Open early engagement - This means that a procurement idea is currently active, it is in the early stage of development and judging interest from potential suppliers.

Hartlepool Borough Council are a Unitary Authority of approximately 2,000 employees looking to carry out a preliminary soft market exercise to seek input and guidance from the market on potential solutions and options for the provision of full scope, managed ICT support services to the Council, helping to shape the service requirements ahead of initiating a formal procurement process via Restricted Procedure tender.

The Council would like to invite up to 5 providers with proven track records of delivering full scope outsourced ICT services to Local Authorities to attend remote soft market sessions via Microsoft Teams, to provide input to the future procurement so that the resultant contract, and successful service provider, will deliver the outcomes required by the Council.

In Scope Services: • Service Integration and Service Management • End User Computing • Service Desk • Hosting and Data Centre Services • Application Support and Development • Network Services • Managed Print Services • Procurement of Hardware/Software • Project Management Actions Please provide your confirmation of interest in this opportunity and your availability to attend the soft market events to the council by Noon on 20th May 2022 via email to the following email address: emma.armstrong@hartlepool.gov.uk The council use the ProContract portal to conduct procurements and share information with prospective suppliers, so it is recommended that you register on the portal, if you have not done so already.

For guidance notes on how to register onto the NEPO Portal please follow link below: - https://procontract.due-north.com/SupplierRegistration/Register It is the Council's intention to conduct soft market testing in the week beginning 6th June 2022 and invites will be issued by 24th May 2022.