Soft-market testing: Communications and engagement for community, public and private sector audiences

The Essex 2055 programme helps to achieve transformational change for residents and businesses. It does this by building support for infrastructure, land and property projects - and attracting the investment required to deliver them. Essex County Council (“ECC”) intends to procure specialist advice to support deliberative resident and business engagement, consensus building amongst politicians and partners, and promotional material and campaigns for both private sector and central government audiences. ECC is considering how to structure this service. A survey has been created to capture insight from prospective suppliers. This survey can be accessed here: https://forms.office.com/e/EunctGCyV2 . At this stage, this opportunity is soft market testing only and not a call for competition. This market test exercise is to allow the Council to ascertain interest from the market, investigate potential options, and consider the best route for a potential future contract opportunity. The total budget for these requirements is estimated to be £80,000 but the number of tender opportunities will be informed by this soft market testing exercise.