Soft Market Test: Schools Budgeting Tool Kit

Cambridgeshire County Council would like to invite suppliers to participate in a Soft Market Test exercise. We are looking to find a suitable software solution for School Budget Modelling and Monitoring that will be used by maintained schools within Cambridgeshire and Local Authority (LA). We are keen to explore what the market has to offer currently or in the near future that is compatible with the current MIS and IT systems used in both Schools and the LA.Some initial research has been carried out and we are aware of general options available, however some solutions may be limited or not achievable due to the current IT infrastructure. More information is available in the attached document. The responses to this Soft Market Test exercise will help us evaluate our current situation and determine the specification and implications for the relevant solution provision. If you feel that your organisation is able to contribute to this exercise please complete the questionnaire attached and return, via email to schools.funding@cambridgeshire.gov.uk by 30th January 2015.Please note - this market testing exercise is not an invitation to tender or a request for formal expressions of interest. This does not form any part of an invitation to tender. LGSS is issuing this request for information only. Any supplier invited to present to LGSS is doing so to support market research only and to help make any potential procurement process more focused and efficient. No supplier selection or supplier preference is implied.Following receipt of the questionnaires, a maximum of 5 respondents will be invited to attend separate workshop sessions to present and discuss their responses. A decision will then be made internally on the best procurement approach. The timetable is provided below:Deadline for receipt of responses to Soft Market Test (this document) - 30th January 2015Workshop week March 2015Decision on way forward April/May 2015Potential responders will not be prejudiced in any future procurement processes by either responding or not responding to this soft market test exercise.Please note that this advert will not be available as of the document request deadline. Please ensure that you have made a copy of any relevant documents or information prior to this date.