CO02454 Pre-Employment Checks - Vetting Services

Tender description

Essex County Council (ECC) Employment Vetting Service currently processes Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) and other employments checks for internal staff, and also to External Customer Organisations across the UK. The current split of checks is approx. 30% internal to 70% external. ECC is seeking to replace its current service provision with a service that will offer a range of checks including the current checks and any potential new checks that the bidder may offer. Our longer-term aim is to become an eRB broker. We would be seeking a provider to offer a system for checks with ECC remaining as the counter signatory for DBS The ECC eDBS Service has a current e-Bulk contract with an external provider which is due to come to an end in November 2022. On average last year we completed 37,500 checks with an expectation to increase this by 36% throughout 2022 and continue to increase. The checks completed were made up of 23,100 DBS checks and 14,400 other pre-employment checks. The new contract will be expected to ensure continuity for the eDBS Service element and its existing customers. Lot 1: The system shall be candidate driven with minimal manual intervention by ECC. This shall include technology which enhances customer experience to ensure we are at the forefront of service provision such as facial recognition for Right to Work purposes. The preference is for a cloud-based service with minimal impact on ECC’s infrastructure. The system will need to be available on-line 24/7 and accessible via mobile / smart devices. ECC branding of the version of the providers system to be used by ECC applicants. (The ECC brand book will be provided in the tender pack) The system will be fully functional in line with our requirements and have the proven ability to integrate into other line of business systems such as our ATS Functionality to capture data from the existing eDBS provider and retain all data pertaining to each DBS disclosure application and all other employment checks The ability to interface with ECC’s resourcing and finance systems. The capability to raise charging information and to inform invoicing and accounting systems. The provision of regular and ad-hoc billing and activity reporting which is further outlined in the requirements spreadsheet. The interface(s) between the e-Bulk system and the DBS must be approved by the DBS to link in with the DBS system. It is envisaged that the Authority may invite the top three rated bidders following evaluation to present to key stakeholders. The e-Bulk provider’s system will be able to deliver fully, to the ECC disclosures database, data entered during the disclosure application process and the resulting outcome from the DBS check. The system will also provide access via self-service to our customers to make all other employment checks including DBS The system shall be flexible in order to accommodate any increase in the number of checks per annum, including on-boarding large customers and any other changes. Successful implementation of the service is dependent on the system being fully functional, robust and able to accept and store the volumes of applications and subsequent outcomes to be received via the eBulk interface and additional customers checks.