Cornwall Council is undertaking Preliminary Market Engagement to inform the future strategic direction, procurement approach and potential transformation of the software platforms supporting a broad range of statutory regulatory, planning, environmental, licensing, building control, land charges, address management, housing and public protection services. The Council currently operates a mature and highly integrated software platform that supports critical statutory and regulatory functions across multiple service areas, including Development Management, Building Control, Licensing, Environmental Health, Public Protection, Land Charges, Street Naming and Numbering, Local Land and Property Gazetteer (LLPG) management, housing-related regulatory functions and associated case management activities. The platform is utilised by more than 450 users and underpins significant volumes of operational activity, customer interactions, inspections, applications, enforcement actions, statutory consultations and regulatory decision-making across the authority. The existing environment has been in operation since 2010 and incorporates extensive business-specific configuration, workflow automation, document and records management, reporting and business intelligence functionality, GIS integration, customer self-service capabilities, mobile working functionality and approximately 50 integrations with internal and external systems. These integrations support the exchange of information with corporate systems, statutory consultees, payment services, customer contact channels, geographic information systems and other line-of-business applications. The platform therefore forms a critical component of the Council's digital and operational infrastructure. Through this engagement, the Council wishes to better understand market capability, solution maturity, technology developments, implementation approaches and commercial models available within the market. In particular, the Council is seeking insight into suppliers' ability to support complex multi-service regulatory environments, facilitate large-scale data migration and transformation activities, maintain compliance with evolving legislative requirements, deliver robust integration capabilities and support the modernisation of digital services through cloud-based technologies, automation, artificial intelligence and enhanced customer self-service functionality. The Council is using this engagement exercise to inform its long-term procurement and contracting strategy for these services. The current software platform supports a wide range of critical statutory functions and incorporates significant configuration, business process automation, data holdings and integrations with internal and external systems. Subject to governance approvals and compliance with applicable procurement legislation, the Council's current expectation is to extend existing contractual arrangements and subsequently consider a direct award to the incumbent supplier to maintain service continuity whilst ongoing requirements development, service redesign, transformation activities, procurement activity, governance approvals and contract finalisation are completed. Through this engagement, the Council wishes to assess market capability, understand alternative delivery approaches, identify potential transition and implementation risks, and gather supplier feedback on emerging technologies and market developments. The information obtained will be used to refine the Council's future operating model, develop requirements for a long-term replacement solution, inform procurement and commercial strategy, and support planning for a future competitive procurement exercise following the proposed direct award period. This exercise is solely for information gathering and market research purposes and does not constitute a call for competition or the commencement of any procurement procedure. Participation will not confer any advantage or disadvantage in any future procurement activity.

Procurement Act 2023

The Council is seeking written responses from organisations with relevant products, services, implementation experience or market knowledge relating to regulatory services, planning, building control, licensing, land charges, address management, housing compliance and public protection software solutions. Responses are intended to help the Council better understand market capability, strategic options, delivery approaches and commercial considerations associated with future system replacement and transformation activities. A detailed Request for Information (RFI) has been developed which contains background information regarding the Council's current environment, high-level requirements and a series of supplier questions covering solution capability, implementation methodology, technology strategy, legislative compliance, procurement approaches and commercial models. As the RFI will not be published alongside this notice, suppliers wishing to participate may request a copy from Alex Kirk ([email protected]) and Christine Edwards ([email protected]). Completed responses should be submitted to the same contacts in accordance with the instructions contained within the RFI. At this stage the Council does not intend to undertake supplier demonstrations, presentations, workshops, one-to-one meetings or formal question-and-answer sessions. The Council considers written submissions to be the most proportionate and effective mechanism for obtaining and comparing market intelligence during this phase of the programme. Following review of responses and subject to programme requirements, governance approvals and resource availability, the Council may undertake further market engagement activities at a later date. Suppliers are encouraged to provide concise, evidence-based responses focused on the matters raised within the RFI, including practical implementation experience, lessons learned, indicative delivery approaches and market insight that may assist the Council in shaping its future operating model, commercial approach and procurement strategy. Any information submitted will be used solely to inform the Council's planning and decision-making processes and will not form part of any formal evaluation exercise.