16 023 Cheshire Councils ERP Project

Cheshire East Borough Council and Cheshire West & Chester Council (the Councils) intend to enter into a joint procurement process to procure a Framework Agreement with a single supplier to design, build and implement an integrated Business Support Services Solution and thereafter to provide on-going support and maintenance. The core business services impacted are Finance, Procurement, Human Resources and Payroll. The scope of the service may include the provision and implementation of new modules offering improved functionality and/or solution refreshes as necessary during the contract term. The Councils will take the lead in managing and delivering the business change aspects of any future programme.

Whilst there is no firm commitment at this stage, Warrington Borough Council and Wirral Borough Council (the Other Named Councils) have indicated that they may decide to use this Framework Agreement as the basis for their contract during the Framework term.

Additional information: The purpose of this competition is to establish a 4 year Framework Agreement with a single supplier. The call-off contracts under the Framework Agreement will be for up to 12 years duration, made up of an initial term plus optional extensions. There will be an ultimate end date for all call-offs. The Councils intend to sign call-off contracts on the same day that the framework agreement is signed.

The value of the Framework Agreement is estimated to be approx £16-20 million GBP for the Councils and an additional £14-18 million GBP for the Other Named Councils calling-off the Services under the Framework Agreement. The Framework Agreement, therefore, could potentially reach an estimated value of up to£30-38million GBP but will be dependant on the Other Named Councils' decision whether to use the Framework Agreement. Owing to the size, nature of the services and to help ensure the best service continuity, the Councils have decided not to subdivide the Contract Services into Lots.

The intention is to award separate call-off contracts. The Councils also wish to explore benefits of awarding a single joint call-off contract or separate call-offs. The wish is also to explore joint and separate contract management arrangements. In the event that either of the Councils decides to withdraw from this procurement process, the remaining Council reserves the right to continue.

Services may be provided under the individual call-off contracts of the Councils to schools and alternative service delivery vehicles (ASDVs) established by the Councils. Details of the schools, Academies and ASDVs within the Councils’ administrative areas known at the time of publishing can be found http://www.education.gov.uk/edubase/home.xhtml and a list of Cheshire East ASDV's can be found at: http://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/your_council/best_fit_services/best_fit_services.aspx

Cheshire West & Chester Council includes for the following ASDV's, Cheshire West and Chester Leisure CIC(trading as Brio), Vivo Care Choices Limited, Edsential Community Interest Company

The Councils invite expressions of interest from suppliers. The Councils intend to hold a bidders day at Sandbach Town Hall on 21st September 2016 at 2.30pm. Interested parties are asked to notify their expression of interest by email to Procurement@cheshireeast.gov.uk