AWARD OUTCOME
What happened
Essex County Council has published contract details for a one-year extension of an existing data and insight research tool contract with Economic Modeling LLC t/a Lightcast. The stated purpose is continuity of critical data and intelligence functions while alternative licensing models and solutions are explored.
Published outcomeAward 1 and contract 1 are recorded as active. The contract record states it was signed on 16 April 2026 and runs to 15 April 2027, with a gross value of £15,550.
Market significanceThis is a below-threshold waiver extension rather than a competed opportunity, supporting continuity of an existing data and intelligence service.
AWARDED SUPPLIERS AND LOTS
1 supplier record analysed
Economic Modeling LLC t/a Lightcast
96% confidenceAward 1 · Lots 1 · 15550 GBP · active
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Award 1 identifies Economic Modeling LLC t/a Lightcast as supplier. Contract 1, linked to award 1, records a gross value of £15,550.
LIFECYCLE
Award or contract stage
Notice type
99% confidenceContract details notice on Find a Tender
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Document 095062-2026 is described as a "Contract details notice on Find a Tender".
Procurement status
98% confidenceComplete
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Tender status is "complete"; lot 1 status is "complete".
Award status
99% confidenceActive
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Award 1 status is "active".
Contract status
99% confidenceActive
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Contract 1 status is "active".
Contract signature
99% confidenceSigned on 16 April 2026
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Contract 1 gives dateSigned as 2026-04-16.
VALUES
Published values explained
Contract value
99% confidence£15,550 gross
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Contract 1 value is amountGross 15550, currency GBP.
Value allocation
95% confidenceThe published contract value is linked to award 1 and lot 1.
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Contract 1 is linked to awardID 1; award 1 is related to lot 1.
TIMELINE
Procurement timeline
Contract signed
99% confidence16 April 2026
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Contract 1 dateSigned is 2026-04-16.
Contract start
99% confidence16 April 2026
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Contract 1 period startDate is 2026-04-16.
Contract end
99% confidence15 April 2027
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Contract 1 period endDate is 2027-04-15.
Notice published
99% confidence8 October 2026
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Notice 095062-2026 datePublished is 2026-10-08.
SCOPE
What was awarded
Requirement
98% confidenceData and insight research tool into the economic landscape
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Tender title states "Data and insight research tool into the economic landscape".
Purpose
99% confidenceContinuity of critical data and intelligence functions while alternative licensing models and solutions are explored, including completion of ongoing exploratory work.
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Tender description states this purpose.
Procurement category
99% confidenceServices
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Award 1 mainProcurementCategory is "services".
CPV classification
99% confidence73200000 — Research and development consultancy services
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Award item 1 additional classification is CPV 73200000.
Delivery region
95% confidenceUKH
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Award item 1 delivery address region is UKH.
PROCEDURE
Procedure and competition
Procurement route
99% confidenceWaiver for an extension to an existing contract
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Tender description states: "This is a waiver for an extension to an existing contract."
Method detail
99% confidenceBelow threshold - unknown
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Tender procurementMethodDetails is "Below threshold - unknown".
Competition information
99% confidenceNot supplied in the published notice.
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No bidder count, tender submissions, evaluation results or award criteria are provided.
CONTRACT TERMS
Published contract terms
Term
99% confidence16 April 2026 to 15 April 2027
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Contract 1 period runs from 2026-04-16 to 2027-04-15.
Extension context
99% confidenceExtension to an existing contract
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Tender description explicitly describes a waiver for an extension.
Extension and renewal options
99% confidenceNot supplied in the published notice.
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No options, extension terms or renewal provisions are stated in the supplied contract data.
COMMERCIAL VIEW
Commercial observations
Commercial context
99% confidenceThe arrangement is presented as a continuity extension while the buyer explores alternative licensing models and solutions.
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Tender description states that continuity is needed while alternatives and exploratory work are pursued.
Market access signal
96% confidenceThe published record does not evidence a new competitive tender for this extension.
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The notice describes a below-threshold waiver and extension to an existing contract; competition details are not supplied.
DATA QUALITY
Gaps and source limitations
Supplier identity treatment
98% confidenceThe supplier name is used as published; supplier verification is marked not applicable.
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Supplier verification status is "not_applicable" and no verified company name is supplied.
Published information gap
99% confidenceInformation not supplied in the published notice: prior contract details, bid count, evaluation, award decision date, lot title, pricing breakdown and extension/renewal options.
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These fields are absent from the supplied notice data.
Publication timing
99% confidenceThe contract was recorded as signed and started on 16 April 2026, while the contract details notice was published on 8 October 2026.
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Contract dateSigned and startDate are 2026-04-16; document datePublished is 2026-10-08.
SOURCE DATA LIMITATIONS
Information not supplied in the published notice
- The published notice does not provide the original contract's value, term, supplier selection history or scope, so the scale of the extension relative to the prior arrangement is unknown.
- No bidder count, evaluation methodology, scores, award criteria or award decision date is supplied.
- Lot 1 has no published title, description or standalone value.
- No extension options, renewal provisions or detailed pricing are supplied.
- Supplier verification is not applicable in the supplied data; no separately verified legal company name is available.
MARKET THEMES
Relevant award themes
Essex County CouncilEconomic Modeling LLC t/a LightcastLightcastdata and insight research tooleconomic landscapecontract extensionwaiver£15,550
COMMON QUESTIONS
About this award
Who received the Essex County Council contract extension?
Economic Modeling LLC t/a Lightcast is named as the supplier for award 1.
What is the value and term of the contract?
The contract record gives a gross value of £15,550 and a term from 16 April 2026 to 15 April 2027.
Why was this contract awarded?
The notice states that it supports continuity of critical data and intelligence functions while alternative licensing models and solutions are explored.
ProcuraAxis award analysis supplements, but does not replace, the official award notice, contract data or procurement documents. “Awarded” does not by itself prove that a contract has been signed.