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002465 - Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) for Workforce Management System

Durham County Council · Local authority

In brief

Durham County Council has announced plans to buy IT and software work. This is an early notice: there is nothing to bid on yet, but it tells you a tender may follow.

The estimated value is £54,000 excluding VAT.

The contract runs for 2 years, up to 3 years with extensions, starting 21 June 2026.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

Can I win this?

Competition

Usually high: a median of 13 bids per contract for this buyer (from 85 awards in the last 12 months).

What the notice says

Durham County Council is seeking to engage with the market to explore options for the provision of a Workforce Management System (WFM) capable of delivering the full range of requirements outlined below. The purpose of this engagement is to understand the market's capability to provide a modern, cloud-based solution that supports efficient workforce planning, scheduling, and performance management across the Councils Corporate Customer Services operation. The Council's Customer Services Department currently utilises a specialist hosted contact centre workforce management system which provides skill-based forecasting and scheduling across multiple communication channels for both office-based and remote agents. This system supports intraday forecasting using real-time data such as calls offered, average handling time (AHT), and agent/skill availability. It enables the monitoring of actual performance against forecast performance and provides real-time adherence tracking against schedules. An integral component of the current system is the agent interface, which includes schedule visibility and a vacation planner module. Please note, our estimated budget is approximately £18,000 per annum

How to bid

  1. Read the full notice on Find a Tender, including any tender documents it links to.
  2. Register your organisation on the Central Digital Platform (through Find a Tender) if you have not already. Suppliers need to be registered to take part in procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.
  3. Follow the submission instructions in the notice; it does not name an e-tendering portal.

Timeline

  1. Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 074163-2025

About the buyer

Durham County CouncilLast 12 months

Procurements

267

Awards

157

Suppliers it has used most for IT and software

  1. CCM1379 - OHU Software

    The Police and Crime Commissioner for LincolnshireNorth East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South WestIT services and software, Social and domiciliary care

    Closing soon11 hours leftSuitable for SMEsSmall contract

    £82kestimated
  2. LGS-Q-004-2026 Audio Visual System

    Middlesbrough CouncilNorth EastIT services and software

    Closing soon23 hours leftSuitable for SMEsSmall contract

    £143kestimated
  3. NW2964 - Microsoft 365, AI and Intelligent Automation Partner Framework Agreement

    Northern Gas Networks LimitedNorth East, East of EnglandIT services and software

    Closing soon5 days leftSuitable for SMEsFramework

    £7.2mframework ceiling
  4. Royal Navy Museums Broadband Services

    National Museum of the Royal NavyNorth East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West, Northern IrelandIT services and software

    Closing soon5 days left2 lotsSuitable for SMEs

    £250kestimated
  5. Technical Implementation Partner & Business Change Partner (DASP)

    NHS Blood and TransplantNorth East, North West, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, South East, South WestIT services and software, Management consultancy

    Closing soon6 days leftLow competition2 lotsSuitable for SMEs

    £9.17mestimated

From notice 074163-2025 on Find a Tender, first published 14 November 2025. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.