The Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, on behalf of Essex and Kent forces [including Kent Fire and Rescue], seeks to engage with potential suppliers to gain a better understanding of the products and services available on the market to deliver a new Software Integrated Communications Control System (ICCS).

The ICCS is a fundamental part of the forces' business responding to calls from members of the public and officers.

Both forces currently operate independent systems provided by separate suppliers.

The existing SICCS in Kent is shared by Kent Fire and Rescue.

The Commissioner, as part of a feasibility study prior to commencing any formal tender, invites potential suppliers to present proposals for hosting on site and off-site, including the current fully on-site arrangements to remote hosting and options in between.

Proposals should include possible options for a common solution working across both forces, and separate solutions for each force that are capable of working together.

This early engagement notice is not a call for competition for the purposes of Regulation 26(9) of the Public Contracts regulation 2015 — a specific call for competition for this planned procurement may be published by means of a contract notice within the next 2-6 months.

The market engagement sessions will not influence the selection of bidders but this process aims to engage with economic operators to assess the feasibility of proposed requirements and work package(s), capability of the market as a whole to achieve what is required, maturity of the market to ensure a competitive procurement, capacity of the market to deliver what is required and identify potential risks. — The Commissioner encourages open, fair and transparent procurement and omission from any part of the market engagement event shall not be taken into account in any subsequent bidder selection or tender evaluation process.

The scoping sessions in respect of these procurement proposals will be held on the 13.7.2015 at North Kent Police Station, Kent DA11 8BD — time slots tbc.

To obtain further information and to register for this event please visit www.kentpolice.bravosolution.co.uk The project reference is Project_17142 All correspondence and confirmation that you wish to attend with your proposal should be sent via the e-tendering system using the messaging system.