
  },
  "tender": {
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          "startDate": "2026-04-01T00:00:00+01:00"
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    ],
    "items": [
      {
        "id": "1",
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            "id": "72000000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support"
          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "title": "Inclusive Travel SaaS product",
    "value": {
      "currency": "GBP",
      "amountGross": 100000
    },
    "status": "planning",
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "2023/54",
      "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents",
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    "description": "Essex County Council has contracted a supplier to provide a Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) digital solution to upgrade its current TravelEssex app (CO0391 Modernising Passenger Transport), which is due to go live Spring 2026.  To integrate with this, the Council is seeking a software solution to further support its ambitions to make travel as inclusive and easy as possible around Greater Essex.\nThis is a preliminary market engagement exercise to help ECC understand the market capability and capacity, to identify potential software solutions that enables all users to access travel more inclusively and easily.  \nECC's high-level requirements for the software solution must include the ability to: \n•\tDeeply integrate with our TravelEssex digital platform, via an existing public API (Application Programming Interface),  solution provided by the supplier offering live arrivals, disruptions, amenity status (e.g. lifts, escalators etc) across multiple modes of travel\n•\tProvide visual and audible wayfinding and real-time information to users, via their smartphone, initiated by scanning a high-density code that is applied to infrastructure (e.g. bus shelters, bus stop, train stations and similar).  The real-time feed would be provided by ECC for the supplier to ingest, in Siri SM/VM/SX formats.\n•\tFeature parity is required between the standard and audio formats.  Continuity between codes on a route must be seamless to the user and include options such as step-free access.\n•\tGuidance to users must be in precise distances (feet/inches, metres/centimetres)\n•\tThe code must be capable of being read via a smartphone's in-built camera and optimised for instantaneous, long-distance scanning. \n•\tThe code must not require framing or focussing to scan it, ensuring readability from varied distances and wide viewing angles.\n•\tIf multiple codes are detected, the solution must ensure communication of all detected codes, allowing the user to make an informed selection.\n•\tBe able to offer unlimited numbers of unique codes, including full deployment across current bus infrastructure estate (circa 8,000 locations) and options to add further locations over time.\n•\tApplication of the code needs to be durable, printable and easily integrated with current infrastructure.\n•\tOffer automatic translation into the top 20 languages present in the UK\n•\tSupport cognitive accessibility by offering bold, large font readable text and visually augmented reality arrows and other design elements. \n•\tBe able to create specific and tailored journey plans for Independent Travel Training users, that can be stored and re-used, per user.\n•\tReal-time data reporting on usage and other relevant  statistics.  Reports to be configurable and self-serve.\n•\tThe system architecture should ideally exclude reliance on GPS, Bluetooth, or electronic beacon mechanisms to ensure standalone operability.",
    "aboveThreshold": false,
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services"
  },
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      "id": "GB-PPON-PWVM-4844-NRQH",
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        "streetAddress": "County Hall, Market Road"
      },
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      "identifier": {
        "id": "PWVM-4844-NRQH",
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        "description": "Please complete the Microsoft Form by clicking on the following link: https://forms.office.com/e/tkHtV6rQLh"
      }
    ]
  },
  "initiationType": "tender"
}