provision of community equipment, by way of an integrated community equipment loan service (icels), to people of all ages and needs across essex, providing such items as commodes, beds, shower chairs and hoists, as well as adaptations such as grab rails and chair raisers. the icels complements other council services such as reablement and domiciliary care support, with the aims of promoting independence and to enable people to gain, regain and maintain skills, as well as helping prevent hospital admissions. there is a sustained increase in demand for faster delivery of community equipment to support the home first ambition and the discharge to assess pathways, and this an opportunity to procure a streamlined, cost-effective, efficient, and responsive community equipment service for essex, which aims to deliver social value and climate action as a fundamental part of the service and will bring the service in line with the requirements of today’s health and care system. the current ices provision expires in june 2023, with the contract, to which this tender relates due to be mobilised and operational for 1st july 2023.